"HIPPOS" AND "BATHS" AWARDED IN CYPRUS
Among the award-winners of the 13th edition of the Cyprus Countryside Animafest Animated Film Festival that came to an end on July 20th, there are two Polish films.
As every year, this year's edition of the festival gathered a large audience, who had the opportunity to watch the latest, independent animated films made around the world. During four days of screenings, over 50 films were shown at the festival, including special programmes prepared, among others, by Se-ma-for in Łódz, the Dutch HAFF and animated film festival in Ottawa.The jury, consisting of Chris Robinson - the director of animated film festival in Ottawa, Gerben Schermer - the founder of the HAFF festival in Amsterdam, and Lea Maleni - a director from Cyprus, gave the Grand Prix award to the film by Piotr Dumała, "Hippos" (produced by Fumi Studio). The latest film by Dumała is a metaphorical portrait of difficult relations between men and women, inspired by the life of hippos. The jury handed its special mention to "Baths" by Tomek Ducki (produced by Studio Miniatur Filmowych, Peek and Boo). Animation by Ducki, well-known to the festival audience, shows an unusual meeting of two elderly women in a city bath.
The Animafest festival was founded in 2002. Initially - still named Small Documentary Festival - it adopted the formula of documentary film festival, however, shortly after, its organisers focused on presenting only animated films. Now, the festival is the only festival in Cyprus dedicated entirely to animated films. Between successive editions of the festival, its organisers implement the travelling edition of the festival, combined with educational programme.
The festival was held from 17th to 20th July.
More on the festival can be found here