The tenth edition of the International Festival of Animated Films AniFest 2011 knows its winners. During the week, the two juries have seen 362 films competing in ten categories. Together, both juries awarded the special festival prize for the best film across all categories – the AniFest Grand Prix.

Pavel Horáček, the festival´s program director, comments on the films in this year´s competition: “It was definitely no relaxed film watching for the jury. An important trend of this year was experimental films focused more on the mood and metaphorical expression rather than on the story. However, this does not mean that this is a prevailing tendency in animation in general. It depends a lot on the selection committees. It is no doubt that it was a significant characteristic of our competition films, except for feature films.”

Porcelaine storks – the traditional festival prizes, will be handed over to the authors present at the closing ceremony tonight at 8 pm in Krušnohorské Theatre in Teplice.

Concluding remarks:
Honorary President of AniFest Michaela Pavlátová:
„As the Honorary President of AniFest 2011 I take this festival very personally. That is why I hope that all who have come to the festival, whether as jurors, invited filmmakers or spectators, have found many interesting things in the program. And I feel a bit sad that the festival is coming to its end…“

Honorary President of AniFest Art Council Giannalberto Bendazzi:
AniFest festival was created as a response to the request of intellectuals not only from the Czech Republic but from the whole of Europe. Among numerous other things, it distributes marvelous short films that would otherwise remain unknown. It is a perfect forum for experts to talk about serious topics that universities do not take into account and it also teaches small children how to make animated films. A great and cosy festival where you learn a lot, meet great many friends and make new ones…Thanks to AniFest 2011, see you next year to celebrate Jiri Trnka…

• AniFest Grand Prix for best film - This award includes a monetary prize of 1,000 EUR
• Award for the best short animated film up to 5 minutes in length - This award includes a monetary prize of 1,000 EUR
• Award for the best short animated film from 5 to 15 minutes in length - 1,000 EUR
• Award for the best short animated film from 15 to 60 minutes in length - 1,000 EUR
• Award for the best feature-length animated film - 1,000 EUR
• Award for the best animated television film or series - 250 EUR
• Award for the best animated commercial or jingle - 250 EUR
• Award for the best animated music video - 250 EUR
• Award for the best student film - 1,000 EUR
• Award for the best animated film made by children
• Teplice City Award (on the basis of audience voting)
• Knauf Praha Award (on the basis of special jury)
• Knauf Insulation Award (on the basis of special jury)
• Best Visegrad School Film Award


FILM STATISTICS:
Total of applications: 1500 films from 62 countries
Selected for competition: 362 films
Total of screenings at AniFest: 471 films

International Jury for Short and Feature-Length Films:
Otto Alder (Switzerland, teacher and theorist), Olivier Cotte (France, teacher, theorist, creator), Joanna Quinn (director, artist, animator), Andreas Hykade (Germany, teacher, director, animator) Noro Držiak ( CZ, artist, animator, director)

International Jury for Student films, TV Films and Series, Commercials, Jingels and Music Videos:
Vladimir Leščiov (Latvia, animator, artist, director), Dan Sarto (USA, journalist, theorist), Bára Dlouhá (CZ, artist, animator and director)

Children’s Jury:
Head of Jury: Kristina Dufková (CZ, animator, director, artist)
Pupils of Teplice schools: Mohammad Abbas, Veronika Afanaseva, Jiří Bárdoš, Romana Čandová, Jakub Strouhal

WINNING FILMS

ANIFEST GRAND PRIX
DIVERS IN THE RAIN
Director: Olga and Priit Pärnovi, Estonia