SCOTTY Premieres at Cannes Film Market

​Benar Animation Studio’s film, Scotty, made its debut at Cannes Film Market , the culmination of 6 years’ work by more than 300 concept artists, art designers, animators, and CGI engineers from all over the world. Directed by Mohammad Pirzadi, Scotty represents a heartfelt exploration of resilience, trust, and the meaning of home.

After losing his mother in a house fire, Scotty, a frightened kitten, is left alone on the unforgiving city streets. With nowhere safe to go, he finds refuge in the ruins of his old home - the only place where he feels secure. Years later, Scotty has grown into a solitary cat, guarding his small, quiet territory, but when a lively pet cat named Katie wanders in, his world is turned upside down. Forced out of his safe zone, Scotty reluctantly joins her on her dangerous journey, hoping that she will finally help him find his way back. Though Katie claims to know the way, it turns out she is just as lost. Along the way, they face risks, save each other, and slowly grow close until a misunderstanding separates them. Near the end of their quest, Katie is captured by a villain. Scotty returns home alone, but he is changed. Realising he no longer wants a lonely life, he sets out to rescue Katie so they can share a new life together.

Before embarking on the journey of creating this film, the director immersed himself in the fascinating world of cats. He watched every movie and documentary about them, studying their behaviour, quirks, and particularly their body language. Growing up surrounded by street cats, he felt a deep connection to their untamed spirit and resilient nature. The producer set the office next to an animal shelter so animators could go there to watch and learn from rescued cats every day.

Street cats carry an incredible aura of doubt and mistrust, their wary eyes reflecting untold stories of survival. For Scotty, the main character, Pirzadi imagined an emotional journey where Scotty learns to trust again, make friends, and ultimately find happiness. Alongside this, the theme of "home" plays a pivotal role. To him, home is not just a physical place but a sense of belonging. Through Scotty’s journey, he wanted to explore how sharing happiness with others transforms a space into a true home.

Ali Noori Oskouei, a renowned Iranian producer, director, and Grand Prize winner at SICAF, sees Scotty as more than a film. As a consulting producer, he believes that in a world where countless children and adults face trauma and depression, the movie takes an uncommon path; it's an animated feature that both delights the heart and gently reassures the viewer.

Negotiations are currently underway to design the best global release for the film, with final decisions to be announced soon after Cannes 2025.

Note: The copy and images in this post were provided by Benar Animation Studio.