This year’s edition of ANIMA contest means another matched record, but also exoticism and youth’s attack.

The number of movies applied to the ANIMA contest grows by the year: this year we have received 1126 applications, from which the contest commission appointed 68 positions from 30 different countries. Only six percent were selected to be the lucky laureates – this means that 16 authors were applying for each place. Many colleges would be envious of this score.

Photo from the film Blind Vaysha

We were very happy to discover, that nearly half of them are student’s movies. This implies that the young generation becomes a worthy opponent of professional animators. Beside the well-known artists, we are going to meet plenty of young talents and find out, if their innovative ways aren’t already more interesting than the ones created by old masters. Among the greatest we’ll see: Koji Yamamura (“Parade” de Satie), Bill Plympton (The Loneliest Stoplight), riding high on the international festivals Igor Kovalyov (Before Love) and Theodore Ushev (Blind Vaysha), and also Paul Bush (The Five Minute Museum), Ülo Pikkov (Tik Tak) and Vladimir Leschiov (Waiting for the New Year).

Let’s be honest – November is a hard time of year and the ANIMA contest makes it possible to survive. Our own places are kind of gloomy and untidy (Penelope), whether you live on a camp (A Long Holiday) or in aerial tram (9 Chemin des Gauchoirs). There is no point in wandering around the city like the Scapegoat, especially since strolling can be really dangerous (Hallux, Le Promeneur). Traffic jams are everywhere (Cachorro Loko) and you can’t trust the lights (The Loneliest Stoplight). Even a transparent trains are minacious (Locus), and by boat you can reach an unhandy nook (Perched) or catch something fishy (Castillo e il Armado). Rapid moves require a good coordination (Vivir), and dancing can get you really tangled (Music Dances). Danger everywhere.

Photo from the film The Loneliest Stoplight

That is why sitting among the viewers and diving into the colorful world of contest’s animation would be the safest option. And then… we’ll bring back the magic of old radio (Distances are overcome, Radio Wave), we’ll see the sound (Composition), take a peek of freaky fortunes of fairytale characters (Merlot) or a passionate relations between men and women (XOXO – Hugs and Kisses, Amélia & Duarte). We can glance into the future and past at the same time (Blind Vaysha). Anyone we need: a watchmaker (Tik Tak), a firefighter lady (Wildfire), an ethnographer (Colector), a fly trainer (Three Fitted Flies), and even a scarecrow (Scarecrow, Au revoir Balthazar). We’ll manage even unwanted guests (Batfish soup).

Here we have some exotism: we can offer you an expedition to Singapore, Taiwan, Brazil, Colombia. Wild West maybe? China, Japan and South Korea are also available. We can also offer space flights, but it is not actually the most optimistic picture of future (Black).

Let’s fight this horrible November weather with vibrant colours of the ANIMA contest.

I ANIMA SCREENING: 23rd November (Wednesday), 5:15 PM, Małopolski Ogród Sztuki (Large Hall)
II ANIMA SCREENING: 23rd November (Wednesday), 9:00 PM, Małopolski Ogród Sztuki (Large Hall)
III ANIMA SCREENING: 24th November (Thursday), 3:00 PM, Małopolski Ogród Sztuki (Large Hall)
IV ANIMA SCREENING: 24th November (Thursday), 7:15 PM, Małopolski Ogród Sztuki (Large Hall)
V ANIMA SCREENING: 25th November (Friday), 3:00 PM, Małopolski Ogród Sztuki (Large Hall)
VI ANIMA SCREENING: 25th November (Friday), 9:00 PM, Małopolski Ogród Sztuki (Large Hall)