The Retreat (2019)

‘The Retreat,’ was directed, animated and written by Bel Holborow and Bella Meagher. It was completed as a part of the pairs’ 3rd year studying a Bachelor of Design in Animation at the University of Technology Sydney.

The film is a mash-up of two characters that Bel and Bella worked on throughout the year at UTS. It follows the story of retreat-goer, Mona who is battling for serenity in a meditative treehouse, yet she is constantly interrupted by noisy, fidgety Britney.
The making of the film involved building a handmade set, designed and glued together by Bel and Bella and it was overlaid with 2D animation to achieve a hybrid-style design aesthetic.

The Retreat won the prize for Best Film at the UTS Animation Showcase in 2019. It premiered at Now in Colour in March of 2020 and was awarded the two top prizes.
The Retreat was also accepted into Small Wonders, an online virtual exhibition for a variety of art and film and will also been screened through AniMate Australia in 2021 as a part of the ‘Australian Collection and Winners 2021’ showcase.
In December 2020, The Retreat was selected to be screened at the Tbilisi International Animation Festival as a part of the Student Competition Section.
In January 2021, The Retreat was screened at Biennal Internacional Dona i Cinema - as a part of the festival’s ‘Woman & Film’ exhibition and later in February 2021, it was deemed a Semi-Finalist at the Moscow Film Party - WINTER EDITION, in the category of ‘Best Animation.’