The Anifilm International Festivals of Animated Films took place in Liberec from 22nd to 27th of June. As one of the top animation festivals in the globe, the competition was taut with incredible titles.
Zabij to i wyjedź z tego miasta (Kill It and Leave This Town) filmmaker Mariusz Wilczyński took home the Best Full-length Film. This film took Mariusz 14 years to complete and reflects his return to his youth in Łódź, an industrial city.
After losing the closest people to him, the film’s protagonist enters into a world of imagination, reliving his memories to feel safe. In this world, time stops, and everyone he lost is back. As time goes by, the world grows, and the heroes of animated films in his childhood become part of it.
However, the characters who are the same age start aging suddenly. The protagonist then realizes there is nothing like eternal youth and decides to face reality. Luckily, there are people to walk with him on this challenging journey. The title incorporated music by Tadeusz Nalepa and voiceovers by Krystyna Janda, which complemented it perfectly.
“After long and profound consideration of brilliant films The Nose or The Conspiracy of Mavericks, Kill It and Leave This Town and Cryptozoo we decided to give the award for the Best Feature Film for Adults to the film, that brought us unexpected cinematographic experience, developing the best tools of European cinema of 20th century.” the jury stated.
The Wolfwalkers by Ross Stewart and Tomm Moore won the Best Feature Film for Children category. The title addresses a global issue regarding saving wildlife from human selfishness. The jury observed that the theme was apt, enriched its global audience, and discussed children’s needs excellently.
Annah la Javanaise by Fatimah Tobing Rony took home the Best Short Film award. The 6 minutes film follows the story of a 13-year-old girl from Java who was sold to France. The girl served a famous painter as a model for his paintings, cook, and maid with no payment.
The Best Students Film award was taken by Jestem tutaj (I’m Here) directed by Julia Orlik. This film portrays the decline of an elderly lady and the care she receives from her husband and daughter. In addition, the daughter has to balance her family life and work at the hospital.
The Abandoned Village by Mariam Kapanadze won Best Abstract and Non-Narrative Animation. The special jury mention of this category was Beyond Noh. Jo Goes Hunting: Careful by Alice Saey was not left behind; the filmmaker took home the Music Videos award.
The Best VR Films award was taken by Replacements (Jonathan Hagard). The Video Games category had two winners; Creaks by Radim Jurda took the Excellence in Arts award, and Carto by Lee-Kuo Chen won the Kid Game prize.
Some of the special mentions included Jacob Collier: He Won’t Hold You (feat. Rapsody) directed by Daniel Bruson, Thank You directed by Julian Gallese, Wochenbett (Postpartum) directed by Henriette Rietz, Even Mice Belong in Heaven (Myši patří do nebe) directed by Denisa Grimmová and Jan Bubeníček.
Poland took the lead with two awards – Best Full-length Film and the Best Student Film awards in the 2021 animated film festival. If you missed some of these incredible films, you can still grab your popcorns and have a great viewing experience.
