Year: 1977
Format: 35mm Colour
Runtime: 13 min
Director: Co Hoedeman
Producer: Pierre Moretti, Gaston Sarault
Cinematographer: Co Hoedeman
Editor: Jacques Drouin
Animation: Co Hoedeman
Sound: Jean-Pierre Joutel
Music: Normand Roger
Production Company: National Film Board of Canada

This witty and thoughtful fable uses sculpted sand to tell an allegorical tale about nature, destiny and the cycle of life. A Sandman comes to life and moulds himself a mate and a collection of comic and sometimes erotic creatures. Under his direction, they build a castle and celebrate the completion of their new home. But the wind begins to blow and soon all are covered by the drifting sand. As he does in most of his amusingly abstract films, acclaimed animator Co Hoedeman leaves the door open to interpretations. Le Château de sable won eighteen awards, including an Academy Award® for Animated Short Film.