Discover four titles that will compete this year for the Best Animated Feature Film award!
This year, the International Competition of Animated Feature Films will take us to Iraq, West Africa, South Korea, and a robotic future. Four productions are competing in the competition.
ALLAH IS NOT OBLIGED / ALLAH N'EST PAS OBLIGÉ
reż./dir. Zaven Najjar, Belgium, Canada, France, Luxembourg 2025, 77’, 16+
The odyssey of a ten-year-old orphan through West Africa, as he embarks on a journey to find his remaining family. Pulled from one armed group to another, he is drawn into the conflicts of the adults around him, learning that staying alive means questioning the stories they tell.
Zaven Najjar
A French director and art director, he made a name for himself on the web with the Rapposters illustration series in 2013, which was turned into clothing collections with the Quatre Cent Quinze brand, distributed at Colette, Miami Art Basel and Citadium stores. In summer 2015, he released his first animated short, Un Obus Partout, which won several festival awards and was produced by Caïmans Productions with Arte, and a new series of illustrations, Pharapops, in collaboration with Citadium stores. In 2016, he created the animated opening credits for “Demain tout commence”, a film by Hugo Gélin, starring Omar Sy and Clémence Poésy. He is the graphic designer and art director of the animated feature “La Sirène” (2023), directed by Sepideh Farsi, produced by Les Films d'Ici and Sébastien Onomo. Zaven Najjar studied animation at ENSAD and film at SAIC in Chicago. After his studies, he built up a career as an advertising film director, graphic designer and illustrator, notably for the Arab World Institute, the Grand Palais, Cinema Paradiso, Arte, Canal+, IWC Schaffhausen, Baume & Mercier or Roger Dubuis.
FLAVORS OF IRAQ / LE PARFUM D'IRAK
reż./dir. Léonard Cohen, France 2024, 93’, 12+
The Fatiha is the first surah of the Quran. In Muslim tradition, it is also the name used for the ceremony of homage to a deceased person. Today is the fatiha of Amir, the father of Feurat Alani, French and Iraqi journalist. The opportunity for those close to him to return to Amir's history, and for Feurat to return to his own history and that of Iraq.
Léonard Cohen
Léonard Cohen graduated from the École Nationale Supérieure des Arts Décoratifs in Paris. In 2010, his graduation film, Plato, was selected and awarded at numerous festivals.
SPACE CADET
reż./dir. Eric San (vel Kid Koala), Canada 2025, 86’, 9+
He is the guardian robot programmed to raise Celeste, a bright star among astronauts. But when she blasts off on a solo mission of outer-space adventure, he is left to wonder… What now? A poignant music-filled tale about memories and the bonds that connect us. A tomorrow-days lullaby about finding your place in the universe.
Eric San (Aka Kid Koala)
Director, composer, and graphic novelist Kid Koala, also known as Eric San, has released five solo albums and contributed to the soundtracks of several films, including The Great Gatsby, Looper, Baby Driver, and Scott Pilgrim vs. The World. As a scratch DJ, he has toured with groups such as Radiohead, Beastie Boys, and The Preservation Hall Jazz Band, and has collaborated with Gorillaz and Delton 3030. He produced the Music to Draw To album series with vocalists Emilíana Torrini and Trixie Whitley. Kid Koala has composed music for the National Film Board of Canada, Cartoon Network, Sesame Street, and Adult Swim. He has also created music for several video games, including the complete soundtrack for the hit game Floor Kids on Nintendo Switch. Kid Koala is the author and illustrator of the award-winning graphic novels Nufonia Must Fall and Space Cadet. His live shows, including Vinyl Vaudeville, Nufonia Must Fall, Stellite Turntable Orchestra, and The Storyville Mosquito, combine music, live animation, film, and interactive entertainment to offer unique storytelling experiences. Space Cadet, his first animated feature film inspired by his acclaimed graphic novel, is in official competition at the Berlinale in February 2025 in the Generation Kplus section.
THE SQUARE
reż./dir. Bo-sol Kim, Korea 2025, 73’, 12+
Isak Borg, first secretary of Swedish Embassy in Pyongyang. Even though he's a diplomat, he is secretly dating Bok-joo, a local traffic officer. One day, after a shady man was seen at their secret meeting spot, Bok-joo goes missing. With his departure date approaching, Borg searches for Bok-joo and begins to get suspicious of his interpreter, LEE Myeong-jun.
Kim Bo-sol
Born in Seoul in 1988. He studied Design & Arts Design & Media Film, Art History and Theory at Hongik University, and graduated from the 35th class of the Korean Academy of Film Arts. He directed the film “Strange Life”, served as both director and screenwriter for “Home”, and worked as an assistant director and special effects supervisor on “Unique Time”. His films have been featured at numerous festivals, including 7. Animal Film Festival w Suncheonman, 23. Bucheon International Fantastic Film Festival, 13. Great Short Film Festival, 11. Seoul Yeongdeungpo International Extreme-short Image & Film Festival.
All four films will be available to watch during the 19th MFFA Animator,
taking place between July 4 and 12. Festival passes are already on sale.
