A beautiful story about a grumpy grandpa and his unfailingly positive granddaughter. Oh…and…this must-watch four-minute short film is also an ad for AXA motor insurance by Publicis Conseil.

Overtly, The film explores how their relationship grows and that love, and passion, will always conquer all. Ultimately, Birders is a story about people with resilience. It ends with the line, Stay focused on what matters. Its messages and its appeal are richer, even if they are familiar. There are many ad stories about the power of children to see, and create, good – especially in older people, but the world needs these stories. Needs – and loves – them to be told and retold.

The campaign will be aired in Ireland (from January) and Switzerland (from April) and uses cultural and deeply-rooted common insight – it’s often during difficult times that we realise that some things are more important than others. The “advertising” part of the commercial is the message that should the unexpected happen, AXA will take care of everything, so that the meaningful things in life don’t take a backseat and life keeps being enjoyed to the fullest. It is integrated into the film only at the end in a way that makes you say, “ahhh”, rather than, “ugh” – a triumph for branded content.

The cinematic film was directed by Australian director, Sean Meehan. The music is an original composition by British composer and orchestrator, Sam Thompson (Sex Education, Rocketman), in collaboration with Prodigious’ Christophe Caurret.

Post-Production is by Prodigious and the film was graded by colourist, Eric Whipp (Mad Max: Fury Road).