Ato-Mick was created by Good Company Arts and shot in a studio in Jutland St, Dunedin.
"It's totally locally made.
"All the actors and animators involved are from Dunedin," Good Company Arts director Daniel Belton said yesterday.
It was an upbeat little film about a musical toy that came alive and befriended a factory worker, he said. The nine-minute animated film took four months to film and produce, Belton said.
"Even though he looks simple, a lot of design work went into him.
"He's a wee bit like the Tin Man in The Wizard of Oz."
The film features Dunedin actors Richard Huber, Lisa Warrington, Emmett Hardie and Barbara Power.
Ato-Mick will screen at 4pm on July 27 and again at 1.45pm on July 28 at Rialto.
Also appearing in the festival is a tribute to Dunedin dancer Shona Dunlop MacTavish,Wind Dancer: The Story of Shona Dunlop MacTavish, by Wiebke Hendry and Lloyd Davis.
The New Zealand International Film Festival runs from July 23 to August 8.