Animasyros Goes… Phygital! Watch Animasyros13 Through its Live Platform, 23-27 Sept
Skwigly
In its 13th edition, the largest and most beloved International Animation Festival in Greece, Animasyros, is adapting to the new circumstances and presents a wide range of films both in its natural space, on the island of Syros and online, through the live platform created especially for this year’s Phygital version (live.animasyros.gr). From September 23rd to 27th, reducing geographical restrictions, the audience will have the opportunity to watch some of the best animated films, from renowned professionals and from the new generation of creators, from around the world, selected by the Animasyros team.
Having received more than 3,000 films from 100 countries, the program of the Festival consists of five competition sections: International, TV & Commissioned Films, Student Competition, Greek Panorama & European Values Award. Similarly, the non-competitive sections include the International Panorama, the K.ID.S. section, were films are also presented in collaboration with the Athens International Children’s Film Festival, special tributes such as the Animapride V as well as a number of educational workshops. Honorary country of Animasyros 13 is the Czech Republic, with its rich animation scene. Two programs will be presented; a selection of films from the International Animation Festival of the Czech Republic – Anifilm and a selection of films from the Prague Film School – FAMU, which shows the range of the modern animation scene of the Czech Republic. This Tribute is held with the support of the Czech Center in Athens.
The screenings of the Festival will take place outdoors in selected locations of Syros, such as at the courtyard of the Cyclades Employment & Labour Centre, located at the emblematic Velissaropoulos Mansion in Ermoupolis, at the Tsiropina Mansion in Posidonia, at the Capuchin Monastery in Ano Syros, at the Square in Foinikas and at the beach of the Hotel Kastello in Vari.
Competition Sections
International Competition Section
This year the International Competition section of Animasyros13, the flagship of the Festival that best reflects the world animation scene, hosts excellent short films from all over the world, by renowned animators, who claim the Animasyros Grand Prize.
Bruno Collet’s Oscar-nominated film, MEMORABLE
Among the films competing are Bruno Collet’s Oscar-nominated film, MEMORABLE, which raises the issue of Alzheimer, as well as BEYOND NOH, featuring 3,475 masks from Japanese No theatre and directed by festival’s favorite Patrick Smith, best known for his collaborations with MTV and the EMMY Award-winning series DOWNTOWN.
BEYOND NOH, by Patrick Smith
Another animator, who has been especially loved by the Festival, is Alberto Vázquez (Psiconautas) who returns with his new film HOMELESS HOME, another dark tale like the ones he is known for, while the other favorite of the festival is Niki Lindroth von Bahr with her new film SOMETHING TO REMEMBER and her well-known stop motion technique, which shows moments of everyday life just before a great disaster. Two documentaries enrich the list of the International Competition Section, JUST A GUY which is about the serial killer Richard Ramirez, as well as the LIFE AT ORANJE HOTEL that deals with World War II.
Human Nature
The International Competition program includes the Greek animated film SEVARAMBES by George Kontos. A futuristic story, where in the city of Sevarambes, anthropomorphic workers work under the yoke of the huge mechanical hands that build a dystopian city. It is worth noting that the film was pitched at the Market of Animasyros 10, in 2017. Finally, from our neighboring Cyprus the film THE PARROT LADY by Michalis Kalopedis, from the promising studio Zedem, participates at the International Competition Section. It is a moving story of a lady, who lives on the street with parrots because she is afraid of dying alone in her apartment.
Student Competition Section
New voices in the field of animation give their presence in the category of the International Student Competition Section. Daria Kashcheeva from the Czech Republic (Animasyros13 Honorary Country) stands out especially with her Oscar-nominated film DAUGHTER. This program stands out with films with intense social commentary, such as the film TAMOU that touches on LGBT issues and BEAR WITH ME, about the current refugee movement. Finally, this section also includes films that have already made a buzz at significant Animation events worldwide, such as, I’M NOT FEELING VERY WELL & THE BALLOON CATCHER, as well as LEAF and ONSEN from the Esma School in France.
DAUGHTER
In the competitive Student Competition Department of Animasyros13, the public will have the opportunity to discover various styles of the art of animation, ranging from stop motion to computer animation and getting a full experience of the rich program of the festival.
TV Series & Commissioned Films
Music videos, commercials, trailers, TV episodes, etc. are Animasyros 13 TV & Commissioned Films program, including Chintis Lundgren‘s new film, which won the Grand Prize at Animasyros 12, the previous edition of the Festival. Music videos in this section include the one made for the band The Sparks, the AERAS of Gadjo Dilo by Kleopatra Korai, the STAR of Locomondo by Effie Pappa and THE LAZY DRAGON, by George Hatzipieris, Fokion Xenos and Joan Zhongas. We will also learn how important it is to have a dog, with the informative clip A DOG BY YOUR SIDE, the importance of protecting your personal data in YOUR DATA IS SHOWING and we will learn about the important work of women in history with BRAZEN – MAE JEMISON and WOMEN UNDERCOVER – YOLA.
STAR (Locomondo), by Effie Pappa
Greek Panorama | Best Greek Film Award
Young and well-known animators of the Greek scene, faithful to their annual appointment with Animasyros, present their new films in the Greek Panorama of the Festival. Effie Pappa and Iris Zhonga with the film I AM HERE, and Kleopatra Korai together with Alexandros Grammatopoulos and the film of ALMON STROWGER return with their new creations, the film critic Alexandros Lizardos directs with Akis Melachris their first animation with the title Cast-Outs, while Zina Papadopoulou presents 59 DAYS, an experiential film from the days of quarantine.
European Values Award: #ThisIsEU
For the second year in a row, the European Values Award #ThisIsEU will be awarded by the European Commission Representation in Greece, as co-organizer of the festival. The films claiming the #ThisIsEU award reflect the values on which the European Union is founded: respect for human dignity, freedom, democracy, equality, the rule of law and respect for human rights (Article 2 of the Treaty on European Union). The prize will be given to a film selected by the International Jury, among 8 films screened in the various competition and non-competition sections of the Festival.
The Juries
The International Jury of Animasyros 13, responsible for the Awards of the International Competition Section and the category TV Series & Commissioned films, consisting of Calliope Charalambous, Director of the Athens International Children’s Film Festival, the Portuguese Pedro Serrazina, award-winning director, lecturer and researcher, and Anca Damian, award-winning director and animator from Romania. The International Jury will also select along with the Student Jury the film that will receive both the Greek Panorama and the European Values #ThisIsEU Award.
The Student Competition Jury consists of Martin Vandas, from the Czech Republic, producer of the film “Daughter” which will also be screened at the Festival, Tomek Popakul, director, screenwriter and animator, and Bruno Collet director, screenwriter and animator, nominated for an Oscar and for a Cesar Award.
Agora
The Animasyros Agora in its 6th edition, returns with a dynamic program of presentations by professionals in the field, which the audience will have the opportunity to watch online. Similarly, we are launching our collaboration with MIFA – Animation du Monde, the world’s largest commercial event, held as part of the Annecy Festival of Annecy in France, and in this course a four-day pitching forum is organised in Syros.
The presentations of this year’s Agora cover a wide range of topics of the global animation sector, with significant animation professionals, both from Greece and abroad. Among others, Konstantinos Kakarountas of Dahouse Studio, Aristarchos Papadaniel, director and writer, director & animator George Kontos, Producer & Co-Founder of Laïdak films, Antoine Lietout, Tomm Moore, co-founder and creative director of Cartoon Saloon along with Illustrator & Animator, Ross Steward, as well as Geraldine Bache, Head of Education and Projects at Annecy MIFA, Animator, Visual Art & Illustrator, Signe Baumane but also the Festival’s favorite loyal friends, producer Tunde Vollenbroek and journalist and animation-historian Nancy Denney Phelps.
In addition, this year those who want to watch the Animasyros Agora will be able to do so from anywhere in the world as the Market presentations will be broadcast online and those interested can access them via a link posted on the Festival’s website (www.animasyros.gr).
The Agora Projects
Among the wide number of projects submitted, six were selected and will be presented in Syros and will claim among other things a place at the MIFA Pitches 2021 of the Annecy Festival. The selected projects of this year’s Market are:
- Pelo na Venta/ In Her Face (PT) – Animation Short Script, Treatment Writer: Margarida Madeira
- Oscar (GR)- Animation Short Treatment Writers: Polyxeny Katsari, Matina Fykari
- Vast Blue Antarctica (GR)/Animated Documentary Treatment- Director, Writer: Christos Panagos Producer: Charalambos Margaritis
- Playground (GR)/ Short Animation series Treatment Writers: Kleopatra Korai, Elena Pavlaki Producer: Lokey
- Travel Bugs (GR)/ Short Animation Series Director: Fokion Xenos Producer: Neda Films
- Mesut (CY)/ Animation Short Director: Alexia Roider Producer: Michalis Kalopaidis
IMPORTANT INFORMATION
Animasyros International Animation Festival follows the instructions and recommendations of the State, for the safe organisation of live cultural events in open spaces, with seated audience, in the era of the Covid-19 pandemic. The festival’s outdoor screening areas have a specific capacity, in order to respect the necessary distances between spectators. Please note that the use of non-medical mask is mandatory throughout the duration of the open-air screenings. In order to avoid overcrowding and to facilitate public access, it is recommended to arrive about 30 minutes before the start of each screening.
The Festival’s programme may be modified due to exceptional circumstances related to the Covid-19 pandemic. For your information visit the Festival’s website www.animasyros.gr & the Festival’s Facebook page.