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Distribution
Catalogue

Boat People

Kjell Boersma & Thao Lam
2023 | 9 min

Watch the film


As a child in Vietnam, Thao’s mother often rescued ants from bowls of sugar water. Years later they would return the favour. Boat People is an animated documentary that uses a striking metaphor to trace one family’s flight across the turbulent waters of history.

Awards and distinctions

  • Juror's Choice Award: Documentary
    Centre Film Festival, Philipsburg
    2024
  • Building Bridges Award
    FascinAsian Film Festival, Winnipeg
    2024
  • Kathleen Shannon Award
    Yorkton Film Festival, Yorkton
    2024
  • Special Mention for the Crossmedia Award (The Paper Boat/ Boat People)
    Bologna Children's Book Fair, Bologne
    2024
  • Diversity Award
    Spark Animation Festival, Vancouver
    2023
  • Audience Award, Best Animated Short
    Coronado Island Film Festival, Coronado
    2023
  • Milos Stehlik Global Impact Award
    International Children's Film Festival (HYBRID), Chicago
    2023
  • Best Canadian Animation Short Film Award
    Asian Film Festival, Vancouver
    2023
  • Audience Award for Animated Short
    New Orleans Film Festival (HYBRID), New Orleans
    2023
  • Helen Hill Award for Animated Short
    New Orleans Film Festival (HYBRID), New Orleans
    2023
  • Grand Jury Prize for Best Short
    International Film Festival, Calgary
    2023