cocoon (2024)

b&w | 16mm | 1:33:1 | 5 min | sound

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A young boy with short hair standing in a room, wearing a longsleeve with cartoon characters on it, looking at the camera with a neutral expression.

after receiving a small gift from a mysterious stranger, a 7-year-old boy begins collecting his own delicate objects, retreating into the quiet sanctuary of his bedroom, his cocoon.

  • tiff next wave, 2025 (jury honourable mention)

  • breakthroughs film festival, 2025 (outstanding local film award)

  • toronto latin american film festival (lataff), 2025

  • national canadian film day, 2026 (in conversation with sook-yin lee)

  • boundless film festival, 2024

  • sea change film festival, 2024

A young boy with short hair, sitting on a bed and wearing a beaded necklace, looks at a large, fluffy cat lying on the floor. The boy is touching the cat's face gently.

“a charged up and enchanting childhood gender reverie.”

-guy maddin

A ceramic mermaid figurine, next to a ceramic octopus that appears, placed on a table with other objects in the background, like nail polish.

tiff next wave jury note:

“as a young boy collects objects and clothing amidst a backdrop of presumed trauma, he discovers a place of happiness among his belongings… his cocoon, if you will. a different layer of perceived beauty is added with each shot, effectively communicating the emotional attachment to what makes us feel safe from the world around us, and the joy that a simple item can bring.”

A young boy lying on a colorful play mat, drawing with crayons on a piece of paper, surrounded by toys and books.

director/writer: juliet belisario

producers/editors: juliet belisario & jodi gapan

director of photography: jodi gapan

cast: kole parks, jae chung, corey parks

Five butterflies with intricate wing patterns are mounted on a wall, casting shadows behind them, with two located at the top, two in the middle, and one at the bottom.