The seventh AniFest, International Festival of Animated Films, is successfully over. According to latest data, around 35,000 visitors came to see the festival programs in 14 different venues around Trebon between May 7-13th. AniFest has brought the traditional mixture of good mood, beautiful setting, and what is most important, animation. AniFest Grand Prix was awarded to the French feature-length film PERSEPOLIS, directed by Marjane Satrapi and Vincent Paronnaud.
The winners are as follows:
Prize for the Best Very Short FilmJOHN AND KARENDirector: Matthew WalkerBrimming with understated humor, JOHN AND KAREN demonstrates outstanding quality in its beautifully designed and executed animation while physically and psychologically contrasting differences in character and human behavior.
Special Jury MentionSANDBOXDirector: Avi OferThe gentle minimalist design in SANDBOX evokes humor while contradicted with a subtle and violent message.
Special Jury MentionKJFG #5Director: Aleksey AlekseevPerfect humorous timing, KJFG #5 uses the fundamental spirit of youthful music and human characteristics to draw uncontrollable laughter from the audience.
Prize for the Best Short Film FRANZ KAFKA'S COUNTRY DOCTORDirector: Koji YamamuraIn the true spirit of Kafka, FRANZ KAFKA'S COUNTRY DOCTOR is inspired, expressive, original and demonstrates masterful storytelling and animation that is clearly an artist's work.
Special Jury MentionHARE AND THE SERVANTDirector: Elena ChernovaPositive, imaginative, inventive puppet animation with excellent timing. Full of humor and humanity in its art direction and original directorial approach.
Prize for Feature-Length FilmsPERSEPOLISDirector: Marjane Satrapi, Vincent ParonnaudStark graphic design and the real-life personal story evokes a powerful visceral reaction. The political situation is innocently judged from a child's perspective as she matures into adulthood. Persepolis comments on social political life and supports the ideal of freedoms that all people deserve.
Prize for the best television film and serialTALES OF THE OLD PIANO: LUDWIG VAN BEETHOVENDirector: Irina MargolinaFor cleverly presenting.
Prize for the Best Video clip, Advertisements, Introductory spotsVW Phaeton SchattenspielDirector: Michael ReissingerFor using the ancient forerunner of film a witty modern way
Prize for the Best Internet AnimationTHE CLODDirector: Jaromír PlachyIn the comic traditions of the best Czech animation he presses a simple visual anecdote rich in darker meanings.
Prize for the Best Student FilmTHE MAN WITH A CHICKEN HEADDirector: Sylvain Jorget, Axel Morales, Mathias RodriguezFor mastering the elements forming the basis of a good animated film and for approaching a fundamental issue in an extremely clever way, using a visually attractive and yet simple metaphorical form.
Special Jury MentionLOVESICKDirector: Spela CadezFor the ability to speak about an eternal topic using absurd humour, surreal atmosphere, without losing its lyrical character; for making the most of what classical puppet animation can offer.
Prize for the Best School CollectionLa Poudriere, Ecole du Film d'AnimationFor outstanding execution, high-level visual aesthetics and variety of animation techniques used.
Prize for the Best Film Created by ChildrenWHEN DISASTER STRUCK AT YOUTH CLUBDirector: collective workWe appreciated the work of a group of children who created a film, which is a longer one but despite that it does not lack clever humur and great imagination.
Special Jury MentionHOMO SAPIENSDirector: collective workA very nice story about a primeval man with an environmental message.
Special jury mentionLIFEDirector: Frantisek SovaA surprising and well executed combination of cartoon, pixilation and clay animation.
Award AniFest Grand PrixPERSEPOLISDirector: Marjane Satrapi, Vincent Paronnaud
For more information and photographs from the festival, visit www.anifest.cz.
Rick DeMott
Animation World Network
Creator of Rick's Flicks Picks
