Animateka, a week-long international festival of animated film, takes place every year in Ljubljana’s Kinodvor and Slovenska kinoteka. Beginning on the first Monday in December, it focuses primarily on the latest production of East and Central European short films.
European student films and International films for children are also presented in competition programs.
The festival includes a wide range of historical and thematic programs, which offer the audiences an insight into the beginnings and the development of animation, and present them with an overview of the best contemporary short and feature animated films on a worldwide scale.
The festival annually hosts many international authors and authorities in animation, which has made it an important crossroads of experiences, ideas and opinions, as well as a creative environment and a hotbed of new projects. And on top of that is wider known for its hospitality and animated parties!
Among the Festival showing at Kinoteka and Kinodvor, there were other events such as exhibitions (including one on VR and 360 degree gaming) held at the Museum of Contemporary Art Metelkova (MSUM+).
“Nothing Happens” VR by Uri & Michelle Kranot
There were also a vaiority range of workshops offering for children.
This year particular focus was on animation from Hungary.
Another major part of the festival was Slon (The Elephant), selection of "the finest animated films for children".
“Behind the scenes” Exhibition by Špela Čadež
Jury Grand Prix
DSAF Audience Award
III
Marta Pajek
Poland, 2018, HD, 12:00
Production: Animoon
A Man and a Woman meet in a waiting room and immediately get closer to each other. They commence a game that gradually gets more and more ferocious.Their faces resemble masks while shapes slowly lose their integrity. Bodies are formed like clay, embracing each other until the limits of impossibility. „III” is a portrait of a woman in an exhausting relationship with a man, which allures and repulses at the same time. The film is the third part of the triptych “Impossible Figures and other stories”.
Young Talent Award
Love Me, Fear Me
Veronica Slomon
Germany, 2018, HD, 6’06”
Production: Filmuniversität Babelsberg Konrad Wolf
“What would you be willing to do for them to love you?” Love Me, Fear Me is a danced-out metaphor about the roles we play and the shapes we take, about the stages we chose, the audience we try to impress and the price of acceptance.
Justification: For its outstanding use of the animation medium and flawless technical execution, but also its clear-cut, innovative treatment of a well-know, yet always relevant subject matter.
The Elephant: Children Jury Award
The Theory of Sunset / Teoria zakata
Roman Sokolov
Russia, 2017, digital, 8’48’’
Production: Peterburg Animation Studio
Deep in the night, a dedicated cyclist traverses a wintry forest. His challenge is to make sure the new day gets off to a fresh and timely start.
Justification: We chose the winning film because of its beautiful art and its interesting story. it was also funny, and it presented an everyday topic in an original way.
Special mention by Špela Čadež:
Two for two / Dva na dva
Jelena Oroz
Croatia, 2018, HD, 8’00”
Production: Bonobostudio
A moody portrayal of the moment we stop loving others and fall in love with our fantasies. If we cannot understand each other, maybe our avatars can find a common language? But whatever lies below the surface should stay that way. We are fine. Our lives are milk and honey. Everyone pets their own bunny.
Justification: Immersive contemplation on a relationship of a couple who ended up in a tender bunny hug.
Special mention by Luca Tóth:
Sounds good
Sander Joon
Estonia, Denmark, 2018, HD, 9’45”
Production: Estonian Academy of Arts, The Animation Workshop, Bop!
Boom operator on a journey, trying to record the sound of mushrooms.
Justification: Playful and fresh approach to a picture that sounds good.
Special mention by Marc Bertrand:
Per tutta la vita
Roberto Catani
Italy, France, 2018, HD, 5’20”
Production: Withstand Film, MIYU Animation
Through a journey back in memory, a woman and a man retrace the more important moments of their love story.
Justification: The sweet thread of memory of a love story unfolds before us, thanks to the mastery of the animation of fluid transitions and the captivating sound design… and a top hat.
Special mention by Michael Frei:
Electrician’s Day / Elektrika Diena
Vladimir Leschiov
Latvia, 2018, HD, 8’44”
Production: Lunohod
It all started with a power outage.
Justification: Funny. Clever. 220 volts.
Special mention by Jean-Baptist Garnero:
Mary And 7 Dwarfs / Maria Ja 7 Pöialpoissi
Riho Unt
Estonia, 2018, HD, 12’30”
Production: Nukufilm
Having spent her entire life behind the convent walls, old and dignified nun Maria has decided to fulfil her childhood dream. The only obstacle in her way is her fragmentary, almost non-existent memory. Maria is afraid that her ultimate dream may turn out to be a sin instead.
Justification: A life punctuated by routine, “illuminated” by a spark plug and the wish to feel solitude of heaven.
Student Jury special mention:
Bless you! / Na Zdrowie!
Paulina Ziółkowska
Poland, 2018, HD, 4’45”
Production: Polish National Film School in Lodz
Warning: contagious! Germs fly around wildly in the hustle and bustle of urban life. You stand next to the wrong nose, and it happens in a flash. And what happens if you keep on infecting yourself? Employing expressionistic colour and surreal forms and figures, this animation poses questions about our interactions with one another.
Justification: A compelling film that stands out for its strong artistic expression and use of the animation medium, as well as its innovative premises and topic.
The members of Grand Jury on 15th International Animated Film Festival Animateka were:
Špela Čadež, independet animation director and producer from Slovenia
Jean-Baptiste Garnero, in charge of research and the promotion of film collections CNC – Centre National du Cinéma et de l’image animée (France)
Marc Bertran, producer at French Animation Studio
Michael Frei, artist and director, based in Zurich, Switzerland (Co-Founder of Playables)