This Way Up

Residing in a certain English countryside, the Shank father and son are local funeral directors, responsible for respectfully sending off the deceased on their final journey. One gloomy and overcast morning, the father and son drive to a neighboring village to transport the coffin of an elderly lady who has just passed away. Perhaps this dreadful weather foreshadows the Shanks' terrible day, as when they lift the coffin, the son accidentally knocks over a nearby vase. This small mishap, however, leads to the complete breakdown of the hearse. Left with no other choice, the father and son have no option but to carry the coffin over mountains and through rivers to reach the cemetery. Along this journey, they will encounter unimaginable hardships and obstacles... This film won the Audience Award at the 2008 Ottawa International Animation Festival, the Best Animated Short Film award at the 2008 Palm Springs International Festival of Short Films, the Best Animated Short award at the 2008 Rhode Island International Film Festival, and was nominated for the 2009 Academy Award for Best Animated Short Film.