Collateral Damage

Directors: Kynthia Piakis, Faith Teo
Writer: Kynthia Piakis
Producers: Faith Teo, Ben Pergolizzi

Country of origin: Australia

Season Award #15 Nomination: Best Animation

Synopsis: Collateral Damage began as a poem expressing my pain, transitioned into a song and then flourished into an animation with the help of Faith and Ben. It is written for all the children who have fallen victim to adult wars past, present and future. Together, we mourn their lives, their innocence, and with it, anything of moral significance in the world. If grown men are able to authorise and carry out the killing of children, what is left of humanity? As John F. Kennedy infamously said, ‘Children are the world’s most valuable resource and its best hope for the future’. To target children is not only to commit generational genocide and trauma, but to eradicate hope for a safe, peaceful future. It is a strategy that is of the most evil nature. So when our politicians label the loss of children at war as ‘collateral damage’, remember that “every war is a war against children” – Eglantyne Webb.
Hope lies in the heart, and power in the people. Let us raise our voices and protect our children.
All donations from the animation and its merch go to Save the Children.