By Palina Ramashka (Lithuania)
PLURAL+ 2025 FCAT Recognition
“Straight and in a Circle” is an animated short inspired by the filmmaker’s personal journey of migration from Belarus to Lithuania. It explores the emotional challenges of leaving home—homesickness, trauma, and feeling out of place—and the healing that comes through empathy and connection. Through gentle visuals and storytelling, the film reflects how support from others can help rebuild a sense of belonging in unfamiliar surroundings.