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The Amdocs Film Festival, starting this Thursday, will showcase talented filmmakers from around the world, offering a platform for unique and diverse voices in cinema. Among the featured works is Bound, an animated short by Masha Ellsworth, the lead technical director for characters in Pixar’s Inside Out 2. This marks a special moment for Ellsworth, as she brings her personal project to the local festival scene. Bound is a retelling of a famous Ukrainian folk song and explores whether love alone can reunite two characters.

Ellsworth shared her experience working on both large-scale projects, like Pixar’s Up, Toy Story 3, Finding Dory, Coco, and Incredibles 2, and small-scale films like Bound. She described the difference, saying, “On a small animated film, you get to do everything, anything and everything that you want to,” offering her a more hands-on approach compared to the collaborative nature of major Pixar features.

When asked about her favorite Pixar project, Ellsworth fondly recalled her first film at Pixar, Ratatouille. “Anyone can cook,” she said, noting how the film's message has stayed with her and continues to inspire her through challenging moments.

Tickets for the Amdocs Film Festival, including a chance to see Bound, are now available on the Amdocs website.

Our own Olivia Sandusky is taking part in the AmDocs festival. There are also special screenings like Restoring the Salton Sea on Saturday at noon and Tribes of the Coachella Valley on Monday at 11 AM.

In addition to her festival work, Sandusky has been nominated for a Golden Mike for Restoring the Salton Sea part one, with a third installment nearing completion. The latest feature includes visits to a lithium facility and a boat excursion on the Salton Sea.

Amdocs Film Festival Features Animated Short "Bound" by Pixar's Masha Ellsworth