Fest Anča presents 2021 official selection
Skwigly
1244 films from 67 countries were submitted to the 14th Fest Anča International Animation Festival 2021. There’s so much to look forward to – despite the pandemic, the festival will present diverse films by renowned directors as well as newbies from all over the world. The official selection features special thematic sections, including one specifically tailored to this year.
New names have joined established festival favourites in competitive and non- competitive sections. Orgiastic Hyper-Plastic by Paul Bush, the experimental filmmaker and animator known for pushing the boundaries between documentaries, fiction, and animation, will compete for Best Animated Short. Others making a welcome return include Vera Neubauer with her film Tricky Women in Extremely Short Section of Extremely Short Films, and director Theodore Ushev with Apocalypse is Under the Blanket in World Panorama.
Affairs of the Art (©2021 NFB and Beryl Productions International)
Main competitive section
This section will resonate with films by renowned artists and award-winners such as Affairs of the Art (a film directed by Joana Quinn and written by Les Mills, recently awarded at Clermont Ferrand Short Film Festival), and last year’s Altötting (by Andreas Hykade, awarded at Ottawa International Animation Festival and nominated at Annecy).
The main competitive section has diverse films of the highest quality this year, and we’re sure our audience will love them. We had many student submissions – a third of the main competitive section – despite schools being closed for most of the year. We are proud to see Slovak animator Andrea Gabajová’s Places featuring, too.
-Ivana Sujová, festival director and pre- selection committee member
Student films
Fest Anča has seen more submissions from primary art schools, such as the competitive section’s Uninvited Guests: a hand-drawn animated film by Jakub Mereš from Poprad art school, that depicts an encounter between two incompatible worlds. Other titles from primary art schools are also in the non-competitive section.
This shows the growing number of young animators in Slovakia – it’s great. Fest Anča’s Slovak selection annually showcases professional and student animation. And it’s fantastic to present new talents that only got into animation as a hobby.
-Jakub Spevák, dramaturge and member of the pre-selection committee
Music videos
Slovak films have a strong presence in the music video competitive section, too – Matej Mihályi’s Prezident Lourajder – Destiny and Marián Vredík’s Čisté Tvary – Fly have been selected.
The bar has been high for animated music videos for quite some time in Slovakia, as proven by the two selected this year – not only in terms of animation, but also musically.
-Jakub Spevák
Animated films for kids
The kids’ programme is an important part of Fest Anča. Films for kids are split into competitive and non-competitive sections.
It’s great to see filmmakers find creative ways of storytelling that stimulate children’s fantasy and respect young audiences’ intelligence.
-Ivana Sujová
The short Bulgarian film Marmalade from the Kids’ competitive section impressed us with its rather atypical approach to animation and a motivating message. The author, Radostina Neykova, tells the story of a boy and girl via embroidery in movement.
-Peter Gašparík, pre-selection committee member
The non-competitive section features Kata Strofová and the Secret of Snowflakes by Slovak animator and visual artist Veronika Kocourková.
Special sections
A special new section created exclusively for this year’s festival has been added: Anča in a Facemask.
The section reflects upon the worldwide Covid-19 pandemic from animators’ perspective. Some films capture the experience of life in the pandemic and a certain new reality we find ourselves in, others are more personal and deal with the topic of isolation. It’s a time capsule, really.
-Jakub Spevák
The section is a follow up to the Domased exhibition of illustrations that was part of Fest Anča 2020’s programme and followed artists’ experience of living through the pandemic.
Regular Anča visitors are familiar with the many specialised sections such as Anča in Mordor and Anča in Wonderland, and this year will also feature Short Animated Document. Unique at Fest Anča is that 90% of films selected are premiering in Slovakia.
Our audience has the special opportunity of seeing most of these films for the very first time.
-Ivana Sujová
Altötting (©2020 Studio FILM BILDER, NFB, Ciclope Filmes)
Fest Anča International Animation Festival – the only Slovak multimedia festival focused on animated film – is based in a former synagogue and former train station that have been, both, transformed into vibrant cultural centers.
The festival aims to showcase contemporary, progressive animated films, and commemorate the cream of the genre. The long-term vision is to approximate well- known international festivals by uniquely showcasing this art form in Slovakia.
The festival’s annual programme includes international competitions of short animated films and music videos, as well as thematic and special focus film sections. Fest Anča has presentations, exhibitions, workshops, screenings for kids, and many more accompanying events.
More information at festanca.sk