By Valerie Milano
Palm Springs, CA (The Hollywood Times) 6/17/26 – Some animated shorts entertain. Others linger long after the credits roll. Saba, the remarkable, animated short from writer-director Liron Topaz, firmly belongs in the latter category.
Selected for both the Palm Springs International ShortFest and the River Valley Film Festival, two festivals proudly partnered with The Hollywood Times, Saba is a visually stunning and emotionally resonant meditation on grief, memory, and the search for closure.
The title, which means “grandfather” in Hebrew, serves as the emotional foundation for a story inspired by Topaz’s own relationship with his grandfather. Rather than creating a literal biography, Topaz crafted something far more universal.
“The film is in memory of my grandfather, but it wasn’t supposed to be a biographical film or a documentary,” Topaz told The Hollywood Times. “It was supposed to be more of a symbolic and poetic film.”
Set in a surreal world where gravity flows upward, Saba follows a young boy on an emotional journey through loss and remembrance. The concept could easily have become a visual gimmick, but in Topaz’s hands, the reverse-gravity world becomes a powerful metaphor for the fleeting nature of life itself.
“I was looking for a visual way to show that our time here in this world is borrowed,” he explained. “Everything that is alive still has proper gravity, is grounded, until it does not have life anymore, and then it starts floating up.”
That simple yet profound concept forms the emotional backbone of a film that is both intimate and expansive.
Visually, Saba is breathtaking. The film embraces a watercolor-inspired aesthetic that feels handcrafted and deeply human. Working alongside production designer Evner Geller and color designer Mike McCain, Topaz created imagery that feels like a moving painting.
“We really worked hard on trying to make that feel very human-made,” Topaz said. “Especially in an age where there’s so much digital work out there and now with AI doing so much, we wanted to really feel the human aspect of that.”
The result is a dreamlike visual language that perfectly complements the story’s emotional themes.
What makes Saba even more impressive is the technical achievement behind it. The entire film unfolds as one continuous shot spanning approximately 14,000 frames. For an independent animated production, that accomplishment alone is extraordinary.
Topaz revealed that animators from Japan, Brazil, Spain, France, and other countries collaborated simultaneously, carefully coordinating their work to create seamless transitions throughout the film. As the story progresses, the time of day slowly shifts from morning to dusk without calling attention to itself, subtly reinforcing the passage of time and memory.
Yet for all of its technical brilliance, Saba remains deeply personal.
One of the film’s most touching details is that the voices of the young protagonist were provided by Topaz’s own sons. His younger son voices the child version of the character, while his older son voices the teenage version.
The emotional authenticity shines through every frame.
“Everybody lost someone that they really cared about,” Topaz reflected. “I wanted people to connect to it from their own grief. I wanted to tell it in a poetic way so everybody can put their own experiences and their own loss in this tale.”
That approach works beautifully. Early in the film, a particularly moving sequence brought tears to my eyes, something that rarely happens during a short film. The emotions never feel manipulative or forced. Instead, they emerge naturally from the film’s sincerity and vulnerability.
The production itself was also a family collaboration. Producer Lirit Rosenzweig Topaz, Liron’s wife, played a vital role in shaping the film.
“She understood what the story really tells,” he said. “She knew where this was coming from.”
That shared understanding is evident throughout the finished work.
The film has already connected with audiences during its festival run, including a successful screening at Tribeca. According to Topaz, viewers frequently approach him afterward to share stories about grandparents, siblings, parents, and loved ones they have lost.
The response has been so strong that Topaz is now developing a feature-length project set within the same reverse-gravity world.
One can easily understand why. The world of Saba feels rich enough to sustain a larger story, while the emotional themes remain universally relatable.
For now, however, audiences have the opportunity to experience this beautiful short on its own terms.
Saba screens at the Palm Springs International ShortFest on June 23 as part of Opening Night programming, where it stands as the only animated film in the lineup. It will also screen at the River Valley Film Festival on July 18 as part of the Narrative Shorts program.
Both festivals have made an excellent choice.
With its breathtaking artistry, ambitious technical execution, and deeply human heart, Saba reminds us that animation can often express emotions that live-action films struggle to capture. It is a poetic, moving, and unforgettable work that deserves every bit of the recognition it is receiving on the festival circuit.
Rating: 4.5/5 Stars
For more information, visit saba-film.com and follow Liron Topaz on Instagram at @liron.topes.art.
