Top Picks from the 7th Edition of ANIMAFILM Animation Festival, Azerbaijan

– The 7th edition of the annual ANIMAFILM Animation Festival is set to take place from the 2nd to 6th of October in Baku, Azerbaijan.
– This year’s festival boasts an extensive program featuring numerous international guests.
– The central focus of the program will be the ever-competitive strand, a staple of the ANIMAFILM festival.

Bring The Popcorn – Animation’s Big Night Out

Lighting Up Baku With Animated Brilliance

And there you have it – Azerbaijan is all queued up to pull an all-night animation marathon that’s set to be more exciting than watching a 3D printer painstakingly create tiny pieces for your cousin’s incredibly detailed model train set. This year’s ANIMAFILM Animation Festival is preparing an extravaganza filled with international guests. It’s like an all-you-can-eat buffet of animation goodness, if the canapés were created by Pixar and the main course courtesy of Dreamworks. So, limber up your laugh lines, prepare for an emotional roller coaster, and add a dash of international flair. Remember folks, it’s not about who wins, it’s about who gets the most laughs, tears, and cheers from the audience along the way. Buckle up!

Spotlight on the dazzling 7th instalment of ANIMAFILM, Azerbaijan’s premier annual animation festival, taking place in Baku from 2nd to 6th October. Gear up for an exciting line-up of programmes and international guests.

The festival’s core programme features a riveting competition screening 48 films from 18 countries across four categories: International Shorts, Shorts for Children, Azerbaijani Shorts, and Azerbaijani Student Shorts. This year’s jury boasts of a truly international mix including Matthew Lyon (Canada), Martin Vandas (Czech Rep), Leyla Ali (NL/Azerbaijan), Dante Rustav (Uzbekistan), Vassilis C. Karamitsanis (Greece), Aneta Ororek (NL/Poland), Susana Miguel Antonio (Portugal), and Aaron Wood (United Kingdom).

Besides the intense competition, the festival is also all set to celebrate animations from around the world. Aligned with this year’s theme, LOVE, the “With Love from the World” programme will introduce audiences to animations from countries such as Portugal, Greece, Georgia, and the Czech Republic.

Adding another layer to the festival is the Professional Programme, a series of industry-focused masterclasses and workshops led by a diverse ensemble of special guests. We’ve handpicked seven unmissable events for you.

1. Journey through the spectral landscapes of Red Iron Road

Prepare to dive into the eerie worlds of Red Iron Road, an animated horror anthology series based on acclaimed European literature. Each episode is a standalone piece, crafted by different creative partners in unique visual styles. ANIMAFILM will screen six of these episodes, including the chilling “No.8 Reporting” by jury member Matthew Lyon (and Aljosha Klimov).

Reserve your seat and journey down the Red Iron Road.

2. A riveting encounter with Paprika

Experience the intriguing depths of Paprika, a 2006 Japanese adult animated psychological thriller, on the big screen. Directed by master animator Satoshi Kon, this groundbreaking film narrates the thrilling conflict between a “dream terrorist” who inflicts nightmares by stealing a dream-sharing device and a research psychologist who ventures into the dream world as detective Paprika to solve cases.

Get your tickets and embark on this animated thrill-ride.

3. Expand your horizons with the Co-production Talk

This panel discussion brings together international jury members to illuminate the co-production opportunities in their respective countries. Participating members include Aneta Ozorek, Vassilis C. Karamitsanis, Susana António, Matthew Lyon, Martin Vandas, and Aaron Wood.

4. Conceive and animate with Ayan Novruz

Learn the ropes of stop-motion animation from award-winning filmmaker Ayan Novruz. Designed for beginners and students, this masterclass walks you through the basics of stop-motion animation, the apps to use, and allows you the chance to create your own short film under expert guidance.

5. Breathe life into characters with Leyla Ali

Join Leyla Ali, professional illustrator and ANIMAFILM jury member, in a masterclass designed to help you develop your unique style and create charismatic characters. Discover Leyla’s techniques and methods, celebrated for their vibrant and dynamic strokes.

Enrol today to bring your animation characters to life.

6. Traverse the vibrant professional animation landscape with Matthew Lyon

Join Matthew Lyon as he shares his seasoned industry insights, career journey, and creative development strategies. This session covers a plethora of critical topics such as breaking into the industry, progressing your career, and nurturing creative genius.

7. Discover Georgian animation with LOVE: Georgia. MIFASI Studio

Handpicked from the “With Love from the World” programme, this unique showcase features modern Georgian animation. Presented by Zurab Diasamidze, the director of MIFASI Animation Studio, this programme will screen a collection of original works by talented young Georgian artists.

Book your spot today to explore the unique essence of Georgian animation.

These are just seven highlights from a cornucopia of events at this year’s festival. Explore the full programme and book your tickets at tripsome.az/en/operator/animafilm.

Original article: https://www.skwigly.co.uk/must-see-events-animafilm-festival-2024/