MENTAL HEALTH FILMS
Nick LeDonne's animated films explore personal stories of depression, loss, and LGBTQ acceptance. Using the art of animation, each film can open conversations about mental health with audiences. Despite the darkness of each subject, all three films are linked together by a theme of family. "Hanging" the connection of a mother to her son, "Dear Dad" the rift between a father and a son, and "Reaching Out" the love from one to another.
The collective films have screened at film festivals in 30+ countries earning over a dozen awards, exhibited at prestigious mental health conferences, and continue to screen within LeDonne's speaker program, "From Hanging to Hang ON."
The collective films have screened at film festivals in 30+ countries earning over a dozen awards, exhibited at prestigious mental health conferences, and continue to screen within LeDonne's speaker program, "From Hanging to Hang ON."
REACHING OUT
Expected Release : 2022
Guided by the light of the stars, a young man finds a path to acceptance. || 10 Min. 2022.
HANGING
A mother attempts to save her son from a dark luring fog of depression. || 5 min. 2016.
DEAR DAD
A father and son struggle to communicate; a film about dialogue, without dialogue. || 3 Min. 2018.
FILM FESTIVALS
AWARDS
Best Animated Short - Catalina Film Festival.
Best Animated Film - SOHO International Film Festival.
Best in Animation - Los Angeles Film Awards.
Best Animated Short - Feedback Animation Festival.
Best Experimental Short - Rough Cut Film Festival.
Best Animated Short - Bucks County Fever Film Fest.
Best Animated Short - West Chester International Film Festival.
Best Director & Film - Red Ditch Halloween Horror Festival.
Olive Collection Winner - Art With Impact.
Animation For Adults Winner - ANNY Best of Fest.
Award of Excellence - Accolade Global Film Competition.
Finalist, Animated Short - 59th CINE Golden Eagle Awards.
Semi-Finalist, Animated Short - 43rd Student Academy Awards.
OFFICIAL SELECTION
- International -
Animation Day in Cannes. Cannes, France.
Global Health Film Festival. London, England.
Ethnografilm Film Festival. Montemarte, France.
Varna World Animation Festival. Varna, Bulgaria.
Tehran International Short Film Festival. Tehran, Iran.
Sunlight International Film Festival. Moscow, Russia.
Los Angeles San Rafael Film Festival. Segovia, Spain.
International Festival of Red Cross Films. Varna, Bulgaria.
Liverpool International Film Festival. Liverpool, England.
Le Sommets du Cinema d'animation. Montreal, Canada.
15th Festival Internazionale del Cinema d'Arte. Milan, Italy.
London Golden International Film Festival. London, England.
Safe Community International Film Festival. Mashhad, Iran.
Move Me Productions: Short Film Festival. Cologne, Belgium.
AJAYU International Animated Short Film Festival. Puno, Peru.
Experimental & Subreal Animation Screening. Istanbul, Turkey.
Kinofest International Animation Festival. Bucharest, Romania.
Short Pole London International Film Festival. London, England.
FRESCO International Festival of Modern Art. Yerevan, Armenia.
Pokhara International Mountain Film Festival. Nepal, South Asia.
TRIMITI Trust Mental Health Film Festival. Pune, India.
Bucheon International Animation Festival. Bucheon, South Korea.
Zoom ZBLIŻENIA Int. Film Festival. Jelenia Gora, Poland.
INPUT Documentary Film Festival. Hilversum, Netherlands.
Future Vision Asia International Exhibition. Beijing, China.
Rencontres Internationales du Documentaire. Montreal, Quebec.
Anim!arte Int. Animation Festival of Brazil. Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
Festival de Cortometrajes y Arte Enfermedades. Valencia, Spain.
Our City Film Project. Cape Town, South Africa.
Sydney World Film Festival. Sydney, Australia.
Ou chy Film Awards. Lausanne, Switzerland.
IMAGE Power Arts Summit. Beijing, China.
Largo Film Awards. Geneva, Switzerland.
AM Egypt Film Festival. Cario, Egypt.
Athens Animfest. Athens, Greece.
Ibiza Cinefest. Ibiza, Spain.
OFFICIAL SELECTION
- National, USA -
Burbank International Film Festival. Burbank, California.
National Film Festival for Talent Youth. Seattle, Washington.
ASIFA: Queer Animation Screening. New York City, New York.
ANNY: Animation Nights New York. New York City, New York.
Austin Gay & Lesbian International Film Festival. Austin, Texas.
American Documentary Film Festival. Palm Springs, California.
DRAWTASTICON 2D Animation Festival. Seattle, Washington.
Monmouth International Film Festival. Monmouth, New Jersey.
Newtown Independent Film Screening. Newtown, Pennsylvania.
Chicago International Art House Film Festival. Chicago, Illinois.
Cinema Diverse: LGBTQ Film Festival. Palm Springs, California.
Princeton University Film Festival. Princeton, New Jersey.
Philadelphia Independents. Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
International Peace and Film Festival. Orlando, Florida.
Los Angeles Film Awards. Los Angeles, California.
Awareness Film Festival. Los Angelos, California.
Los Angeles CineFest. Los Angeles, California.
First Take Film Series. Ambler, Pennsylvania.
Trenton Film Festival. Trenton, New Jersey.
Miami Short Film Festival. Miami, Florida.
Film Quest. Utah, Provo.
SHORT LISTED
Paphos International Film Festival. Paphos, Crypus.
Experimental Animation Festival. Mexico City, Mexico.
Mountain Valley Film Competition. San Francisco, California.
Something's Wild Film Festival. Durango, Colorado.
HollyShorts Film Festival. Hollywood, California.
Best Animated Short - Catalina Film Festival.
Best Animated Film - SOHO International Film Festival.
Best in Animation - Los Angeles Film Awards.
Best Animated Short - Feedback Animation Festival.
Best Experimental Short - Rough Cut Film Festival.
Best Animated Short - Bucks County Fever Film Fest.
Best Animated Short - West Chester International Film Festival.
Best Director & Film - Red Ditch Halloween Horror Festival.
Olive Collection Winner - Art With Impact.
Animation For Adults Winner - ANNY Best of Fest.
Award of Excellence - Accolade Global Film Competition.
Finalist, Animated Short - 59th CINE Golden Eagle Awards.
Semi-Finalist, Animated Short - 43rd Student Academy Awards.
OFFICIAL SELECTION
- International -
Animation Day in Cannes. Cannes, France.
Global Health Film Festival. London, England.
Ethnografilm Film Festival. Montemarte, France.
Varna World Animation Festival. Varna, Bulgaria.
Tehran International Short Film Festival. Tehran, Iran.
Sunlight International Film Festival. Moscow, Russia.
Los Angeles San Rafael Film Festival. Segovia, Spain.
International Festival of Red Cross Films. Varna, Bulgaria.
Liverpool International Film Festival. Liverpool, England.
Le Sommets du Cinema d'animation. Montreal, Canada.
15th Festival Internazionale del Cinema d'Arte. Milan, Italy.
London Golden International Film Festival. London, England.
Safe Community International Film Festival. Mashhad, Iran.
Move Me Productions: Short Film Festival. Cologne, Belgium.
AJAYU International Animated Short Film Festival. Puno, Peru.
Experimental & Subreal Animation Screening. Istanbul, Turkey.
Kinofest International Animation Festival. Bucharest, Romania.
Short Pole London International Film Festival. London, England.
FRESCO International Festival of Modern Art. Yerevan, Armenia.
Pokhara International Mountain Film Festival. Nepal, South Asia.
TRIMITI Trust Mental Health Film Festival. Pune, India.
Bucheon International Animation Festival. Bucheon, South Korea.
Zoom ZBLIŻENIA Int. Film Festival. Jelenia Gora, Poland.
INPUT Documentary Film Festival. Hilversum, Netherlands.
Future Vision Asia International Exhibition. Beijing, China.
Rencontres Internationales du Documentaire. Montreal, Quebec.
Anim!arte Int. Animation Festival of Brazil. Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
Festival de Cortometrajes y Arte Enfermedades. Valencia, Spain.
Our City Film Project. Cape Town, South Africa.
Sydney World Film Festival. Sydney, Australia.
Ou chy Film Awards. Lausanne, Switzerland.
IMAGE Power Arts Summit. Beijing, China.
Largo Film Awards. Geneva, Switzerland.
AM Egypt Film Festival. Cario, Egypt.
Athens Animfest. Athens, Greece.
Ibiza Cinefest. Ibiza, Spain.
OFFICIAL SELECTION
- National, USA -
Burbank International Film Festival. Burbank, California.
National Film Festival for Talent Youth. Seattle, Washington.
ASIFA: Queer Animation Screening. New York City, New York.
ANNY: Animation Nights New York. New York City, New York.
Austin Gay & Lesbian International Film Festival. Austin, Texas.
American Documentary Film Festival. Palm Springs, California.
DRAWTASTICON 2D Animation Festival. Seattle, Washington.
Monmouth International Film Festival. Monmouth, New Jersey.
Newtown Independent Film Screening. Newtown, Pennsylvania.
Chicago International Art House Film Festival. Chicago, Illinois.
Cinema Diverse: LGBTQ Film Festival. Palm Springs, California.
Princeton University Film Festival. Princeton, New Jersey.
Philadelphia Independents. Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
International Peace and Film Festival. Orlando, Florida.
Los Angeles Film Awards. Los Angeles, California.
Awareness Film Festival. Los Angelos, California.
Los Angeles CineFest. Los Angeles, California.
First Take Film Series. Ambler, Pennsylvania.
Trenton Film Festival. Trenton, New Jersey.
Miami Short Film Festival. Miami, Florida.
Film Quest. Utah, Provo.
SHORT LISTED
Paphos International Film Festival. Paphos, Crypus.
Experimental Animation Festival. Mexico City, Mexico.
Mountain Valley Film Competition. San Francisco, California.
Something's Wild Film Festival. Durango, Colorado.
HollyShorts Film Festival. Hollywood, California.