Ink Films, the newly launched distribution arm of not-for-profit The Beverly Theater, has announced its debut theatrical partnership: a special, soon-to-be-announced animated shorts program curated by Academy Award-nominated filmmaker Don Hertzfeldt. Slated to premiere in cinemas across North America in fall 2025, this for-theaters-only project will feature an exclusive, one-time-only collection of animated shorts by talented artists from around the world, personally selected by Hertzfeldt.
“Animated short films are a vital part of our cinematic ecosystem, and I’ll always leap at every opportunity to bring the work of amazing artists to the biggest screens we can find,” said Hertzfeldt. “This feature-length collection includes many strange treasures I’ve admired over the years — from new films that haven’t been released widely yet, to titles that inspired me to become an animator over 30 years ago.”
Hertzfeldt is an American independent filmmaker whose animated films have screened around the world. His work has received two Oscar nominations for Best Animated Short Film (World of Tomorrow, Rejected), two Sundance Film Festival Grand Prizes for Short Film (World of Tomorrow, Everything Will Be OK) and a Short Film Palm d’Or nomination at the Cannes Film Festival (Billy’s Balloon), among many other accolades. His short World of Tomorrow won Annecy’s Special Distinction and Audience Award for Short Film as well as the Annie Award for Best Animated Short Subject in 2016. Hertzfeldt’s latest film, the musical odyssey ME, premiered in March 2024 at the Austin Film Society.
This collaboration marks a milestone for both Hertzfeldt and Ink Films, as the company’s inaugural release and for theaters only.
“Ink Films was founded to champion bold, artist-driven storytelling, and no one represents that better than Don,” said Kip Kelly, Founding Creative Director and CXO of The Beverly Theater. “His commitment to the integrity of the cinematic experience aligns with our mission, and launching Ink Films with a project of this caliber sets a powerful precedent for what’s to come.”
The Beverly Theater will be among the theaters hosting an exclusive preview screening of the program in Las Vegas ahead of its national rollout, underscoring the venue’s role as a creative hub for groundbreaking storytelling.
“The Beverly Theater has always been about celebrating creativity and bringing new voices to our community,” said Rory Reid, CEO of The Rogers Foundation, parent foundation of The Beverly Theater and Ink Films. “This collaboration with Don Hertzfeldt exemplifies what we aim to do with Ink Films — give talented creators a platform to reach passionate audiences.”
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