Igor Kovalyov’s ‘Before Love’ Tops 18th Animated Dreams

Jury prizes include Spela Cadez’s ‘Nighthawk,’ Koji Yamamura’s ‘Satie’s Parade’ and Phil Mulloy’s ‘Endgame.’

Igor Kovalyov’s ‘Before Love’

Estonia’s 18th Animated Dreams International Animated Film Festival -- held November 16-20 -- announced the winners at the closing ceremony on Saturday, November 19th in Kino Sõprus. The jury of the Grand competition consisted of Giannalberto Bendazzi (Italy), Pedro Rivero (Spain) and Agne Nelk (Estonia).

The Grand Prix went to Igor Kovalyov’s film Before Love for “the smart way it combines tragedy and comedy in describing common everyday life.”

The Grand competition Grand Prix’ Heino Parsi NAIL is presented by animation studios Nukufilm and Eesti Joonisfilm. The best student film was chosen by a three-member jury of Estonian animation and film professionals: Valter Uusberg, Mari Laaniste and Urmas Jõemees.

The jury of the newest competition program SHUT UP! consisted of six international postgraduate students of the Estonian Academy of Arts.

The full list of winning films is shown below:

Grand competition

Grand Prix’ Heino Pars’ NAEL, presented by Nukufilm and Eesti Joonisfilm
Igor Kovalyov – Before Love

Very Special Jury Prize
Spela Cadez – Nighthawk

Special Jury Prize
Koji Yamamura – Satie’s Parade

Jury prize
Phil Mulloy – Endgame

Student competition

Best student film
Sophia Markatatos – How Are You Today?

Jury special mention
Viktor Stickel, Iring Freytag – Child

Shut Up! Competition

Golden Prize
Vessela Dantcheva, Ivan Bogdanov – Travelling Country

Silver Prize
Rafael Sommerhalder – Au revoir, Balthazar

Bronze Prize
Kristjan Holm – Full House

The festival screened 206 films, of which 4 were feature films, from more than 30 countries.

Source: Animated Dreams International Animated Film Festival 

Jennifer Wolfe's picture

Formerly Editor-in-Chief of Animation World Network, Jennifer Wolfe has worked in the Media & Entertainment industry as a writer and PR professional since 2003.