Award-nominated animated short film Boxes for Rox by director Chelsey R. Knapp has resumed its festival run. The four-minute experimental animation follows a factory worker questioning whether their thoughts are being controlled.
Originally released in 2020, the film received a nomination for Best Super Short at Toronto’s Alternative Film Festival before its festival run was paused in 2021. After a personal loss and years of healing, writing, and reflecting, Knapp resumed the film’s festival run in August 2024, with screenings through 2026 before a digital release in 2027. Boxes for Rox is kicking off 2025 with momentum, set to screen at Short. Sweet. Film Fest. on March 1, 2025.
“Boxes for Rox encourages audiences to challenge their thoughts and deny their programming,” explains Knapp. “If anyone finds themselves lost in their thoughts, or controlled by their inner-monologue, Rox is a call to resist and unlearn the habit of giving every thought weight. Not every thought deserves your peace.”
The Personal Journey Behind The Revival
The renewed festival run holds special significance for Knapp, who paused the film’s promotion following the sudden loss of her friend of 30 years, Blayne Fredericks, an artist who had drawn concept art for Rox when it was still just a short story. Fredericks’ early visual interpretations helped shape the character’s design long before animation began, making this revival not just a continuation of the film’s journey but a celebration of her artistic contributions to the project.
“Filmmaking is a love language of mine; I value live screenings and the communal experience of an audience in a theater,” Knapp shares. “It’s important to me that this film sees as many positive opportunities as it can, and I do feel in a way that by returning to festivals and opening the film to these opportunities that I am honoring her memory in some small way.”
A Rebellious Creative Team With A Unique Voice
Boxes for Rox began as a short story written by Knapp in February 2018 before evolving into a collaborative animated project. The film stars Jaclyn Wells (now Jaclyn Bethel) as the voice of Rox, featuring original drawings by retired advertising art director Don Hoenig, with animation by Jeff Sokoloski and Matthew Peach, editing by Nico Frank of Leap Year, and an original musical score by New York-based composer Jonathan Franco. The film is brought to life by an exceptional team of artists and creatives, each bringing their own unique expertise and vision.
The film’s production team works together at M-1 Studios, a Michigan-based video production agency run by Knapp with co-founders Matthew Peach and Mike Madigan. M-1 Studios is Michigan’s only SAG/AFTRA approved remote recording location.
“I discovered on the set of my first period piece film ‘Lemon Eyes’ that Jaclyn Wells is a natural comedian with a background in TV, so I knew that I wanted to work with her again to truly embrace her wit,” says Knapp. “Don Hoenig demonstrates such an impressive range in his artistry, from comics to elaborate oil paintings. The moment I decided that Rox would be an animated film, I knew I wanted him to illustrate it.”
“Jonathan Franco’s exquisite talents in sound design were instrumental in building the world of Rox,” Knapp adds. “His experimental nature made every element in the film come alive, as every single visual detail is accompanied by a unique sound.”
About The Writer & Director
Chelsey R. Knapp has made a name for herself in the festival circuit with her directorial debut “Lemon Eyes” (2017), which screened at 33 festivals and won 16 independent film awards, including Best Director and Best Editor. Known for her ability to experiment with various storytelling mediums, Knapp continues to push creative boundaries in animation, live-action, and audio storytelling. Knapp is currently recording “Writing is Strange,” with co-writer Samantha Sawnick, a podcast series that examines the joys and perils of creativity as they develop their first published series of books together. Find them at writingisstrange.com.
About The Actress (Voice of Rox)
Jaclyn Wells (now Jaclyn Bethel) is a versatile performer in the Metro Detroit film scene gliding between Acting and Art Direction. Wells has performed in many Indie Short and full-length films. She started in children’s television and stage performing and is still engaging with children’s performances.
About The Animator & Producer:
Matthew Peach, a Detroit native and founder and president of M-1 Studios, has over 20 years of experience in production and has worked on multiple award-winning films, documentaries, and commercial projects.
About The Animator
Jeff Sokoloski, a highly skilled motion designer and VFX artist based in Detroit, specializes in technically intricate animation and has worked across various creative and commercial industries. Currently, he is developing his passion project, a roguelike shooter in Unreal Engine 5. See his work at sokodesign.net.
About The Illustrator & Producer
Don Hoenig is a retired advertising art director turned cartoonist and painter. Hoenig’s distinctive artistic style shaped the visual world of Boxes for Rox. He has illustrated two books on Amazon, including Reluctantly Related, which explores mother and daughter-in-law relationships.
About The Musical Composer & Sound Designer
Jonathan Franco is a New York-based composer, sound designer, and multi-instrumentalist. His film scores and sound design have been featured at festivals such as the Maryland Film Festival and Ouray International Film Festival, as well as on platforms like NoBudge and Film Shortage.
Read the full bios of select cast and crew Cinevite.
Members of the Boxes for Rox team are currently in post-production on their next short film together, a comedy about overcoming grief entitled “Have You Seen Aunt Spammy?” which Knapp will be dedicated to her late father. This time, they are working with a new and growing team of artists and collaborators.
Where to Watch
Watch Boxes for Rox at Short. Sweet. Film Fest. 2025, on Saturday, March 1, 2025. Find details on future showings and additional release updates on the Boxes for Rox Official Facebook page.
For media inquiries and interviews with Chelsey R. Knapp or if you are interested in learning more about Boxes for Rox and viewing a private screener, contact us.
Learn more about Boxes for Rox and its festival journey on Cinevite.
