Traces of Connection
Animated Short Film – January 2026
Traces of Connection is an animated short film set in an artificial world where closeness, love, and physical affection are not universally accessible.
At its center is a woman whose presence is conveyed only through her voice. She expresses a longing for love and human connection. A computer-generated voice responds calmly and matter-of-factly, explaining that these forms of affection are not available in the current version. The woman chooses not to upgrade. Nevertheless, she continues searching for a way to access these feelings and eventually asks about emotions that come close to love — simple traces of connection.
In response, the system presents moments from her life in which she is close to strangers without ever touching them: shared spaces, brief encounters, and quiet forms of everyday intimacy.
The film explores the question of how little it can sometimes take to feel less alone. It is not always touch or love in the traditional sense. Sometimes, simply sharing a space with others is enough — a small trace of closeness, a trace of connection.
More insights into this project …
