42 Animated Projects Heading to CEE Animation Forum 2021
Skwigly
CEE Animation Forum reveals its selections, having received a record number of submissions with high representation of authors from Central and Eastern Europe. The line-up of 42 animated projects features Student Academy Award-winning or shortlisted filmmakers but also debut works. Due to the present Covid-19 situation, the upcoming edition of the CEE Animation Forum will take place online in two stages. The traditional pitching competition, newly expanded to 5 categories, will be held April 26 – 29, and the additional industry programme in collaboration with Anifilm International Festival of Animated Films May 4 – 9.
For its 9th edition, the organizers received a record number of 116 submissions from 27 countries. From among these, a committee of international experts has made a final selection of projects to be pitched. The majority of the selected teams come from Central and Eastern Europe: 6 from Hungary, 4 from Slovakia, 3 from Croatia, Czech Republic, France, Netherlands, Slovenia, 2 from Cyprus, Germany, Lithuania, Poland, Spain and 1 project from Bulgaria, Ireland, Italy, Norway, Romania, Switzerland and Ukraine.
“We received a record number of submissions this year, with balanced representation of Central and Eastern European countries and the most developed markets of Western Europe. Each year demonstrates that the quality of works originating from the region of Central and Eastern Europe is improving very rapidly, which is very motivating for us and for the industry. Compared to 2017, we have almost doubled the number of projects in competition, and from two categories we have increased to a total of five, including Rising Stars, a student short films category we are introducing for the first time this year” adds Matija Sturm.
This year has shown fairly equal representation for women. In a total of 42 projects, the percentage of female directors is 47% and producers 46%. Representation in Heads of sections is 100% female: Zofia Jaroszuk (feature films), Reka Temple (series & TV specials), Aneta Ozorek (short films), Manu Weiss (XR projects) and Gyorgyi Falvai (Rising Stars).
New category: Rising Stars
The purpose of launching the Rising Stars section is, on the one hand, to increase the quality of school projects through the challenge of experiencing a real market situation. On the other hand, CEE Animation would like to initiate a dialogue between the schools in the region. “We are all eagerly looking forward to meeting new talents and seeing the future engines of regional animation. Schools are the most important workshops of unrestricted creations where the animation profession can refresh from and where new trends are born, which is why we have to pay attention to them,” explains Gyorgyi Falvai, Head of the section. Students will get the same opportunity as other pitch participants: to meet mentors, get professional feedback, network, and the best will also be awarded.
A coaching programme for teams
All of the pitching project teams are starting with coaching in March: the first session is with Bonnie Williams, which will be followed by 1:1 direct consultations provided by Matthieu Darras, Bonnie Williams and Katrin Nandelstadt. “Each project receives access to the introductory and two individual coaching sessions, so we will provide 84 individual sessions in the upcoming weeks to assist project teams when preparing for both the pre-recorded video pitch and 1:1 meetings with juries and industry representatives”
adds Matija Sturm.
Although the online version can limit personal connections, the organizers have kept their goal of creating a space for networking and exchanging information between film professionals. Everyone registered will have the possibility to meet with international co-producers, world sales agents, broadcasters, streaming platforms, distributors, representatives of public funds and financiers in more than 400 individual meetings organized in advance.
CATEGORY FEATURE FILMS
Birds Don’t Look Back
Director: Nadia Nackle
Producer: Sebastien Onomo, Special Touch Studios
Country: France
Blaise
Director: Dimitri Planchon
Producer: Alexandre Gavras, KG Productions
Country: France
Dreamworld
Director: Veljko Popovic
Producer: Milivoj Popovic, Prime Render d.o.o.
Country: Croatia
Grizzlebetter
Producer: Tania Assova, Zographic Films Ltd.
Country: Bulgaria
Senior Crush
Director: Orsolya Richolm
Producer: Andrea Ausztrics, Umbrella Kreatív Műhely Kft.
Country: Hungary
The Night Falls over Madrid
Director: Daniel V. Villamediana, David Epiney
Producer: Eugenia Mumenthaler, Alina film
Country: Switzerland
Vast Blue Antarctica
Director: Christos Panagos
Producer: Charalambos Margaritis, Kimonos Animation Studio
Country: Cyprus
CATEGORY SERIES & TV SPECIALS
(only series in the selection)
Anselmo Wannabe
Director: Massimo Ottoni
Producer: Federico Turani, Ibrido
Country: Italy
Bogboy
Director: Jack O’Shea
Producer: Paul Ruttledge, Bogboy Productions Limited
Country: Ireland
Deivit and Lisa
Director: Alessandro Di Renzo
Producer: Mario Tarrago
Country: Spain
Mitch-Match
Director: Geza M. Toth
Producer: Geza M. Toth, KEDD Animation Studio
Country: Hungary
Robot and the Martians
Director: Tomasz Niedzwiedz
Producer: Tomasz Paziewski, Badi Badi
Country: Poland
Rosie and Sapphire
Director: Anna Katalin Lovrity
Producer: Balint Gelley, CUB Animation Ltd.
Country: Hungary
Starting with Hope
Director: Sonia Velvien
Producer: Diana Hentulescu, Moukda Production
Country: Romania
The Adventures of Gloria Scott
Director: Matija Pisacic
Producer: Dijana Mladenovic, Kinematograf
Country: Croatia
The Olive Bunch
Director: Magnus Kravik
Producer: Maria Pavlou, Pixel giants
Country: Cyprus
What the Old Moon Tells
Director: Eliza Plocieniak-Alvarez
Producer: Carol Ratajczak, Blaue Pampelmuse
Country: Germany
Zhuzha Fixes the World
Director: Oleksandra Ruban
Producer: Kateryna Kopylova, Sashko Chubko, Trident Film
Country: Ukraine
CATEGORY SHORT FILMS
Albert
Director: Szandra Pataki
Producer: Krisztina Endrenyi, Mythberg Films Kft.
Country: Hungary
Autumn
Director: Wojciech Sobczyk
Producer: Aneta Zagorska, Robert Sowa, Krakow Film Klaster – Centrum Animacji w Krakowie
Country: Poland
Electra. A Poem
Director: Daria Kashcheeva
Producer: Zuzana Krivkova, MAUR film s.r.o.
Country: Czech Republic
Hello Summer
Director: Martin Smatana
Producer: Martin Smatana, Studio Bororo
Country: Slovakia
Ibis
Director: Maria Burgues, Enric Sant
Producer: Maria Burgues, BLISS PICTURES
Country: Spain
Milu’s dog
Director: Daniel Gray
Producer: Bella Szederkenyi, CUB Animation
Country: Hungary
Nut Cake
Director: Meinardas Valkevicius
Producer: Akvile Bliujute – Januse, JSC Meinart
Country: Lithuania
Patrick in Town
Director: Eszter Sandor, Valentina Huckova
Producer: Valentina Huckova, Young Glass Noodle
Country: Slovakia
Sivužas (working title)
Director: Ignas Meilunas
Producer: Juste Beniusyte, Vilniaus Primavera
Country: Lithuania
Sugar, Blood & Insulin. Diary of a Type 1 Diabetic
Director: Thijs Koole
Producer: Diana Hentulescu, Moukda Production
Country: France
Unspoken
Director: Misia Mormina
Producer: Engin Karabagli, Emegro B.V.
Country: Netherlands
CATEGORY XR IMMERSIVE MEDIA
Finding Frida
Director: Hilde Kristin Kjøs
Producer: Bjørn-Morten Nerland, Stargate Media AS
Country: Norway
Fruits on the Tube
Director: Klaas-Harm de Boer
Producer: Vincent Lindenboom, Next Empire BV
Country: Netherlands
Swarm
Director: Maarten Isaak de Heer
Producer: Maartem Isaak de Heer, Menetekel Film
Country: Netherlands
CATEGORY RISING STARS
Beyond the Face
Director: Anja Resman
Producer: Bostjan Potokar, School of Arts – University of Nova Gorica
Country: Slovenia
Desire to Win
Director: Michaela Rezova
Producer: Zuzana Bukovinska, Academy of Arts, Architecture & Design in Prague
Country: Czech Republic
Forgive
Director: Alzbeta Macakova Misejkova
Producer: Jiri Pecinovsky, Film and TV School of Academy of Performing Arts in Prague – FAMU
Country: Czech Republic
Holes
Director: Sofiya Kruglikova
Producer: Academy of Fine Arts and Design – University of Ljubljana
Country: Slovenia
Kurent
Director: Miha Reja
Producer: Bostjan Potokar, School of Arts – University of Nova Gorica
Country: Slovenia
Light Year Apart
Director: Viktoria Taranova
Producer: Michaela Cermakova, Film and TV Faculty of the Academy of the Performing Arts – VŠMU
Country: Slovakia
Orange You Glad
Director: Daniel Sterlin-Altman
Producer: Daniel Sterlin-Altman, Filmuniversität Babelsberg Konrad Wolf
Country: Germany
Silo
Director: Ema Nemcovicova
Producer: Film and TV Faculty of the Academy of the Performing Arts – VŠMU
Country: Slovakia
The Last Drop
Director: Anna Tokes
Producer: Jozsef Fulop, Moholy-Nagy University of Art and Design Budapest – MOME
Country: Hungary
The Perfect Gift
Director: Kristina Penava
Producer: The Academy of Arts and Culture in Osijek
Country: Croatia