Press Release from International Festival of Animated Films (ANIFEST)

PRAGUE / CZECH REPUBLIC, 25 January 2010 - New Wave of Czech Animation - the most recent project of the International Festival of Animated Films ANIFEST operating under the umbrella of the Institute of Czech Animation launches the first DVD of a series introducing the selection of young Czech artists - animators. Apart from already known names, e.g.Galina Miklínová or Michal Žabka, the DVD also features the representatives of a newly emerging generation:  Martin Duda, Zdeněk Durdil, Edita Krausová, Aneta Kýrová, Jaromír Plachý, Lucie Sunková and Václav Švankmajer. The non-commercial disc of 90 min with English subtitles is meant to become the long missing tool internationally promoting the best young Czech animators. The dramaturgist and the author of the introductory text is the nestor of Czech animation Jiří Kubíček – the Professor of the Film and TV School of Academy of Performing Arts in Prague, Animated Film Department.

After movie theatres had abolished the screening of shorts before a feature-length films (which used to be guarranteed by law in the CR before 1989), and given the international tendency towards producing commercial feature-length formats, the original short films have become a sort of „endangered species“. Despite the fact that for animated production the category of short films  is essential and it boasts by a long tradition and famous names, short animated films can only be seen at festivals. This is why the Czech Animation Institute / AniFest  consider  it their priority to continue the long tradition of classice masters of Czech animation, e.g. J.Trnka, K. Zeman, J. Švankmajer, B.Pojar, or J. Barta, P.Koutský, M. Pavlátová and many others and through its new project „New Wave of Czech Animation“ introduce young Czech animators to the world professional audience as well as to the large public. The  DVDs will be presented primarily at leading international festivals, in Czech Cultural Centres and at various film events worldwide.

In his introduction, Professor Kubíček says: „Without anybody planning or forecasting it, Czech animation saw the birth of something new, congenial, viable and meaningful. Let’s call it the “New Wave” as this technical term has a grounded tradition and a solid foundation in the Czech film industry. It is a symbol.

CONTENT:

Contact (2003)

Director: Martin Duda

Designer: Martin Duda

Technique: 3D computer, 2D computer

Screenplay: Martin Duda

Music: Matouš Godík

Producer: FAMU Praha

Playfulness, harmony and conflict between cartoon and digital animation.

Game (2004)

Director: Galina Miklínová

Designer: Galina Miklínová

Technique: Drawing on Paper, 2D Computer, Camera-Free 

Screenplay: Galina Miklínová

Music: Pavla Milcová, Petr Binder

Producer: Alkay s.r.o.

Rules and accidents between two players – hand painted and colored “total” animation with subsequent computer processing in Prague’s Alkay studio. The work on the film and screenplay took a year.

Geranium (2005)

Director: Lucie Sunková

Designer: Lucie Sunková

Technique: Painting on Glass

Screenplay: Lucie Sunková

Music: Vladimír Merta

Producer: Krátký film Praha, Spinel Prague Production. 

A male and a female fall in love in a bar called Pygmalion. They decide to lead wonderful suburban life together gardening and growing geraniums together. However, their destiny prevents them from doing so and both of them make a mistake that proves fatal to their dreams. There is a geranium at the window to serve as a reminder – nothing else remains.

A Scene from the Life of Antelopes (2004)

Director: Edita Krausová

Designer: Edita Krausová

Technique: 2D Computer

Screenplay: Edita Krausová              

Music: Funthomas

Producer: VŠUP 

An interpretation of one of the fables for misbehaved children by Jacques Prévert. Antelopes live in Africa with aboriginals and whites. Stray bullets accidentally hit an antelope. Her friends wait in vain for her to come back for dinner...

Radio Kebrle (2006)

Director: Zdeněk Durdil

Designer: Zdeněk Durdil

Technique: 2D computer, combination