Oscar-nominated for Best Animated Feature, we were happy to offer an exclusive early look to Belcourt patrons leading up to the awards earlier this year. Now, this endearing tale of the friendship of a Manhattanite dog and his robot companion gets its official release.

Dog is tired of being alone. One day he decides to build himself a robot. To the rhythm of ‘80s NYC, their friendship blossoms until they become inseparable. One summer night, Dog is forced to abandon Robot at the beach. Will they ever meet again?

“Make no mistake, this is a love story… Its radical sweetness arises from a wellspring of empathy. Its radiant colors and lucid conception of vulnerability, in the face of a largely inconsiderate world, sink deep beneath the skin in the liminal space between the soul and the heart that can make animation such a wondrous medium. Berger’s ROBOT DREAMS is its stunning reality.” —Robert Daniels, The Playlist

“Charmingly animated in a cheeky cartoon style, this lively animated drama traces an offbeat friendship with unusual nuance. Even without a single word of spoken dialog, multiple characters reveal complex textures as they head on momentous journeys. Genius filmmaker Pablo Berger has made a thoroughly grown-up movie that has something important to say to children too. It deserves to become a cult classic.” —Rich Cline, Shadows on the Wall (UK)