Directed by Radheya Jang
(FIRST PRIZE WINNER: Flickers' Rhode Island International Film Festival for Best Short Animation, WINNER: Flickerfest 2026 Yoram Gross Award for Best Australian Animation, JURY SPECIAL MENTION: SXSW London, AUDIENCE AWARD: Short Shorts Film Festival & Asia, AUDIENCE AWARD (BRONZE): Fantasia International Film Festival) SHOTS MAGAZINE REVIEW "A personal archaeology played out in an animated universe that combines fairytale logic with the nostalgia of trading cards...over its 15 minutes the film sinks in and spreads out through the groundwater, the soundtrack’s rich, seeping ambience an underlay for the unsettling dream logic of its imagery, which is more organic and intrepid than surrealism – and more captivating." - Shots.net SYNOPSIS An enigmatic man journeys back in time to find his younger self, seemingly to revisit the nostalgia of trading cards. An exploration of identity, mental health and the erosion of childhood innocence, Trading Cards is a dark fantasy animated film about the weight of living with Obsessive-compulsive disorder.
Radheya Jang ↗
Radheya Jang is an Australian director based in London, working across animation, documentary and live action films. His film 'Trading Cards' won First Prize at Flickers' Rhode Island International Film Festival for Best Short Animation, won the Special Jury Mention at SXSW London and has been selected for 24 Academy Award-qualifying film festivals including Raindance and Palm Springs International ShortFest. His films have screened at Austin Film Festival, Flickerfest, Sydney Film Festival, AFI Fest, Fantasia and Sitges, establishing a sustained international presence. His work has been recognised by Sony and the World Health Organisation, and he has collaborated with globally recognised brands including Dyson and WaterAid. His animated short Bird Drone was shortlisted for the Sony Future Filmmaker Awards. His live-action short Pacing the Pool won Best Short Documentary at the BFI Future Film Festival and was shortlisted by the World Health Organisation for its Special Prize for Rehabilitation. His work engages with film and animation in educational and social contexts, including talks and workshops, with his films adopted as teaching resources in schools and universities. He has contributed to large-scale multimedia installations and public projects, including animation and VFX work on How to Live (Lynette Wallworth), which premiered at the Sundance Film Festival.
