5 films that will take you on a journey around the world! Which one will win the Feature Film Competition at the 18th Animator International Animated Film Festival?
This year's feature competition takes the audience on a journey through worlds created by outstanding animation artists from across the globe.
The five selected stories explore universal themes: the need for belonging, love, loneliness, the climate crisis, and the power of creative passion. Get to know them better:
A Story About Fire, Wenyu Li, China, 2025
Ran Bi Wa, a monkey that raised by human tribe, was heading towards the Holy Mountain to steal the fire for mankind. At the end of the journey, he went through Nirvana in fire and turned into a man.
Wenyu Li graduated from Peking University ( CHINA ) , mentored by Kexuan Ma. He is a professor majoring in Animation of Digital Art at Sichuan University currently. His animation shot films have won many international awards, including Annecy Festival, Cannes Film Festival, Warsaw Film Festival and other international film festivals, and also have been selected by the Academy Awards.
BLACK BUTTERFLIES, reż. David Baute, 2024, Panama, Spain
Tanit, Valeria and Shaila are three women from very different parts of the world who face the same problem: climate change. They will lose everything because of global warming effects and they will be forced to emigrate to survive.
David Baute - David Baute studied audiovisual production at the Official Institute of Radio and Television of Spain. He continued his studies at the T.A.I. School of Arts and Entertainment in Madrid, focusing on film editing, and later studied film directing at the International Film School of Havana, Cuba. As a director, his notable non-fiction feature films include ELLA(s), presented in Guadalajara (Mexico, 2010), MILAGROS, which premiered in Málaga (2018), and ÉXODO CLIMÁTICO, awarded in Valladolid (2020). In June 2024, he presented his latest work, MARIPOSAS NEGRAS, a traditionally animated film co-produced with Ikiru Films (Catalonia) and Tunche Film (Panama). The project was selected for MIFA at Annecy and Ventana Sur. He is currently filming LA CASA NATAL, an essay film exploring themes of solitude and home. As a producer, he recently completed SUGAR ISLAND by Johanné Gomez, a hybrid film selected at Venice 2024 and awarded at various international festivals during its development. He is also developing TRES BALAS, directed by Génesis Valenzuela, which won Open Doors at Locarno and was selected for labs such as RAW and the San Sebastián Co-Production Forum. In cultural management, he directs the MiradasDoc International Film Festival and the Canary Islands International Environmental Film Festival. In 2011, he created and continues to coordinate AREA GARACHICO, a cultural space in his hometown dedicated to education, research, cultural creation, and the promotion of diverse artistic disciplines. He has served as a jury member and project analyst at various international festivals and markets, including the Valladolid International Film Festival, Guadalajara International Film Festival, Buenos Aires Documentary Film Festival, Cali International Film Festival, Mexico Documentary Film Festival, Proimágenes – Colombia, Atlantidoc – Uruguay, and others.
Boys Go to Jupiter, Julian Glander, United States, 2024
A teenager in suburban Florida desperately hustles to make $5,000 in this dreamy and surreal animated coming-of-age story.
Julian Glander - Julian Glander is a 3D artist and animator. He has helmed projects for Adult Swim, Disney, HBO Max, and Cartoon Network. He is also well-known for his cult hit video game ART SQOOL and his 3D illustrations, which appear frequently in the New York Times and New Yorker. In 2022, Glander made waves as a contestant on Jeopardy! when he recited a bizarre backwards version of the alphabet.
Olivia & the Clouds, Tomás Pichardo Espaillat, Dominican Republic, 2024
Olivia & The Clouds is a surreal exploration on love’s complexities. Following the stories of Olivia, Ramón, Bárbara and Mauricio, as they relate to one another without understanding each other.
Tomás Pichardo Espaillat (b. 1987) is a storyteller from the Dominican Republic. Working primarily on animation, film and illustration. He was granted a full year scholarship at Fabrica, Benetton's Design Research Center, in Treviso, Italy in 2013, where he worked on film & video. Tomás received his BFA in Animation at Parsons, The New School of Design in 2010. And his AA degree in Fine Arts, at Altos de Chavón, in 2008.
Papercuts: My Life as an Indie Animator, Eric Power, United States, 2024
Papercuts is an animated memoir focused on the many trials and tribulations of a life in the arts. For over two decades, Eric Power has been working as an indie animator specializing in cut paper stop motion. Join him on a journey through all the highs and lows of a life dedicated to the wonderful world of animation.
Eric Power - For over 2 decades, Eric Power has been crafting exciting and unique animations spanning all genres. He specializes in cut paper stop motion. A true indie, Eric has directed over 70 animated music videos, several short films, and 4 feature length animated films. He lives in Austin Texas with his wife and three kiddos and dreams in paper.
Congratulations to all the filmmakers! All the films will be screened from July 5 to 13, 2025, during the 18th edition of the Animator Festival in Poznań. The program and tickets will be available in June.
