"A deeply tender film with a very impressive score." Punch's Journey has just received the Best Short Film award at the 2026 Mei International Film Festival, marking the film's fifth consecutive festival win. Inspired by the true story of Panchi-kun, a Japanese macaque whose life captured international attention, Punch's Journey explores belonging, compassion, and the bond between humans and animals through a dialogue-free combination of cinematic imagery, sound, and original music. The latest award continues a remarkable festival run for the short released less than two months ago, which has also received international recognition for the film itself as well as for directing and original score. Written, directed, and scored by Marcelle Abela, Punch's Journey continues its festival journey throughout 2026.
"Total command of the filmic craft" - Michael Davis, Veteran Animator
 We are delighted to announce that Punch's Journey has been selected for its Italian premiere at the Burano AI Film Festival, running October 13–17, 2026, at the Fondazione Querini-Stampaglia in Venice. The festival is presented in conjunction with RAI Cinema and the Webby Awards. This marks Punch's Journey's second major international premiere this year, following its Hollywood debut at the Indiewood Film Festival at the TCL Chinese Theaters in September.
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