In the Focus: Animation competition, there are 9 films this year. The enormous freedom that animation gives the authors has been fully used to create expressive, artistic cinema. Each of the films was made in a different technique, has a different aesthetic and covers a different subject. Each of them is original and tells about significant things in an interesting way.
screening curator: Emilia Rusin
Sierra, dir. Sander Joon (Estonia) 2022, 16’, 15+
Father and son take part in a car race. When the condition of the car begins to deteriorate, the son turns into… a tire. Film awarded at Filmfest Dresden.
A Bite of Bone, dir. Honami Yano (Japan) 2021, 10’, 13+
A little girl reflects on her last summer with her father at his funeral. Film awarded at Ottawa IAF.
Amok, dir. Balázs Turai (Hungary) 2022, 14’, 16+
After losing his fiancée and his good looks in a freak accident, Clyde must confront his inner demon. Film awarded at Annecy IAFF and Sarajevo IFF.
Gotta Look Good for the Apocalypse, dir. Ayce Kartal (France) 2021, 6’, 15+
March 2020. The whole planet is locked down. Our world, which we call real, is drained of what used to be its substance, and forms of digital life multiply. But what if the crisis we are actually experiencing is not a pandemic, but an accelerated derealization of our lives? Film presented at Annecy IAFF.
Slow Light, dir. Kijek/Adamski (Poland) 2022, 11’, 16+
A boy who was born blind, suddenly at the age of seven sees a light. A medical examination reveals that his eyes are so dense that it takes seven years for the light to reach the retina and hence for the image to reach his consciousness. Film awarded at Animator IAFF.
The Bridge, dir. Izumi Yoshida (Poland) 2022, 20’, 15+
Siberia, 1919. Orphans who have lost their families and homeland, have to quickly grow up and fight for their lives. Will somebody help them? Film awarded at Shorts Shorts FF&A.
Think Something Nice, dir. Claudius Gentinetta (Switzerland) 2022, 6’, 13+
A man sits on a dentist’s chair. The staff suggests thinking about something nice. So he starts to imagine that he is sailing at the sea. Film presented at Vienna Shorts.
Tomato Kitchen, dir. Junyi Xiao (China) 2022, 9’, 15+
An accident interrupted Lee’s dinner with his colleagues, and the dark truth of the Tomato Kitchen along with Lee’s hidden past were revealed. Film awarded at Phoenix FF. Polish premiere.
Crab, dir. Piotr Chmielewski (Poland) 2022, 8’, 13+
A crab finds itself in a kitchen aquarium on a large ship. Crab’s fate seems sealed, but suddenly something extraordinary happens. Film awarded at Edmonton IFF and O!PLA.
