The 15th Fest Anča International Animation Festival has announced its selection of animated short films! More than 1,250 films from 68 countries from all over the world have been submitted to the festival this year. The selection features films from both familiar and fresh creators. It is an overview of the best of world and domestic animation, encompassing varied animation techniques, authors’ unique styles and diverse themes. 

Only one sixth of films submitted to Fest Anča 2022 make it through to the festival’s official selection. “We received many high-quality animated short films. It was difficult to choose, and unfortunately many good films missed out,” stated programme dramaturge Jakub Spevák and festival director Ivana Sujová in unanimously evaluating the quality of submitted films.

Both familiar and fresh creators

In the competition and non-competition sections, animation fans will recognize some names from previous editions of Fest Anča. These include former guests and award winners (Peter Millard, Koji Yamamura, Sarina Nihei, Steven Subotnick), as well as Chilean directors (Cristóbal León and Joaquín Cociña) who were jury members last year and this time will present their film The Bones in the World Panorama. Audiences can look forward to animated videos by Raman Djafari, and abstract animation by Hungarian animator Réka Bucsi.  

The competition section will feature the porcelain animation Beast, which was also Oscar-nominated this year. Inspired by true events, the film depicts the story of a secret police agent during the military dictatorship. The pre-selection committee was intrigued by the film with the copious title In My Chest of Fire There Is Still Place to Temple Your Dagger: A Love Story, which is a distinctive retelling of the relationship between Ash and Pikachu. The selection also includes Imaginary Landscapes by renowned Ukrainian animator Mykyta Lyskov.

A third of the main competition comprises student films. For example, Wet depicts the recesses of a sauna, guiding viewers through a labyrinth of sensuality, bodies and steam. Student films are also represented in the Slovak competition. These include r a u u by Zlata Golecová, a recent graduate of the Academy of Performing Arts, who used various animation techniques to portray a story about a mysterious character.

Slovaks on screen

Slovak films are also represented in the international selection. Once There Was a Sea…. by Joanna Kożuch (which has already won the Student Jury Prize at the Clermont-Ferrand Festival) has been selected for the main and Slovak competition. Love, Dad, an animated Slovak co-production documentary about the relationship between a daughter and her father by Diana Cam Van Nguyen is part of the main competition as well. Another Slovak co-production, Suzie in the Garden (which premiered at the prestigious Berlinale 2022), will be presented in the World Panorama section.

As for the Slovak section, the pre-selection committee commented on its quality: “This year we are presenting a very balanced and diverse competition section. We’re interested to see which film appeals most to our jury.”

Video killed the radio star

Slovakia is also represented in the music video competition with animators Milan Stanco (Charms Kids: Les Miserables) and Marián Vredík (Queer Jane: Gerard Love). “It’s great that the music video competition is consistently high-quality –  different musical styles and imaginative animations,” says dramaturg Jakub Spevák. The music video section will also feature animation by Sarina Nihei, the winner of last year’s Anča Award for Best Animation.

Kids love films too!

At Fest Anča children and their parents can look forward to one competition and two non-competition sections of the best films for children. This international section is full of the fun, education, creative approaches, imaginative artistic stylizations, and original techniques that only animated film can offer children. 

“We are happy to show films that have an equal dialogue with children and stimulate their imagination,” says Ivana Sujová. For example, the competition section’s Elevator Alone is the story of four characters who behave differently in an elevator when alone and together. This humorous puppet animation touches on the individual-group relationship in a playful and child-friendly way. In the non-competition children’s section, Slovak animator Filip Diviak’s Sounds Between the Crowns has also been selected.

In conclusion

As regular visitors know, Fest Anča also includes a number of specialised sections such as Anča in Mordor and Anča in Wonderland. And this year the festival will again feature a Short Animated Documentary section, as well as an extremely short film section dedicated to extremely short films.

Every year the festival presents films premiering in Slovakia. “So viewers have the unique opportunity to watch most films for the very first time,” concludes Ivana Sujová.

The festival annually includes an international competition of animated short films and music videos, as well as thematic and special focused film sections. Over its four days, Fest Anča offers lectures, exhibitions, workshops, screenings for children, and many accompanying events.

Competition sections

*s = student film

Fest Anča International Animation Festival 2022 is financially supported by the Slovak Audiovisual Fund and LITA Fund. The Student Forum Fest Anča benefits from a grant from Iceland, Liechtenstein and Norway through the EEA and Norway Grants.