• The fifth edition of the RISING OF LUSITANIA AnimaDoc FF, a prestigious animation documentary festival, has come to a thrilling end in Szczecin, Poland.
• The four-day event showcased a diverse range of animated documentaries from around the globe divided into categories such as PROFESSIONALS, STUDENTS AND ANIMATED MOCKUMENTARY.
• Alongside the competition, the PANORAMA OF OUR TIMES segment stirred the audience with its poignant representation of contemporary issues.
• A distinct segment named THE EYE AND THE provided another dimension of animated presentation to the audience.
• The top prize at the festival was awarded to a piece called ‘ARMAT’.
• You can find the news of all 2023 winners at Skwigly Animation Magazine.
Animation Festival Makes Waves
Award Winners Sparkle like Animated Gems
‘ARMAT’ Emerges as the Prize Catch
Animations sure have a way of animating every occasion! The fifth edition of the RISING OF LUSITANIA AnimaDoc FF came, saw, and absolutely conquered the hearts of Poland’s animation lovers. The buffet of animated documentaries, from PROFESSIONAL to STUDENTS and all the way to ANIMATED MOCKUMENTARY (are we pranking the prank now?), was extraordinary. As if that wasn’t enough, the PANORAMA OF OUR TIMES also decided to stir up a filmic storm, making us all introspect our times. What a soulful animation intervention! Oh, and let’s not forget the icing on the cake – pay your respects to ‘ARMAT’, the animated titan that scooped the top prize. Stay tuned to witness more such milestones in the world of 3D animation, where imagination is the only limit! Now, let’s step back and let the animations do the talking. Let’s fade out in 3, 2, 1…
Celebrating the phenomenal 5th voyage of the RISING OF LUSITANIA AnimaDoc Film Festival from 16th to 19th November 2023 in Szczecin, Poland. Journey with us as we reflect on four thrilling days presenting brilliant animated documentaries from across the globe. From the captivating PANORAMA OF OUR TIMES to the poignant IN MEMORY OF MARCIN GIŻYCKI, we remember an esteemed historian and theoretician of animated film. From the 645 potential participants from 79 countries, 54 cinema crusaders from 28 nations set sail on this one-of-a-kind voyage. Work of Elodie Dermange in Armat – A source from RISING OF LUSITANIA AnimaDoc Meet the Professional Jury GRAND PRIX LUSITANIA AWARD FOR THE BEST ANIMADOC:
Recognition: For presenting an incredibly vibrant narrative which exhibits how challenging yet crucial it is to express our personal feelings.
(Ewa Ciszewska, Joanna Kozuch, Michal Szczesniak)
ARMAT (Switzerland 2022, 11:37)
Director: Elodie Dermange
Special Jury Recognition for the Professional Category:
LITTLE BIRDS (Mexico 2023, 16:09)
Director: Gabriela Badillo
Recognized For: A moving portrayal of reality, captured through the prism of children’s dreams.
Special Commendation in the Professional Category:
ST. VITUS DANCE (France 2023, 12:00)
Director: Bhopal
Acknowledged For: A compelling and empathetic narrative of a woman and her children’s journey through the sinister abyss of a devastating disease.
Professional Category Mention:
THE PINK JACKET (Portugal 2022, 08:20)
Director: Mónica Santos
Praised For: A masterstroke in blending music and visual storytelling into a harmonious ensemble that echoes the elegance of haute couture.
Extraordinary Mention from Juror Ewa Ciszewska:
GOLDENHEADACHER (Finland 2022, 17:00)
Director: Niina Suominen
Recognized For: Exploring the complex world of feminine emotions in a manner that resonates with the characters’ poignant voices.
Special Mention from Juror Joanna Kozuch:
OUR UNIFORM (Iran 2023, 06:30)
Director: Yegane Moghaddam
Praised For: An animated “patchwork of materials,” reminding us of the importance of cherishing and contributing to the world’s diversity.
Exceptional Mention from Juror Michal Szczesniak:
CONSIDER THE END (Norway 2023, 28:22)
Director: Pouria Kazemi
Recognized For: A remarkable depiction of life’s cycle, portraying death’s various faces.
“Rising Star” Award for the Best Student Animadoc:
A TASTE FOR MUSIC (United Kingdom 2022, 05:07)
Director: Jordan Antonowicz-Behnan, Royal College of Art
Granted For: Bravely juxtaposing love and hate, showcasing memories deeply intertwined with musical elements.
Special Jury Recognition in the Student Category:
118 (Israel 2023, 17:15)
Directorial team: Avichai Bloch, Shachar Loni, Lysa-Rose Zaoui, Shany Cnaan, Tony Danilchenko, Yaara Ruth Maimon, Gilit Bigman, Batya Gur, Opal, Li Cohen, Noy Beggagon, Tal Kuperstein, Berry Akerman, Aviv Kaufmann, Kira Pinhusovich, Sapir College – School of Audio and Visual Arts
Granted For: Providing a fresh viewpoint on the complex issue of violence against women.
Student Category Mention:
THE TRAIN OF MEMORIES (Taiwan 2023, 05:08)
Director: Chen Chih Ming, National Taiwan University of Arts
Acknowledged For: Fearlessly weaving a story about the quest for self-discovery. A narrative from a young man, for the youth.
Mockumentary Crown for the Best mockumentary:
THE SMILE (Netherlands 2022, 16:00)
Director: Erik van Schaaik
Recognized For: Presenting profound philosophical queries in a whimsical format.
Meet our Student Jurors
(Jeremiasz Labarzewski, Zuzanna Slusarczyk, Konstancja Taraszka)
Blue Riband Award for the Best Student’s Animated Documentary
THE WAITING (Germany 2023, 15:35),
Director: Voker Schlecht
Recognized For: An enchanting narrative on biodiversity, emphasizing the climate crisis without the dry facts, but through an engrossing story.
Students Choice Award for Best Student Documentary
VICIOUS CYCLE (United States 2023, 07:25)
Director: Tianyun Lyu, University of Southern California
Recognized For: A courageous and honest portrayal of the complex relationship between a mother and her daughter.
Award For Best Animation Mockumentary
THE HARBOURMASTER (Norway 2022, 07:17), Directors: Mia Ludvigsen Henriksen, Konrad Hjemli, Volda University College
Recognized For: A thought-provoking exploration on human nature placed under the cover of an animated film.
People’s Choice Award:
OUR UNIFORM (Iran 2023, 06:30)
Director: Yegane Moghaddam
Original article: https://www.skwigly.co.uk/armat-scoops-top-prize-at-rising-of-lusitania-animadoc-festival-all-2023-winners/