Playing God is a 2024 Italian-French stop-motion horror short film directed by Matteo Burani. The nine-minute film is a dark, philosophical exploration of creation, abandonment, and the search for perfection.Synopsis and Themes The story is set in the dark, messy workshop of a sculptor obsessed with creating a perfect being. The Creature: A clay sculpture is infused with life, but upon waking, she realizes she is surrounded by hundreds of distorted and unfinished failed attempts of herself. The Conflict: When the sculptor abandons her as another "failure," she experiences deep existential horror and a desperate, unrequited love for her creator. Metaphor: The film serves as a metaphor for human fragility and the responsibility of creators toward their creations. Production Details Produced by Studio Croma Animation and Autour de Minuit, the film is a technical feat seven years in the making. Animation Techniques: It uniquely combines claymation, puppet animation, and pixilation. Painstaking Process: The film consists of 12,000 frames, all animated directly in-camera with minimal post-production. Lead animator Arianna Gheller spent nearly two years on the animation alone, sometimes spending 40 to 50 minutes to sculpt a single frame. Artistic Inspiration: Director Matteo Burani was inspired by classical art, such as Niccolò dell'Arca's Lamentation Over the Dead Christ, as well as filmmakers like Jan Švankmajer and David Cronenberg. Awards and Recognition As of late 2025, Playing God has become a highly decorated short in the festival circuit: Academy Awards: Shortlisted for the 98th Academy Awards® (2026) in the Best Animated Short Film category. Major Wins: Won the Grand Jury Award at Animayo 2025 and the Best Animated Short award at the Tribeca Festival. Screenings: Over 200 international festival screenings and 90+ awards globally.
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