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Logline

In a society of a flying species called Brutts, a father becomes obsessed with helping his wingless son fly and goes to extreme lengths to achieve it. This emotional stop motion cautionary tale explores the themes of father- son separation, self-acceptance, child-like wonder, and the individuality of a loved one.

Synopsis

On an isolated island of flighted man-bird species known as “Brutts,” flying is survival and freedom. To leave the island, one must take to the skies. Ol’ Brutt, a devoted father, is overjoyed by the birth of his son, Lil’ Brutt—until he discovers the boy’s small, featherless wings, rendering him incapable of flight.

Determined to help his son, Ol’ Brutt works tirelessly to instill a love for the sky in Lil’ Brutt. But to his dismay, the boy is more captivated by the sand beneath his feet than the expanse above. Refusing to accept this, Ol’ Brutt devises a daring plan: crafting makeshift wings for Lil’ Brutt from pieces of his own home. Each failed attempt only strengthens his resolve, even as his home is reduced to a fragile shell.

Driven by love and desperation, Ol’ Brutt makes the ultimate sacrifice—removing his own wings to gift them to Lil’ Brutt. Oblivious to his father’s pain, the boy eagerly dons the wings. As Lil’ Brutt takes to the sky for the first time, he discovers the wonder his father always dreamed for him.
Lil’ Brutt’s flight is a bittersweet triumph. Soaring higher and farther, he disappears into the horizon, leaving Ol’ Brutt behind. The father, though grounded and alone, finds contentment in his son’s freedom and potential.

Sandclouds is a poignant tale of love, sacrifice, and hope. It explores the tension between grounded realities and lofty dreams, painting an emotional portrait of a father’s ultimate act of selflessness for his child’s future.
 

Meet the Filmmakers

Manuel Del Valle — Director/Producer/Writer
Manuel Del Valle, a filmmaker from San Luis Potosí, Mexico, now based in Los Angeles, merges his formal education from ArtCenter College of Design and California College of the Arts. His storytelling delves into themes of decay, transformation, connection, and disconnection.

His unique narrative approach led him to be shortlisted multiple times for the Ariel Award and win at film festivals including HBO’s Urbanworld and La Habana International Film Festival. His work has been selected for the Morelia Festival, HollyShorts, and featured in collaborations with the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences. 

Currently, Del Valle is directing The Unexpected Symptoms of a Peculiar Heart in collaboration with Foton.Pictures. He is also developing Sandclouds, a stop-motion project in collaboration with the Mexican team behind Guillermo del Toro’s Pinocchio.

Amid these projects, he premiered his Oscar-qualifying short film for 2025, In the Fold, at the Tribeca Film Festival as part of the Indeed Rising Voices initiative led by Emmy nominee Lena Waithe. Additionally, he is preparing to launch Nomad Heart Studios, aiming to create content that resonates on both social and cultural levels.

Juan P. Soto — Producer/Writer
Juan P. Soto was born and raised in Maracaibo, Venezuela, where he embarked his lifelong artistic journey in fine arts and then theater until relocating to the US, where he studied Animation at Full Sail University and Film Directing at UCLA.

As a passionate storyteller, Juan gained international recognition as a producer with the music video “El cielo no es de nadie”, selected by Shorts Mexico, Cinequest and Urbanworld Film Festival. He then began his directorial short film debut No me Abandones followed by his film thesis Luna Azul recognized by The Venezuelan Film Festival and Clemont Ferrand’s Short Film Market.

Juan embodies the essence of openness, embracing it as the catalyst for personal growth and evolution in his cinematic journey. Juan’s pursuit to express stories and depict themes from his home country are none other than fundamental in his future career on film.

Erika Aldana — Producer/Writer
Erika is a Mexican writer, actress and producer. She holds a Master’s degree in Human Development focused on Art Therapy and a Bachelor’s degree in Communication and Entertainment Management, including studies at Disney University during her Disney International College Program.
 
Erika’s organic approach to scriptwriting, idea conceptualization, and emotional communication stem from her background as an actress.  Her ability to empathize with characters and convey their inner worlds translates into powerful storytelling.
 
Selected for the Indeed initiative “Rising Voices” season 4, Erika co-wrote the Oscar-qualifying short film for 2025, In the Fold, which premiered at the Tribeca Film Festival.


Currently, she leads development at Nomad Heart Studios, where she serves as producer and co-writer for Sandclouds a stop-motion short film, among other ongoing projects.

Sam Méndez — Co-Producer
Sam Méndez, Animation Director and co-founder of Hobby Creative Studio, has over 20 years of experience in the animation industry in Mexico. With projects including independent productions, advertising, corporate videos and commercials, he has specialized in the Stop motion craft. While also enhancing his expertise in 2D and 3D animation, as well as post production.

He has collaborated with Warner Brothers Entertainment on MAD TV, participating in multiple seasons with modeling, animation, animation direction and lighting for various capsules. 

His work includes the music video “Paris Blues” for “The Doors”, Feature film Bajo la Sal, nominated for the Ariel 2008, and his latest short film La Canción del Lago (official selection at over 15 festivals and nominated at the 66th Ariel Awards for Best Animated Short).

Salvador Ríos — Co-Producer
Salvador Ríos de Dios, co-founder of Hobby Creative Studio, is an accomplished audiovisual producer and director of photography with over 15 years of experience in film and advertising. He specializes in managing creative projects from conception to final delivery, ensuring operational efficiency and high production quality. His expertise spans budget negotiations, shoot planning, and post-production supervision.

Salvador has produced over 100 commercials and corporate videos for clients across the U.S., Latin America (including Brazil), the European Union, the UAE, the UK, and Turkey. His portfolio includes notable projects such as La Canción del Lago (official selection at over 15 festivals and nominated at the 66th Ariel Awards for Best Animated Short), Velo-Love, and El Eco del Miedo. He is currently producing the feature film Es La Luna, a Mexico-Colombia co-production.

He holds a Master’s in Cinematography from Madrid’s Escuela Superior de Formación Audiovisual and a degree in Communication from ITESO in Guadalajara. Additionally, he has trained in virtual production and finance.

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Contact

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