The Swimming Lesson (2026) is a very short animation story film. A woman encourages a young girl into the river for a swimming lesson: 'Come in. The water's lovely. You really ought to learn to swim. I won't let go of you.' [1 min 27 sec] Completion date: 14th March 2026.

The Swimming Lesson is an Official Selection in the 2026 Tees Valley International Film Festival, with a live screening at ARC Stockton Arts Centre in November 2026.

The Swimming Lesson will be screened live at The Lowther Pavilion, Lytham St Annes, on 19th October 2026, along with the famous Italian horror feature film 'Suspiria' (1977, directed by Luca Guadagnino), the horror classic 'The Fog' (1980, directed by John Carpenter), and another short film, as part of Lowther's Short Support.

I personally really enjoyed the unsettling vibes ... (Adam Pearce, Lowther's Short Support)

The Swimming Lesson is an Official Selection in the 2026 Screaming Ostrich International Film Festival, with a live screening in Arlington, Massachussetts, USA, in October 2026.

The Swimming Lesson was given an Honorable Mention by the 2026 Gloucester Independent Film Festival.

The Swimming Lesson was an Official Selection in the 2026 Romford Short Film Festival, with a live screening at the Lumiere Cinema, Romford, on Saturday 5th September 2026.

The Swimming Lesson is an Official Selection, and was on the Judges' Shortlist and Commmended in the Animation section, in the 2026 Women Over Fifty Film Festival, with an online screening from Friday 4th September to Monday 5th October 2026.

"The fixed bird's eye view, a voice at once both real and surreal, makes for a highly effective, deeply unsettling short. We loved its creepiness and minimal approach." (Women Over Fifty Film Festival judges)

The Swimming Lesson was an Official Selection in Quick Cut 2026: The 90-Second Film Challenge, which is part of Cornwall Film Festival, with a live screening at the Plaza Cinema, Truro, Cornwall, on Thursday 13th August 2026.

The Swimming Lesson was included in a showreel in Day after day after day: Recent works by Tineke Bruijnzeels and Cally Trench, at The North Wall Arts Centre, Oxford, 30th June to 8th August 2026.

The Swimming Lesson was an Official Selection in the 2026 Walthamstow International Film Festival, with a live screening at Walthamstow Trades Hall, London, on Sunday 28th June 2026. This was the festival and UK premiere of The Swimming Lesson.