'Punch's Journey' Scores Fifth Consecutive Win

"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.