Besides, the closing ceremony was scheduled for 6:00. Hey, I was getting used to Japanese food. So I paid for a packed dinner in the hall, and beat it to my room to eat and dress more elegantly for the denouement of the festival. After greeting friends and judges, I entered the Grand Hall with Bakhtier by my side. Filmmakers from all over the world, students, fans of animation settled in their seats with great anticipation. Which of the 69 films will be the winners? The lights lowered, it became very quiet and on they came:

Jimmy Murakami served on the International Jury and presented his film When the Winds Blows. Photo courtesy of Jimmy T. Murakami’s private collection.

The Grand Prix, Mt. Head, by Koji Yamamura
Hiroshima Prize, Louise, by Anita Lebeau
Debut Prize, The Demon, by Shin Hosokawa
Renzo Kinoshita Prize, Ryan by Chris Landreth
Audience Prize, South of the North, by Andrey Sokolov

Special International Jury Prizes
Notice by Roelof van den Bergh
L’Homme Sans Ombre by Georges Schwizgebel
Stormy Night by Michaele Lemieux
Loop Pool by Daiki Aizawa
No Limit by Hieidi Wittlinger, Anja Perl & Max Stolzenberg
Fish Never Sleep by Gaelle Denis

Special Prize
Quiet Story by Alexei Demin
Nibbles by Christopher Hinton
The Tram No. 9 Goes On by Stepan Koval
Instinct by Rao Heidmets
Picore by Francois Bertin
Guard Dog by Bill Plympton
Legend of the Origin of Crawfish by Valentin Olshvang

The winners walked jubilantly on stage to accept their awards, which we in the audience felt, were well deserved. It was five full days of watching, walking, partying, picnicking, reminiscing. And as we gathered at the huge farewell reception, we all agreed that Hiroshima Animation Festival 2004 was indeed predicated on love and peace. Sayoko Kinoshita, for the fifth time, created one of the most exuberant, exhilarating festivals in many a year and we demonstrated our love for her as we bade goodbye.

We became reacquainted with friends with whom we communicate only at Christmas and expressed joy at meeting new famous friends who produced so many films we’ve seen and judged. Many of us would have taxis waiting for us at 6:30 and 7:00 in the morning, so after choking down the gorgeous food, we headed for our rooms to finish packing and get a little sleep. Since I find it impossible to even nap on a plane, Jimmy Murakami said that he had some sleeping pills in his room and he’d get some for me. But I couldn’t bother him because he was having good time, as we all were.

So, I packed, read all night and dragged my luggage and tired body to the lobby and limo for my trip home. Here I am back in my nest but lamenting that I shan’t see again my intercontinental friends for years or maybe never. But my memories will always make me smile. Hiroshima 2004 truly epitomized and resonated with love and peace. Thank you Sayoko Kinoshita!

June Foray has provided memorable voices for many cartoon characters including Granny in Warner Bros. theatrical shorts and TV series, Rocket J. Squirrel and Natasha for The Rocky & Bullwinkle Show, and even a doll for the classic Twilight Zone episode, Living Doll, with Telly Savalas.