Belgian film wins Anim’est trophy

Belgian film Oh Willy, directed by Emma De Swaef and Marc James Roels, was awarded the Anim’est Festival trophy for being ‘a beautiful work that shows just as it feels: sensitive and tender, while playing with a subtle range of emotions,’ according to the jury’s motivation.

Director Emma De Swaef had previously won a special jury mention in the student film category at the 2009 edition of Anim’est.

The award for the best long-film went to Alois Nebel, directed by Tomáš Luňáĸ of Czech Republic for the ‘strong story, told in a claustrophobic atmosphere, with a complex main character played in an extremely credible way.’

The award for the best short-film went to The Father, directed by Ivan Bogdanov, Moritz Mayerhofer, Asparuh Petrov, Veljko Popovic, Rositsa Raleva, Dmitry Yagodin, which the jury characterized as ‘a courageous mosaic of a failed parent –child relationship, which proves the most expressive power of the animated film: that of making the invisible visible.’

Finnish film Roire/ Swarming, directed by Joni Mannisto picked up the best student film award, while Rew Day, directed by Svilen Dimitrov won in the Balkanimation section. The award for the best Romanian film went to Hunger, directed by Alexei Patrascu. The Have you seen my sister Evelyn clip, directed by Hoku Uchiyama was deemed the best video, while the best advertising clip award went to Fish Face, directed by Alexander Dietrich, Dominic Eise, Johannes Flick.

The best short film in the Minimest section was Jingle All the Way, directed by Chel White. The Missing Key, directed by Jonathan Nix, won the Public’s award.

A selection of films presented at Anim’est 2012 will run between October 28 and 30 in Cluj Napoca, while Chisinau will see the second edition of Anim’est between November 1- 4.