Summary
- Best International Short Film award for “MAMMALIA” at TIFF 2026
- World premiere in the Strange Cuts programme
- Written and directed by Elia Kalogianni
- Produced by Open Borders Productions
Elia Kalogianni’s short film “MAMMALIA” won the Short Cuts Award for Best International Short Film at the 51st Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF), where it had its world premiere.
The Greek-Dutch production was honoured in TIFF’s Short Cuts programme, with the award carrying a CAD $10,000 prize. The winners were announced on September 20, 2026.
A story about care, control and power
“MAMMALIA” centres on Antonia and Mavra, two women living together in a house with domesticated animals. Beneath their fragile routines, a struggle for dominance develops as care turns into control and their relationship escalates into a power game that blurs the boundaries between protection, exploitation and violence.
Kalogianni has connected the project with questions surrounding animal exploitation, power structures, anthropocentrism and speciesism. The film uses a non-linear narrative set within a domestic urban space.
The Short Cuts jury’s reasoning
The Short Cuts jury highlighted the film’s audacity and formal assurance. Its statement described a film that confronts aspects of human behaviour we often avoid examining and uses the grotesque to bring viewers face to face with contradictions in our behaviour and society. The jury consisted of Joecar Hanna, Chris Lavis and Iris Ng.
The filmmakers behind “MAMMALIA”
The film is written and directed by Elia Kalogianni and produced by Alexandros Tiliopoulos of Open Borders Productions. Romanna Lobach and Maria Filini star, with Thomas Tsiftelis serving as director of photography.
Co-producers are Elia Kalogianni, Panos Kondylis, Ioanna Bolomyti and Anna Demianenko. Christos Symeonides handled production design, Konstantina Mardiki costume design, Max Vonk colour grading, and Ilias Kampanis and Marco Gorissen sound design.
From development to its world premiere
Before reaching Toronto, “MAMMALIA” took part in European Short Pitch, Talents and Short Film Market, Balkan Film Market, Brussels Short Film Market and ERT’s microfilm programme. At TIFF it screened in the Strange Cuts programme within Short Cuts.
What we think
The TIFF award gives “MAMMALIA” a strong starting point for its international festival journey. The distinction came at the film’s world premiere, within a programme dedicated to short-form cinema.
Frequently asked questions
Which award did “MAMMALIA” win?
It won the Short Cuts Award for Best International Short Film at the 51st Toronto International Film Festival.
Who directed the film?
“MAMMALIA” was written and directed by Elia Kalogianni.
Who stars in the film?
The principal cast includes Romanna Lobach and Maria Filini.
