‘The Lovers,’ Filipino WLW animated short, now streaming on YouTube

Award-winning indie short film ‘The Lovers’ blends forbidden sapphic romance with rich Filipino folklore.

Filipino WLW animated short film “The Lovers” is now streaming for free on YouTube following its festival run, which included premieres at the Annecy International Animation Film Festival and Fantasia International Film Festival.

The debut film from creatives Sophia Paez and Alice Mao follows Sara Lim Baylon, a reluctant seafood chef from Binondo, Manila. As the youngest member of her family to run their restaurant, Sara carries the pressure of living up to her late father’s reputation while trying to keep the family business afloat.

Her responsibilities take an unexpected turn when the restaurant is chosen to host the governor’s inauguration dinner, with a sirena set to be the centerpiece of the event. Amid the preparations, Sara finds herself drawn into a dangerous affair with the mythical creature.

Blending WLW romance with Filipino mythology, “The Lovers” places Sara’s desires against the expectations of her family and the responsibilities tied to their restaurant.

The film had been in development for four years before its 2026 release. It made its world premiere at Annecy, one of the world’s leading animation festivals, before making its North American premiere at Fantasia International Film Festival.

At Fantasia, “The Lovers” won the 2026 Gold Audience Award for Best Animated Short, marking its first major festival recognition.

“The Lovers” was independently produced with support from a 2023 Kickstarter campaign, which raised more than $400,000 toward the film’s production.

The film comes from Studio Heartbreak, a Philippines-based animation studio with team members working across the globe. Its collaborators have also worked on projects including “Attack on Titan,” “Legend of Pipi,” “Chiaki’s Journey,” and “Boruto.”

“The Lovers” premiered for free on YouTube on Aug. 29, following its festival run from Annecy to Fantasia.