"Mother Didn't Know" Gets a Second Life

When we completed "Mother Didn't Know" in 2020, the world had just shut down. The pandemic cast a shadow over film festivals and releases, and our quiet twelve-minute film slipped into the world with barely a whisper. It was a challenging time to share anything new. But sometimes, films have other plans.

This autumn, we received a wonderful surprise: our film has been selected for the Norwegian Film Institute's "Shorts for Children" – a collection of seven Norwegian short films from 2020-2024 that represent the breadth of talent within Norway's film industry. The initiative is available on Blu-ray with subtitles in ten languages and is presented in partnership with the Norwegian Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

Our film "Mother didn't" has been selected for the Norwegian Film Institute's "Shorts for Children" – a collection of seven Norwegian short films from 2020-2024 that represent the breadth of talent within Norway's film industry

For us, this recognition feels particularly meaningful. "Mother Didn't Know" was never just a lockdown project – it was genuinely experimental work where we could test animation techniques we wanted to explore further for our upcoming feature, "Christmas Survivors". Director, animator, and producer Anita Killi worked alongside animator Jens Gulliksen, co-producer Marita Mayer, and a dedicated team that invested real care and intentionality into every frame.

What's gratifying about being included in the NFI's collection is the recognition it represents for short films for children as a vital part of Norway's cultural heritage. We're proud to stand alongside six other films, each representing distinctive voices and perspectives within our film industry.

We are deeply grateful to the Norwegian Film Institute for championing this collection and for giving "Mother Didn't Know" a broader audience. Sometimes the best moments come when you least expect them.

If you haven't seen our film yet, you can watch it here and a comprehensive "behind the scene" picture book here. For schools, libraries, and organizations interested in screening this wonderful collection of Norwegian children's films, please reach out to the Norwegian Film Institute here.

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This collection of seven Norwegian short films features subtitles in Arabic, Chinese, English, French, German, Italian, Norwegian, Portuguese, Russian, Spanish, and Turkish. Total runtime: 84 minutes.