Forced to flee their small village, when sister and brother Kyona and Adriel are separated from their parents, they must make their way across an unkind world in the hope of being reunited. Mixing elements of fairy tale and fable with upsettingly realistic depictions of the contemporary migrant experience, the “crossing” of the title refers not just to the war-torn continent but the journey from adolescence to adulthood for its young heroes. Florence Miailhe’s feature animation debut (achieved by painting its images onto glass) is a visual and emotional wonder to behold and one of the highlights of this year’s program. (ANIMATION IS FILM)
