Award-Winning Short Film by CADA Alumni: Ritardando

Alumni Spotlight: SImon Kaarfast

At CADA, we take pride in following the journeys of our students after they leave the classroom. One of those stories belongs to Simon Kaarfast, who recently saw his thesis project turn into an award-winning short film.

The film, Ritardando, has already made its mark in the Danish film scene, winning the Best Danish Animation Award and receiving a nomination for the Robert Award 2026 – Best Short Film.

Simon began working on Ritardando during his final semester at CADA, in collaboration with the Danish film collective SUPER16. Being part of a small and dedicated team meant that Simon’s role was central to the production. He built the environments, developed Metahumans, including a digital version of lead actor Thure Lindhardt through 3D scanning, recorded and cleaned motion capture data, and even created a custom shader to animate harp strings. He also set up a workflow that allowed the team to film scenes using nothing more than an iPhone.

His efforts reflect not only the technical skills he honed during his studies but also the creativity and problem-solving that thrive when students take ownership of their projects.

A Story About Art in the Midst of War

Ritardando tells the story of David, a man barricaded in his apartment while conflict rumbles outside. Choosing to focus on his harp, David practices his scales, clinging to the belief in art over war.

Directed by Selma Sunniva, produced by Ida Holmgren, and written by Kristoffer Bjerg, all from SUPER16, the film blends strong storytelling with technical innovation. With the powerful performance of actor Thure Lindhardt, it delivers both intimacy and impact.

Congratulations to Simon and the entire Ritardando team on this achievement!