Oscar-Qualified Animated Short The Escort Heads to LA Femme 2026

Rick Williamson’s Hand-Animated Short Explores Innocence, Trust, and Life’s Journey

Writer-director Rick Williamson’s award-winning animated short The Escort will compete in the Animated Shorts Competition at the 22nd LA Femme International Film Festival, screening Saturday, October 24, at 2 p.m. at Regal Cinemas at the Sherman Oaks Galleria. The animated shorts program is sponsored by TMS Entertainment, one of Japan’s largest animation companies.

Hand-Drawn Without AI

The Escort follows a young boy through the romantic moments in his life, guided by a mysterious companion. Hand-animated in a charming, child-like 2D style and paired with a beautiful original soundtrack, the production took a steadfastly traditional approach: no AI was used in its creation.

“The Escort is a short, animated film that I wrote for my wife many years ago on Christmas Eve when I didn’t have the funds to buy her a gift. Now, it’s our gift to you,” says Williamson.

The Creative Vision

Williamson wrote and directed the film and co-produced it with his wife, Regina McKee Redwing, through their banner, Black Triumph Productions. The film’s emotive original score was composed by Valery Goldes and Drew Tretick.

Expanding beyond animation, Williamson’s current project, Combat Nuns All or Nothing (available on Fawesome TV), is actively seeking a production deal.

Meet the Filmmakers:

Williamson’s career spans acting, writing, directing, and stunt work, with acting award nominations across both stage and screen. His writing and directing credits include the action-horror film The Seventh Man and the black-and-white drama The Gift, which earned him a Best Screenplay award. His first comedy, A Short Film, garnered multiple festival wins in Los Angeles and New York City.

Producer Regina McKee Redwing brings a rich background in entertainment, notably as the first Black Barbie doll named Shawnee, the first Storm superhero at Universal Studios Hollywood, and an actor appearing alongside award-winning directors. When she and Williamson decided to create media they loved, stepping into the role of producer was a natural progression. Redwing has since produced multiple award-winning short films for Black Triumph Productions and thrives in the independent filmmaker ecosystem.