Priscilla Kellen
Papaya
Papaya
BR
2026, 74’, no dialogue
Age 5+

 

As juicy as fresh oranges, limes and watermelons, the vibrant hues of Brazilian director Kellen’s animated debut welcome audiences into the grand adventures of a little seed. It is a rapidly changing world whose future, embodied by its young heroine, must be protected through collective effort.

Papaya is but a tiny little seed with a big dream. Her curiosity, rebellious spirit and desire to fly are what set her apart from her sisters. Learning that she is destined to grow into a tree, Papaya decides to defy the laws of nature — she chooses freedom and refuses to take root in the earth. “Never!” she thinks, and sets off on a distant journey to explore the jungle, encounter strange creatures and discover the vast and colourful world she has only heard about from other fruit trees. No matter how far little Papaya travels, the call of home always follows her — a home now under threat.

 

Is it easy to make a film about hope? Kellen has surprised the world of cinema with an animation that opens new horizons for fantasy and sparks the imagination without ever overwhelming it. Screened at festivals in Rio de Janeiro, Berlin and elsewhere, the film draws on the director’s own experience of becoming a mother and finding a new sense of trust in herself and in those closest to her. The film captivates with the grandeur of its digital paper collage technique and vibrant colour palette, while intoxicating the senses with its “visual fragrance” and warming hearts  with its astute observations. The main heroine’s winding adventures also cleverly weave in important questions about environmental protection, society and our shared future — questions that will be fascinating to explore together after the screening.