Tributes

The best animated films by young artists from Central and Eastern Europe.

 

VAF NEW TALENTS project is intended for alternative promotion of the most talented young animation filmmakers from Central and Eastern Europe. Its aim is to present internationally the 9 best films made by young and debuting artists in a given year to a professional audience and for the general public. The selection of the films focuses on extraordinary talents whose work promises successful future careers. The project counts on the presentation of this compilation at selected films festivals and to draw attention to new talents and bring them together with experienced foreign producers. In 2017, VAF New Talents is also adding additional activities including cinema distribution in selected countries.

 

Why we created this project?

The quality of animation from the region of Central and Eastern Europe (CEE) increases year by year; due to lack of sufficient space for animated film promotion through national film institutes, alternative ways of presentation are needed. With this in mind, the VAF has taken the initiative and, as the first such project in the region of Croatia, the Czech Republic, Hungary, Poland, Slovakia and Slovenia, we are trying to make our animation visible even beyond the borders of the countries of origin. The selection of films for VAF New Talents focuses on those whose creativity signifies promising careers in the future and are already above the average.

 

How do we make a selection?

Each year, a board of experts from CEE is compiled to select the best work produced in the region that year. Festival artistic directors Annaida Orosz (Primanima), Olga Bobrowska (Stoptrik), Pavel Horáček (Anifi Maroš Brojo (Fest Anča), Daniel Suljic (Animafest Zagreb) and Igor Prassel (Animateka) participated in the selection.

 

VAF NEW TALENTS involves launching a booklet with detailed information about films their creators and contacts for the producers or schools of origin. Its aim is not sales but rather support for dissemination at film markets, among film distributors, sales agents and festival program directors. The film selection will also be screened at various film festivals and in cinemas around the world so as to reach mainstream audiences. Visegrad Animation Forum will also closely cooperate on the project with national film centers and domestic professionals from the region. Our primary ambition is year-round promotion of awareness of animation by young artists from CEE and assistance for its further development, visibility and distribution.

 

VISEGRAD ANIMATION FORUM

The Visegrad Animation Forum is mainly a “market access platform“. It tries to bring together partners, producers, broadcasters, and film distributors not only from CEE. It also tries to find ways of financing animated short films, series and TV specials.

 

The VAF is also an educational platform whose goal is to support young professionals while helping them to develop their real animation projects with experienced international professionals, or to create an international network for them. Within the framework of the VAF Trebon, we propose a support program of workshops for selected projects and their authors and producers. These workshops focus on good story assets, consultation of a realistic development plan and structuring a good pitch. The pitching competition is open for proposals of animated projects in development in two categories: Short film project (single film less than 20 min.) and Series + TV Specials (series of any format and single films over 20 min.).

 

Another activity VAF Red Bricks aims to build up a CEE production network that based on mutual cooperation makes it easier for individual projects to reach as many national television broadcasters as possible and thus muster greater production potential. At the same time we want to prepare models and recommendations that would make it easier for television broadcasters to cooperate on international project with longer dates of delivery.

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The Films (59')

 

01. PUSSY / Cipka, 8’

Poland 2016

Directed by Renata Gąsiorowska

Screenplay: Renata Gąsiorowska

Sound: Ewa Bogusz

Music: Volodymyr Antoniv

Animation: Renata Gąsiorowska

Producer: Marcin Malatyński

 

A young girl spends the evening home alone. She decides to have some sweet solo pleasure session, but not everything goes according to plan.

 

Renata Gąsiorowska

Born 1991. Animation student and cartoonist from Cracow, Poland. In 2010 graduated from the National School of Fine Arts in Cracow. Currently fifth year student of Film Animation and Special Effects Department at the Polish National Film School in Lodz.

 

World Rights: KFF Sales & Promotion (festival rights) / Basztowa 15/8a, 31-143 Kraków, Poland / +48 122 946 945 / marta.swiatek@kff.com.pl

New Europe Film Sales (sales rights) / Czerniakowska 73/79 / 00-718 Warsaw, Poland / +48 882 119 890 / marcin@neweuropefilmsales.com

Production: Polish National Film School in Łódź / Targowa 61/63, 90-323 Łódź, Poland / +48 422 755 880 / promo@filmschool.lodz.pl

 

 

02. WILD BOAR / Das Wildschwein, 13’

Germany 2016

Directed by Bella Szederkényi

Screenplay: Bella Szederkényi

Editing: David Hartmann

Sound: Péter B. Lukacs

Music: Fabrizio Tentoni

Animation: Paul Vibert Vallet, Samuel Weikopf, Gregor Dashuber, Inês Ferreira

Producer: Lissi Mushol, Christian Popp, Thomas Schmitt

 

A homeless orphan, an animalistic little kid, escapes the big city into the darkness of the woods. It is there that the kid meets a creature mightier than ever imagined.

 

Bella Szederkényi

Director, designer and teacher. Bella completed her MA degree as an animation artist at the Hungarian MOME University. She also took part in various different workshops (ASF, Transform@Lab), and spent one semester at the ASFA University in Athens. Since 2010 she has been lecturing at the animation department of MOME, and has completed 3 years research into ‘online content development’ for her DLA degree. In 2015 she founded the Cub Animation Studio.

 

World Rights: interfilm Berlin Management GmbH / Strassburger Str. 55, 10405 Berlin, Germany / 49. (0)30.25942903 / sales@interfilm.de

Production: Kabinett Filmproduktion GmbH – Lissi Mushol / Hobrechtstr. 66 – Fabrik, 12047 Berlin, Germany / 49.(0)30.68919763 / lissi@kabinett-film.de

 

 

03. INK MEETS BLANK / Zdarzenie Plastyczne, 5’

Poland 2016

Directed by Tymon Albrzykowski

Screenplay: Tymon Albrzykowski

Editing: Tymon Albrzykowski

Music: Sebastian Ladyzynski

Animation: Tymon Albrzykowski

Producer: FUMI Studio (Piotr Furmankiewicz, Mateusz Michalak)

 

The movie is a black and white, rhythmic metamorphosis of abstract geometric forms. Its dramaturgy is developed from pure form and evocative music. It has been fully implemented cameraless, directly onto 35 mm film tape.

 

Tymon Albrzykowski

Born in 1988, Gdańsk, Poland. Graduated from the Secondary Arts School in Gdynia, department: Artistic Photography. Studied Animation Film and Special Effects at Film School in Łódź from 2009 until graduation 2015.

 

World Rights: FUMI Studio / Pulawska 61/400, 02-595, Warsaw, Poland / +48 226 464 420 / festiwale@fumistudio.com

Production / FUMI Studio / Pulawska 61/400, 02-595, Warsaw, Poland / +48 226 464 420 / biuro@fumistudio.com

 

 

04. CHILLI, 7’

Slovakia 2016

Directed by Martina Mikušová

Screenplay: Martina Mikušová

Editing: Martina Mikušová

Cinematography: Martina Mikušová

Sound: Adam Kuchta

Music: Samuel Hvozdík

Animation: Martina Mikušová, Martina Frajštáková

Colouring: Martina Mikušová, Marta Prokopová

Producer: Erika Paulinská (Academy of Performing Arts)

 

Film about aggression, passion and misunderstanding in a relationship. Animation and visuals are inspired by naive art, deep dreams and the unconscious mind.

 

Martina Mikušová

Graduated in animation at the Academy of Performing Arts in Bratislava. She showed her bachelor film Essence at the Festival SICAF 2015 in Seoul, South Korea. Occupation (her next film), which was entered at Fest Anča 2016 (Slovakia) is about abuse. Chilli, her master’s film, delves into temperament and aggression in a relationship. Martina teaches art to children.

 

World Rights: Academy of Performing Arts, Film and Television Faculty / Svoradova 2, 813 01 Bratislava, Slovakia / +421 2 593 035 72 / hessova@vsmu.sk

Production: Academy of Performing Arts, Film and Television Faculty / Svoradova 2, 813 01 Bratislava, Slovakia / +421 2 593 03 572 / festivals@vsmu.sk

 

 

05. CORNER / Kut, 2’

Croatia / Estonia 2016

Directed by Lucija Mrzljak

Screenplay: Lucija Mrzljak

Cinematography: Lucija Mrzljak

Editing: Jirina Pecova

Sound: Horret Kuus

Music: Horret Kuus

Animation: Lucija Mrzljak

Colouring: Lucija Mrzljak

Producer: Estonian Academy of Arts

 

Life isn’t easy in a corner, in the angle where two edges meet. Everything is geometrically relative when perspective and the laws of gravity start playing tricks on you.

 

Lucija Mrzljak

Animation film director and illustrator, born in Zagreb, 1990. Studied at the Academies of Fine Arts in Zagreb, Krakow, Prague and Tallinn. After completing her Animation MA in Estonia as a student of Priit and Olga Pärn, her first professional experience was as animator at the Joonisfilm studio. As well as directing animated films, she works as a freelance illustrator for children’s books and international political magazines.

 

World Rights: Lucija Mrzljak / Zagrebačka 80 A, 49243 Oroslavje, Croatia / +38 573 756 88 / luci.sidd@gmail.com

Production: Estonian Academy of Arts / Estonia pst 7, 10143 Tallinn, Estonia / +37 262 673 01 / artun@artun.ee

 

 

06. VOLCANO ISLAND / Vulkánsziget, 9’

Hungary 2017

Directed by Anna Katalin Lovrity

Screenplay: Anna Katalin Lovrity

Editing: Judit Czako

Sound: Peter Benjamin Lukacs

Music: Balint Szabo

Animation: Luca Toth, Zoltan Koska, Anna Katalin Lovrity

Colouring: Borbala Zetenyi, Anna Tokes

Producer: Jozsef Fulop

 

A young, naive female tiger lives there in harmony with herself and nature. When her awakening femininity is noticed by an older male tiger, the young tigress is getting increasingly scared by his heated approach. But escape is impossible on this secluded island.

 

Anna Katalin Lovrity

An independent animation filmmaker and illustrator, born in Budapest, 1990. From 2010 – 2016 she attended MOME (Moholy-Nagy University of Art and Design Budapest), animation department. In 2012, Anna spent an Erasmus semester in Ghent, Belgium. She is currently attending Animation Sans Frontiéres (ASF), the European animation production workshop. Her graduation fi premiere was at the Berlinale Generation section.

 

World Rights: Hungarian National Film Fund / Budapest 1368 Pf. 748, Hungary / +36 1 4611 320 / kati.vajda@filmalap.hu

Production: MOME / 1112 Budapest, Zugligeti ut 9-22, Hungary / +36 1 392 1143 / anim@mome.hu

 

 

07. FOREIGN BODY / Ciało Obce, 7’

Poland 2016

Directed by Marta Magnuska

Screenplay: Marta Magnuska

Cinematography: Marta Magnuska

Editing: Ewa Golis

Sound: Anna Nowak

Music: Patryk Zakrocki

Animation: Marta Magnuska

Producer: Marcin Malatyński

 

A foreign body lives its own life. You can’t get rid of it. It‘s always with you, you need it. Caress that odd part of yours, don‘t try to shave its long tousled fur. This is a story about something considered strange at first, but which turns out to be the dearest thing to us. About the transformation of inside and outside.

 

Marta Magnuska

Lives and studies in Łódź. Animator, director, illustrator. Graduated from the Faculty of Graphics and Painting at the Academy of Fine Arts in Łódź, with a diploma in editorial design and illustration. She participated in student exchange programs with Universidade de Belas-Artes in Lisbon and Animationinstitut Filmakademie Baden-Wurttemberg in Ludwigsburg.

 

World Rights: KFF Sales & Promotion (festival rights only, all other rights owned by producer) / Basztowa 15/8a, 31-143 Kraków, Poland / +48 122 946 945 / marta.swiatek@kff.com.pl

Production: Polish National Film School in Łódź / Targowa 61/63, 90-323 Łódź, Poland / +48 422 755 880 / promo@filmschool.lodz.pl

 

 

08. LIFE IN PATTERNS / Život Ve Vzorcích, 2’

Czech Republic 2017

Directed by Vojtěch Domlátil

Screenplay: Vojtěch Domlátil

Cinematography: Vojtěch Domlátil

Editing: Vojtěch Domlátil

Sound: Vojtěch Domlátil

Music: Vojtěch Domlátil

Animation: Vojtěch Domlátil

Colouring: Vojtěch Domlátil

Producer: Vojtěch Domlátil

 

Growing up from perfect patterns. Tenderness, poverty and kitsch. Life in 12 frames per second.

 

Vojtěch Domlátil

Vojtěch studied illustration and animation at Umprum. He graduated with the multiple award winning pilot episode of the animated series Kuchyňské pohádky (Kitchen Tales). Since 2013 he has cooperated with Jiří Barta running the Studio of Animated and Interactive Art at the University of West Bohemia in Pilsen. He works as an animator, illustrator and graphic designer.

 

World Rights: Vojtěch Domlátil / Juarezova 15, 160 00 Prague 6, Czech Republic / +420 608 342 461 / vojtechdomlatil@seznam.cz

Production: Vojtěch Domlátil / Juarezova 15, 160 00 Prague 6, Czech Republic / +420 608 342 461 / vojtechdomlatil@seznam.cz

 

 

09. FAREWELL / Slovo, 6’

Slovenia 2016

Directed by Leon Vidmar

Screenplay: Jerneja Kaja Balog

Cinematography: Miloš Srdić

Editing: Leon Vidmar, Teo Rižnar

Sound: Julij Zornik

Music: Tomaž Grom

Animation: Leon Vidmar, Jaka Kramberger

Colouring: Teo Rižnar

Producer: Kolja Saksida

Executive producer: Matija Šturm

 

Lovro is reminded of the day he first went fishing with his grandpa. His thoughts return to the fish pond, and the bathroom sounds and objects bring back memories of that day: putting a worm on a hook, getting tangled in his grandpa’s line, driving to the pond in an old car, catching a fish for the first time and seeing it die.

 

Leon Vidmar

Graduated from the Academy of Fine Arts and Design, Ljubljana with the short animated film titled (In)tolerance. He was recently involved in the making of Špela Čadež‘s short puppet-animated film Boles, which was nominated for the Cartoon d‘Or Award, and as camera assistant in the Koyaa – Flower project. Selected filmography: Communication, Obsession, Recession, 2012 / (In)tolerance, 2010

 

World Rights: Exclusive rights to festivals, non- exclusive rights to broadcasting / ZVVIKS / Ribniška ulica 27, 1000 Ljubljana, Slovenia / +38 640 437 696 / info@zvviks.net

Production: ZVVIKS / Ribniška ulica 27, 1000 Ljubljana, Slovenia / +38 640 437 696 / info@zvviks.net

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Organizer

– Association of Czech Animation Films (ASAF)

 

Co-organizers

– Slovak Association of Animated Film Producers (APAF)

– ANIM

– Polish Animation Producers Association

– Društvo Slovenskega Animiranega Filma - :D'SAF!

 

Financial Support

– Co-funded by the European Union / Creative Europe / Media

– Ministry Culture of Czech Republic

– Audiovisual Producers’ Asociation (APA)

– Slovak Audiovisual Fund

– Slovenian Film Centre (Slovenski Filmski Center / Javna Agencija)

– State Cinematography Fund / Czech Republic

– Polish Film Institute

– Polský Institut Prahna

– Republic of Slovenia / Ministry of Culture

 

Partners

– Anifilm

– Cartoon / European Association of Animation Film

– ASF / Animation sans Frontières / The European Animation Development Lab

– Maia Woskhops

– Krajowa Izba Producentów Audiowizualnych (KIPA) / Polish Audiovisual Producers Chamber of Commerce

 

Media partners

– 25fps.cz

– Dot Line

– audiowizalni.pl*

 

In collaboration with:

– Občanské Sdružení Pro Podporu Animavaného Filmu

– Česká Televize

– Polish Filmmakers Association

– Fest Anča / International Animation Festival

– Animateka

– Primanima

– Animfest Zagreb / World Festival of Animated Film

 

VISEGRAD ANIMATION FORUM

Market access platform for animated film in Central and Eastern Europe.

 

VAF Třeboň

Presenting and pitching of developmental animated projects (short films and series / TV specials).

Networking platform also for professionals outside CEE

 

VAF New Talents

Promotion of promising talented young CEE animation artists.

 

VAF Red Bricks

Think-tank revamping CEE’s animation industry.

Producers‘ network to enable and strengthen regional cooperation.

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©VISEGRAD ANIMATION FORUM 2017

maros.brojo@visegradanimation.com

www.visegradanimation.com