IN HALF
Jorge Morais Valle
2024
25 min
Spain
English, French
Through a child’s imagination it tells the journey of a man who after falling prey to his fears, he must cross a strange world, a universe full of magic, where he will be confronted with his own fears and conflicts from the past and where he must find solutions for the future to discover his self-identity.
Jorge Morais is a filmmaker and visual artist from Vigo, Spain, whose work refuses easy categorisation. Over more than twenty years, he has moved between animation, illustration, theatrical design, and the visual arts, always guided by the same instinct: that the most powerful stories live at the intersection of artistic tradition and new technology. The result is a body of work that has earned over 350 awards and an unmistakable voice
in contemporary animation.
His path began far from any screen, in sculpture, mural painting, and stage design , before finding its fullest expression in authored animation. That unconventional foundation is precisely what sets him apart: a filmmaker equally at home with a pencil and a render engine, with intimate storytelling and large-scale international production.
Recognised with the National ArtFutura Award 2011 and the Golden Monkey King Award 2025, becoming the first European artist ever to receive the latter, his celebrated short The Painter of Skies screened in over 75 countries and earned more than 115 awards, announcing a talent with genuine global reach.
His latest short, In Half, is currently travelling the international festival circuit and shows no signs of slowing down, already selected by over 270 festivals, shortlisted for the Premios Goya, and showcased at SIGGRAPH, one of the world’s premier events for animation and visual technology. Each new selection feels less like a destination and more like confirmation of an artist at the height of his powers.
Morais is now developing his debut animated feature while continuing to work on a range of other animation projects, further cementing his presence as a rising voice in contemporary animation.
I believe that animation has the power to transcend boundaries and connect people on a deeper level. Through my work, I aim to explore complex themes and emotions that resonate with viewers of all ages. I am committed to bringing diverse voices and perspectives to the forefront, and using the medium of animation to spark conversation and foster empathy.
I believe that animation is a powerful tool for storytelling, and I strive to push the boundaries of what is possible in the medium. I am constantly seeking new ways to innovate and challenge myself creatively, in order to create work that is both visually stunning and emotionally resonant. My goal is to create animation that not only entertains, but also leaves a lasting impact on its audience, challenging them to think critically and feel deeply.
I am dedicated to creating stories that are inclusive, thoughtful, and thought-provoking. I strive to create characters that are diverse, complex, and authentically represented. I believe that by centering the stories of underrepresented communities, we can create a more inclusive and empathetic world.
Above all, I aspire to create animation that is meaningful, inspiring, and memorable. I am committed to using my platform as a filmmaker to shine a light on important and often overlooked stories, and to create work that has a lasting impact. Through my animation projects, I hope to inspire others to think, feel, and connect with each other in a deeper and more meaningful way.
Jorge Morais Valle
