Leading animation production companies The Hive Studio (Letter to a Pig, Black Slide) and Fabian&Fred (Sultana’s Dream, Steakhouse) today announces that the short film Butterfly Kiss, directed by Zohar Dvir (Mercury’s Retrograde) has been selected for release on Vimeo as part of its Staff Picks strand, following a highly successful festival circuit.

Butterfly Kiss, which won the Gold Hugo Award at the Chicago International Film Festival on its first selection, is an Oscar-qualifying film, making it eligible for consideration in the 2026 Academy Awards, among the most celebrated animated shorts globally.

Butterfly Kiss tells the story of Carol, who panics and quarrels with her girlfriend Ray after an unexpected proposal. The situation escalates when she wakes up to an apocalyptic reality where Ray has transformed into a butterfly. Ray’s metamorphosis, the invasion of the outside world into their home, and the growing tension between the two threaten their relationship. Carol is afraid of losing Ray, but devoting herself to her girlfriend might come at a price. 

With themes of identity, transformation, and human anxiety weaved throughout, the film uses the body-horror genre to examine the emotional complexities of commitment, self-acceptance, and vulnerability within relationships, played out through surreal animation. While echoing the long cinematic history of doomed queer romances, Butterfly Kiss reimagines it, allowing its lovers to stay, to transform, and to simply remain together.

The collaboration highlights the power of co-production in animation, with each studio bringing its own strengths to the table. Together, they’ve created a short film that offers a fresh and unique take on the horror genre, one that is both deeply personal and universal in its themes, and that celebrates queer love.

Amit Russell Gicelter, Founder and CEO of The Hive Studio says “At its core, Butterfly Kiss reflects a deeply human experience and the psychological and social struggles that accompany the search for belonging, love, and understanding. We are honoured that this coproduction with our friends at Fabian&Fred has received Oscar-qualifying status and thrilled to share this beautiful work of art with audiences for the first time, following its run at over 70 festivals worldwide.

Fabian Driehorst, Co-founder of Fabian&Fred says “This film is a reflection of the strong and authentic personal touch of the filmmaker’s vision. Zohar delves deep into the innermost feelings of a romantic relationship and the uncomfortable feeling of self-doubt. Combined with the use of both  3D animation and TV-Paint for the hand-drawn 2D animation, the this created the film’s angular world that perfectly supports the its core  narrative.”