RE/ROUTE (2026): Cast, Story and Release Details

Prepared by Movies Dock Editorial

RE/ROUTE is a nine-minute animated documentary from Gabrielle Côté that contrasts two possible models of urban life. Combining documentary footage with visual collage, the Canadian short considers how cars, productivity, capitalism and individualism shape cities—and what changes when connection, leisure and inclusion take priority.

RE/ROUTE is a 2026 Canadian short film that combines animation and documentary. Written and directed by Gabrielle Côté, it uses a compact nine-minute format to examine competing ideas about how cities should function.

Rather than following a conventional character-led story, the film sets two visions of urban life against each other: one organized around speed, cars and productivity, and another built on connection, leisure and inclusion.

RE/ROUTE movie details

Story without spoilers

The film presents an urban contrast between a city shaped by car dependence, unchecked capitalism and individualism and an alternative that gives greater importance to community, shared time and accessibility. Documentary footage and striking visual collage transform familiar cityscapes into surreal tableaux, creating a framework for thinking about the relationship between urban design and everyday life.

What to expect

As an animated documentary, RE/ROUTE is likely to be idea-driven rather than centered on a traditional plot or cast of characters. Its short runtime supports a concentrated exploration of city planning and social priorities, while the combination of documentary material and visual collage gives the subject an imaginative presentation. The film’s central focus is the tension between speed and connection, along with the possible effects of those choices on communities and relationships.

Cast and creative team

Gabrielle Côté is credited as both the director and writer of RE/ROUTE. No cast members are listed for the film.

Release and production context

RE/ROUTE is a Canadian production from ONF | NFB. It is listed as a 2026 release, with a release date of September 16, 2026. The film runs for nine minutes and is categorized as Animation and Documentary.

Production companies: ONF | NFB

Movies Dock view

With its concise runtime and hybrid form, RE/ROUTE approaches urban life as a question of priorities: whether cities should chiefly serve speed and productivity or make more room for connection, leisure and inclusion. Its visual collage format provides a distinctive way to frame that comparison without relying on a conventional narrative.

Film data:
TMDB