ANIMAFILM International Animation Festival

The 7th ANIMAFILM International Animation Festival, held from October 2-6 at the “Azerbaijan” cinema in Baku, successfully concluded.

The festival was organized with the support of the Ministry of Culture of the Republic of Azerbaijan, the Cinema Agency of the Republic of Azerbaijan (ARKA), and “YARADICI” (the Center for the Development of Cultural and Creative Industries), sponsored by the “Ağıllı Nağıllar” advertising agency, and organized by the Azerbaijan Animation Association and PERI FILM LLC, as part of the Baku Cinema Breeze (BCB) Festival.

The International Festival, themed “LOVE”, attracted over 1,000 spectators who watched more than 100 films from 26 countries. The festival featured three main programs: Competition Program, Out-of-Competition Program and the Professional Program. The festival’s program was elegantly compiled into a well-designed catalog.

According to the decision of the selection committee, 48 films from 18 countries were chosen for the competition program, with 12 of them competing in the local category and 36 in the international category. The films were evaluated by both an international jury and the audience, and the winners were awarded beautifully crafted “LOVE” award at the grand closing ceremony of the 7th ANIMAFILM International Animation Festival.

During the closing ceremony, trailers for the 7th ANIMAFILM Festival and the animated film “Nargiz”, as well as two student animation films produced in animation workshops led by Ayan Novruz and Dante Rustav, were showcased.

The festival winners are:

• Best Short Animated Film – GRAND PRIX: “Pear Garden”. Directed by Shadab Shayegan. Germany.
• Special Award for the Best Short Animatied Film – GRAND PRIX: “The Family Portrait”. Directed by Lea Vidakovic. Croatia.
• Best Short Animated Film for Children: “The Night Tunnel”. Directed by Annechien Strouven. Belgium.
• Special Award for the Best Short Animated Film for Children: “Baking With Boris”. Directed by Maša Avramović. France.
• Audience Award: “Inanna”. Directed by Rustam Bashirov. Azerbaijan.
• Best Short Azerbaijani Animated Film (Annecy Travel Award): “Overthinking”. Directed by Zakhrakhanim Guluzade. Azerbaijan.
• Special Award for the Best Short Azerbaijani Animated Film: “Chasing Time”. Directed by Ayla Qasimova, Si Yi Lee. Azerbaijan, USA.
• Special Award of the Azerbaijan Animation Association (Best Short Animated Film): “Wild Animal”. Directed by Tianyun Lyu. China.
• Special Award of the Azerbaijan Animation Association (Best Short Animated Film for Children): “Puddle”. Directed by Maria-May Backhaus Brown, Mads Theodor Bonde. Denmark.

In the Out-of-Competition Program, audiences watched animated films from countries such as the Czech Republic, Portugal, Greece, and Georgia as part of the “With Love from Countries of the World” program. They also enjoyed a collection titled “ATA: Selected Animated Films from the Turkic World”, presented in collaboration with the Association of Turkic Animation (ATA). For the first time in Azerbaijan, the animated horror anthology series “Red Iron Road”, based on the works of famous European authors, was showcased. Additionally, full-length films that have become modern classics like “Shrek”, “Fantastic Mr. Fox”, “Paprika”, “No Dogs or Italians Allowed”, and ” Chicken for Linda!” were screened. Every screening was met with great enthusiasm from the audience, and the creators, who engaged with the viewers and answered their questions.

During the professional program, masterclasses were conducted by renowned Uzbek director Dante Rustav, Matthew Lyon, creative director of “Lakeside Animation” and Canadian animator for “Netflix” and “Apple TV”, professional illustrator Leyla Ali, known for her colorful style, and Ayan Novruz, a stop-motion director based in the UK. These sessions sparked a love for the art of animation in the hearts of viewers from various age groups. The diverse animated films presented during the conclusion of the masterclasses reflected the success of the mentor-student collaboration and the participants’ interest in the craft. The program also included presentations of local animated film projects, meetings with the international jury and special guests, as well as workshops. Productive and business-oriented meetings held during the “ANIMAFILM School: Co-production” and “ANIMAFILM School: Making of” events are expected to significantly contribute to the future activities of professionals.

The 7th ANIMAFILM International Animation Festival was held this year as part of the first-ever Baku Cinema Breeze (BCB) International Film Festival in Azerbaijan, organized by the Ministry of Culture of the Republic of Azerbaijan and the Cinema Agency of the Republic of Azerbaijan from October 2-8. The BCB Festival also organized “Omarket” (Cinema Market of Eastern Countries), held at the Heydar Aliyev Center, which showcased opportunities within the film industry. The Azerbaijan Animation Association presented its members’ audiovisual products through their booth at the market.

The partners of the 7th ANIMAFILM International Animation Festival included the Embassy of the Czech Republic in Azerbaijan, the Embassy of France in Azerbaijan, the French Institute in Azerbaijan, the Annecy International Animated Film Festival, CITIA, Fétiche, Dynamic Box, KYNO, The Manat, Tripsome, and program partners such as TURKSOY, the Association of Turkic Animation (ATA), TOFUZI International Animated Film Festival, MIFASI Studio, the Animation Development Fund (ADF), ANIMAFILM Studio, FilmFreeway, the Azerbaijanfilm Studio, the Azerbaijan State Film Fund, Lakeside Animation Studio, Sakura Ceramic, Maurfilm, Filmes do Gajo, the CINANIMA International Animated Film Festival of Espinho, Sardinha Em Lata, Ciclope, the Portuguese Short Film Agency, BAP Animation Studio, Cola Animation, ANIMASYROS International Animation Festival, and YUVA. The media partners were platforms such as Skwigly, KYNO, CityLife, and Huzoor.

The 7th ANIMAFILM International Animation Festival, created with great love, attention, and care, concluded with new hopes, plans, and perspectives. By emphasizing love, the festival not only succeeded in fostering empathy, understanding, and a sense of unity among the audience, but also ignited a spark of love that influences many aspects of life.