"Saba": Liron Topaz Explores Grief and Connection in a Gravity-Defying World at Tribeca Festival

New York, NY – June 4, 2026 – After a distinguished career crafting beloved characters and narratives for DreamWorks Animation, including the Oscar-shortlisted short film Bilby, animator and director Liron Topaz is returning to his independent roots with Saba. This deeply personal and visually arresting short film is set to make its much-anticipated world premiere at the prestigious Tribeca Festival on Saturday, June 6. Promising an emotional and technical tour de force, Saba invites audiences into a surreal universe where the very fabric of gravity is reimagined, offering a poignant exploration of loss, memory, and the enduring strength of human connection.

The 10-minute film, produced by Lirit Rosenzweig Topaz, presents a unique world where gravity pulls upward, forcing its inhabitants to live tethered to the earth by an intricate network of ropes and anchors. At the heart of this story is a young boy and his grandfather, Saba, whose lives are defined by this unusual existence. When tragedy strikes, the boy embarks on a visually poetic and wordless journey through the profound landscape of grief, grappling with memories and the universal quest for closure. A particularly ambitious creative choice, Saba is presented as a single, continuous shot, a decision that amplifies both its emotional resonance and its technical ingenuity.

The Genesis of a Gravity-Defying Narrative

The inspiration for Saba‘s distinctive inverted gravity stems from a fundamental question about loss that resonated deeply with Topaz. "The idea of gravity flowing upward came from a simple emotional question: what if the people we’ve lost never truly leave us, but continue to exist just beyond our reach?" Topaz shared in an exclusive interview with Cartoon Brew. He elaborated on this profound concept, stating, "In the world of Saba, everything that is alive remains grounded, while everything that is no longer living slowly drifts upward toward the other side. The concept was born from the idea that our time in this world is borrowed. We are all here temporarily, anchored for a brief moment before continuing on."

This central metaphor became the bedrock for nearly every visual decision made during the film’s production. The very architecture of the world in Saba reflects this constant tension between the forces of gravity and the human desire for stability. Houses, everyday objects, and even entire landscapes are depicted in a perpetual state of flux, appearing to strain against an unseen pull towards the sky.

"The upward pull became a visual expression of that inevitability, while the ropes and anchors throughout the world reflect our very human desire to hold on to the people and moments that matter most," Topaz explained. "We wanted the world to feel whimsical and poetic, but also emotionally truthful, allowing the visual language itself to reflect the film’s themes of loss, love, memory, and letting go." This dedication to thematic visual storytelling imbues Saba with a layer of depth that transcends its fantastical premise.

A Return to Personal Storytelling

Saba also signifies a significant return for Topaz to the kind of deeply personal storytelling that first ignited his passion for animation. He cites the works of British animator Mark Baker, particularly The Village and The Hill Farm, as well as the evocative films of Michael Dudok de Wit, as formative influences that shaped his early artistic vision.

"After spending much of my career in commercial animation, I felt a strong desire to return to independent filmmaking," Topaz revealed. "I wanted to create something personal, rooted in my own experience, but open enough for audiences to bring their own personal experience to it." This desire for universality, for a narrative that could resonate with a wide spectrum of human experiences, is palpable in the film’s themes.

Topaz expressed his hope that viewers will connect with Saba through their own personal encounters with loss and remembrance. "I hope audiences walk away with a sense of recognition – that longing for one more moment, one more conversation, one more chance to say what was never said," he articulated. "It’s something we all carry in different ways, and the film tries to give shape to that feeling in a poetic, visual form." This emphasis on shared emotional landscapes suggests that Saba aims to be more than just a film; it seeks to be a cathartic experience for its audience.

The Technical Marvel of a Single, Unbroken Take

The decision to present Saba as a single, uninterrupted shot was not merely an aesthetic choice but a deliberate narrative strategy. Topaz emphasized that this approach was never intended as a mere technical showcase, but rather as the most effective means of conveying the film’s story and emotional arc.

"The single-shot approach was always meant to serve the story," Topaz asserted. "Grief is rarely experienced in neat chapters or clean transitions. It unfolds as a continuous emotional journey, and we wanted the audience to experience that journey alongside the boy in real time." This continuous flow aims to immerse the viewer directly into the protagonist’s experience, mirroring the relentless passage of time and the often-uninterrupted nature of profound emotional states.

Furthermore, this format reinforces one of the film’s core philosophical underpinnings. "Just as the camera never stops, neither does time," Topaz observed. "The audience is carried through memories, discoveries, moments of joy, and moments of loss without interruption." This unbroken perspective underscores the film’s exploration of how memories and experiences are interwoven, creating a rich tapestry of a life lived and a journey through the aftermath of absence.

A Collaborative Symphony of Animation Expertise

The ambitious nature of producing a feature-length narrative within a single, unbroken shot necessitated an extraordinary level of collaboration and technical precision. Topaz assembled an international ensemble of highly skilled animators, many of whom are veterans of the animation industry. This esteemed group includes luminaries such as James Baxter, Antoine Antin, and Sandro Cleuzo, alongside other talented artists like Simone Cirillo, Mael Gourmelen, Fernando Moro, Kevin O’Hara, Slaven Reese, Tim Watts, and Matt Williames. Each animator was tasked with contributing to specific segments of the film, all while meticulously maintaining the seamless illusion of a continuous take.

"Every section of Saba had to connect seamlessly to the next," Topaz explained, highlighting the intricate choreography required. "In many ways, the production mirrored the film itself – a collective effort built on connection, trust, and the seamless handoff from one person to another." This description of the production process itself becomes a metaphor for the film’s themes of connection and shared experience. The success of Saba is not just a testament to Topaz’s vision but also to the collective artistry and dedication of the entire team, who worked in concert to bring this unique cinematic world to life.

Impact and Anticipation

The world premiere of Saba at the Tribeca Festival marks a significant moment for independent animation and for Topaz’s directorial career. The film’s innovative approach to narrative, its profound thematic exploration of loss and memory, and its breathtaking visual artistry position it as a standout entry in this year’s festival circuit. Audiences can anticipate a deeply moving and technically masterful experience that pushes the boundaries of animated storytelling. The trailer, released in anticipation of the premiere, offers a tantalizing glimpse into the film’s surreal aesthetic and emotional depth, sparking considerable excitement within the animation community and beyond. The distribution by Miyu Distribution further ensures that Saba will reach a global audience, ready to engage with its universal themes and unique visual language.

As Liron Topaz returns to the independent filmmaking landscape, Saba stands as a powerful testament to the enduring impact of personal storytelling and the boundless potential of animation to explore the deepest facets of the human experience. The film’s debut at Tribeca is poised to be a highlight, offering a poignant and unforgettable journey into a world where love and memory defy the very laws of nature.