BROTHERS AND SISTERS PREPARE

 

When we started with Animator in 2008, we couldn't be sure that the festival would turn into a permanent and important event on the map of world animated film competitions. After nine editions, in the year of the 70th anniversary of Polish Animation, we can confidently say that it happened. The animator survived, took root, became an Oscar®-qualifying festival, and most importantly, it was accepted in the creators' community both in Poland and abroad.

From year to year we tried to develop the festival by adding new sections and blocks. The breakthrough moments were the launch of the feature film competition in 2012 and the scientific and industry conferences in 2014 (co-organized with the Adam Mickiewicz University in Poznań. The achievements of the latter (which we were able to partially present this year, in an efficient volume by the Polish-Japanese Academy of Technology) Computer Systems and a special issue of "Czas Kultury"), is undoubtedly an important contribution to the study of animated film, not only on a Polish scale.

In the tenth, jubilee edition, of course, we celebrate the 70th anniversary of Polish Animation and continue the threads from previous years, which, apart from competitions, have become a permanent part of the Animator. There will be thematic blocks (this year we focus, among others, on animation and politics), retrospectives of outstanding artists (we have not forgotten about Witold Giersz's jubilee), presentations of selected cinematography (Austrian experimental animation) and the university (FAMU), concerts or presentations of phenomena "from borderland" (videopoetry). We want our festival to be even more a place of community integration, from where we are expanding the Animator Pro section. And for the Animator for Kids and workshops, as usual, we invite the youngest moviegoers and their parents.

Marcin Giżycki, Artistic Director of the Festival

Awarded films

GRAND PRIX / GOLDEN PEGASUS: “A Dad” Robert Cambrinus, Austria 2016

• Jury’s Statement: An award for an intelligent, witty and ironic reminder of the spirit of Dadaism on the centenary of the emergence of the movement, so important for the art of the twentieth century.

II AWARD (NATIONAL FILM INSITUTE AWARD) / SILVER PEGASUS: “A photo of me” Dennis Tupicoff, Australia 2017

• Jury’s Statement: For the monumental simplicity and deep meaning flowing from the poetic contrast of found footage and rotoscope animation.

III AWARD / BRONZE PEGASUS: “Sparrow’s Flight” Tom Schroeder, USA 2016

• Jury’s Statement: A film in which friendship and creativity triumph over tragedy. Told with a keen eye that looks at the lost bond. The film is a bold tribute to the art of animation.

CRYSTAL PEGASUS FOR LIFETIME ACHIEVEMENT: Witold Giersz

AWARD FOR BEST FEATURE FILM: “Window Horses” Ann Marie Fleming, Canada 2016

• Jury’s Statement: We have chosen a film that shows the value and reward that can be archieved through opening your heart to different cultures. Especially in times when many people turn their heads the other way.

SPECIAL AWARD FOR THE BEST MUSIC FILM / MUSIC: “Chateau au Go Go” Steve Gentile, USA 2016

• Jury’s Statement: Award for brilliant form and excellent composition of visuals and the outstanding music by Vijay Iyer.

SPECIAL AWARD FOR THE BEST STUDENT FILM (RECTOR OF THE UNIVERSITY OF THE ARTS IN POZNAN AWARD): “The Wrong End of the Stick” Terri Matthews, UK 2016

• Jury’s Statement: Superbly created film with cutting humor. Well written, designed and animated. Perfectly made.

POLISH FILMMAKERS ASSOCIATION AWARD FOR BEST POLISH SHORT FILM: “Cipka / Pussy” Renata Gąsiorowska, Poland 2016

• Jury’s Statement: An amusing film that boldly talks about every woman’s right to take pleasure from her own body – a right that has been considered dirty or scandalous for too long.

JURY’S SPECIAL AWARD: “The wind suddenly” Edris Samani, Iran 2016

• Jury’s Statement: A film with an extremely inspiring vision. It is a valuable parable in today’s world tormented by problems.

SPECIAL AWARD FOR ARTISTIC MERIT – IM MEMORIAM OF WOJCIECH JUSZCZAK: “Dzięki uprzejmości artysty / With the Artist’s Kind Permission” Piotr Bosacki, Poland 2016

• Artistic Director’s Statement: For an interesting and witty search for unconventional relationships between image and text.

AUDIENCE AWARD FOR THE BEST SHORT FILM: “Dzięki uprzejmości artysty / With the Artist’s Kind Permission” Piotr Bosacki, Poland 2016

AUDIENCE AWARD FOR THE BEST FEATURE FILM: “Louise en Hiver / Louise by the Shore” Jean-François Laguionie, France/Canada 2016

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Recap