TOMORROW | Omeleto

A young boy befriends a dog. A resilient 10-year-old street urchin is growing up on the corners and alleys of 1970s Shiraz, Iran. His life is a hard-scrabble existence, trying to sustain his existence while securing life-saving medicine for his father. While grappling with daily hardships, the boy meets a stray dog, who he bonds with. His friendship with the dog gives the boy solace and connection, and together the friends find hope amidst challenging circumstances. Directed by Aryasb Feiz and co-written with Amir Zoghi and Kaveh Ruintan, this compelling Oscar-longlisted animated short strikes a fine balance, balancing a warmhearted portrait of the bond between man and animal with a grittier, even brutal portrayal of a deprived and difficult childhood. The result is an unusually resonant animated film that engages with the clarity and directness of its protagonist's emotions but refuses to flinch from the realistic perspective of the disenfranchised and impoverished. There's a rou