[SAMANSA] Announcing the New Short Film Lineup for the Fourth Week of March! Releasing Three Films: From an Animation Depicting the Dark Side of 19th-Century Parisian Ballet Society to a Human Drama About an Awkward yet Adorable Boy Spending Time with His Estranged Father.
SAMANSA has announced the release of three new short films on March 27, 2026, featuring a diverse range of genres. The lineup includes a French animation set in the 19th-century ballet world, a touching Christmas drama about a young girl, and a poignant story of a boy reuniting with his father.
📋 Article Processing Timeline
- 📰 Published: March 28, 2026 at 00:37
- 🔍 Collected: March 28, 2026 at 21:59 (21h 22m after Published)
- 🤖 AI Analyzed: April 15, 2026 at 02:52 (412h 52m after Collected)
SAMANSA Inc. (Headquarters: Shibuya-ku, Tokyo; Representative Director: Yuichi Iwanaga) is pleased to announce that it will begin distributing three new short films—'Louise,' 'The Innkeeper,' and 'Birthday Cake for Dinner'—on its short film distribution service, 'SAMANSA,' on Friday, March 27, 2026.
From an animation depicting the dark side of the glamorous ballet society in 19th-century Paris to a slightly awkward yet adorable human drama about a boy spending time with his estranged father, please enjoy this week's wide range of genres.
◆ New Titles
1. 'Louise' [A Ballerina Wandering the Opera House at Night to Pay Off Her Debts]
Synopsis:
Paris, 1895. After the curtain falls on a glamorous stage, young ballerina Louise is pressured by a colleague to repay a debt. 'I'll pay you later,' she says, disappearing into the dark backstage area. What is the abyss that this young girl has stepped into, hidden behind the beautiful art?
Directors: Constance Bertoux, Camille Bozec, Pauline Guitton, Pauline Mauviere & Mila Monaghan
Runtime: 6 minutes 17 seconds
2. 'The Innkeeper' [A Perfectionist Teacher vs. an 8-Year-Old Innkeeper Who Ignores the Script]
Synopsis:
Young Holly is cast as the Innkeeper in the Christmas nativity play. She just cannot accept the script where she has to turn Mary away because the inn is full. Scolded by her teacher to 'stick to the script,' the day of the performance arrives—what is the real reason she cannot accept her role?
Director: Padraig Baggott
Runtime: 13 minutes 46 seconds
3. 'Birthday Cake for Dinner' [A 7-Year-Old Boy Defies His Mother's Advice to Visit His Estranged Father]
Synopsis:
'He is not the person you think of as "Dad."' With her mother's words in his heart, Simon visits his father's house. The father he faces for the first time seems somehow dangerous and teaches him strange rules. On the weekend of his birthday, the boy steps into his father's world—what was waiting for him there?
Director: Damon Russell
Runtime: 11 minutes 40 seconds
《Comments from Staff》
Our recommended film this week is the heart-melting short film 'The Innkeeper.' Although she is supposed to be the mean innkeeper who turns away Mary, the protagonist Holly's overflow of kindness—going beyond her role by asking 'Why can't I let them stay?'—is sure to capture everyone's hearts. It is a work that shines with the pure, untainted warmth of children, a quality that can only be depicted in the short film genre. Please enjoy the warm, moving conclusion on SAMANSA.
◆ About SAMANSA
SAMANSA is a distribution service specializing in short films.
For 490 yen per month, we provide works carefully selected from around the world and are currently distributing over 500 short films (as of October 2025). With a runtime of 30 minutes or less, these films are designed to fit into various daily life scenes, such as commuting time or small pockets of free time.
Additionally, by signing direct licensing agreements with creators around the world, we deliver a diverse range of works that cannot be seen on other domestic VOD services. We aim to create a new culture where films can be enjoyed more freely and intimately.
From an animation depicting the dark side of the glamorous ballet society in 19th-century Paris to a slightly awkward yet adorable human drama about a boy spending time with his estranged father, please enjoy this week's wide range of genres.
◆ New Titles
1. 'Louise' [A Ballerina Wandering the Opera House at Night to Pay Off Her Debts]
Synopsis:
Paris, 1895. After the curtain falls on a glamorous stage, young ballerina Louise is pressured by a colleague to repay a debt. 'I'll pay you later,' she says, disappearing into the dark backstage area. What is the abyss that this young girl has stepped into, hidden behind the beautiful art?
Directors: Constance Bertoux, Camille Bozec, Pauline Guitton, Pauline Mauviere & Mila Monaghan
Runtime: 6 minutes 17 seconds
2. 'The Innkeeper' [A Perfectionist Teacher vs. an 8-Year-Old Innkeeper Who Ignores the Script]
Synopsis:
Young Holly is cast as the Innkeeper in the Christmas nativity play. She just cannot accept the script where she has to turn Mary away because the inn is full. Scolded by her teacher to 'stick to the script,' the day of the performance arrives—what is the real reason she cannot accept her role?
Director: Padraig Baggott
Runtime: 13 minutes 46 seconds
3. 'Birthday Cake for Dinner' [A 7-Year-Old Boy Defies His Mother's Advice to Visit His Estranged Father]
Synopsis:
'He is not the person you think of as "Dad."' With her mother's words in his heart, Simon visits his father's house. The father he faces for the first time seems somehow dangerous and teaches him strange rules. On the weekend of his birthday, the boy steps into his father's world—what was waiting for him there?
Director: Damon Russell
Runtime: 11 minutes 40 seconds
《Comments from Staff》
Our recommended film this week is the heart-melting short film 'The Innkeeper.' Although she is supposed to be the mean innkeeper who turns away Mary, the protagonist Holly's overflow of kindness—going beyond her role by asking 'Why can't I let them stay?'—is sure to capture everyone's hearts. It is a work that shines with the pure, untainted warmth of children, a quality that can only be depicted in the short film genre. Please enjoy the warm, moving conclusion on SAMANSA.
◆ About SAMANSA
SAMANSA is a distribution service specializing in short films.
For 490 yen per month, we provide works carefully selected from around the world and are currently distributing over 500 short films (as of October 2025). With a runtime of 30 minutes or less, these films are designed to fit into various daily life scenes, such as commuting time or small pockets of free time.
Additionally, by signing direct licensing agreements with creators around the world, we deliver a diverse range of works that cannot be seen on other domestic VOD services. We aim to create a new culture where films can be enjoyed more freely and intimately.