Illuminated Films

08/05/2025

War Game is now streaming on Amazon Prime Video! ⚽
Experience the unforgettable story — available to watch now.

07/05/2025

🎬МЕЧОКОТ ПО ИМЕ ВОЈТЕК | A BEAR NAMED WOJTEK💟



A Bear Named Wojtek Illuminated Films

25/03/2025

For all our Scottish friends here, A Bear Named Wojtek is being screened at Cumbernauld Theatre Lanternhouse tomorrow evening (26th March), with some seats still available. You can get tickets here:

Discover what’s on at Cumbernauld Theatre at Lanternhouse, your home for theatre, cinema, music comedy dance and more.

19/03/2025

The Blue Water Film Festival (BWFF) announces its honorees and film lineup for its 6th annual edition, taking place March 20-23 in San Diego in celebration of U

06/03/2025

Always a delight to enjoy the latest animation graduate films! Fantastic range of animated shorts. Congratulations to all graduates involved!

06/03/2025

Happy ! 📖✨ At Illuminated Films, we honour the books that have shaped our work and continue to inspire audiences worldwide.

1) Cover: Little Princess by Tony Ross, Rocket Robbins from Look Up by & @ , The Hungry Little Caterpillar by Eric Carle
2) Father Christmas by Raymond Briggs
3)
4) On Angel Wings by Michael Morpurgo
5) Prince Cinders by Babette Cole
7) The Very Hungry Caterpillar and Other Stories
8) War Game by Michael Foreman
9) When the Wind Blows by Raymond Briggs

07/01/2025

BBC ALBA are broadcasting the Gaelic version of A Bear Named Wojtek tonight at 7pm. Watch live or on BBC iPlayer
https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/m001z24r

06/01/2025

A BEAR NAMED WOJTEK tells the incredible story of an orphaned bear adopted by soldiers during WWII. This is part of the 'Making Of' the animated short film. Watch it in full on the Annecy Festival YouTube channel.

06/01/2025

A Bear Named Wojtek director Iain Gardner reflects on working with composer Normand Roger, who will be awarded the Winsor McCay Award at the Annies in 2025!

20/12/2024

A BEAR NAMED WOJTEK MAKES SHORTLIST FOR 97th OSCARS®

Some 80 animated short films qualified for consideration as Best Animated Short Film at the 97th Academy Awards®. 15 films have now progressed to the short list, including the UK/Polish co-production of A BEAR NAMED WOJTEK, produced by Illuminated Films, Filmograf and Animation Garden. The final five nominees will be announced on 17th January 2025.

Director Iain Gardner comments ‘It’s testimony to our amazing crew – over a hundred of them, from script to final grade, that we’ve accomplished this stage of the Academy Award® process. Everybody involved with the film elevated my vision, making the final film greater than the sum of its parts. Thank you to everyone who has been on this journey with me.’

The co-producer, Iain Harvey of Illuminated Films, comments ‘the story is truly inspirational, symbolizing so many elements of life, the realities of war and the profound importance of relationships. With a beautiful score by Normand Roger, its impact on audiences has been very gratifying and hopefully justifies the support we have received from Screen Scotland, Polish Film Institute, and the BFI Young Audience Content Fund.’

Co-producer Wlodzimierz Matuszewski of Filmograf comments ‘what a great honour for the unforgettable bear Wojtek, symbolizing the fate of Poland in the 20th century. Fully deserved for the creative effort of the great animation artist Iain Gardner, and exceptional creative synergy between British and Polish teams!’