Izabela Plucińska’s animated short captivated the jury of the Oblicqua section at Barcelona’s Mecal Festival. The Youth Jury also presented an award.

Mecal, the International Short Film and Animation Festival of Barcelona, every year showcases a wide selection of short films across various genres – from fiction and documentary to animation and experimental works – establishing itself as an important point of reference in Spain and abroad. Mecal stands out not only through its rich film programme, but also thanks to professional and educational activities that support filmmakers. Furthermore, the festival acts as a short film promotion and distribution network, holding screenings at national as well as international levels.

Joko is a young man who supports his entire family by working on a cistern. On the second anniversary of his employment, Joko and his colleagues are surprised by a visit from unidentified delegates who order them to… carry them on their backs. Initially, Joko rebels against such a humiliating practice, but – under the pressure of his peers and the desire to earn money – he gives in. The delegates begin to increasingly dominate the young man. Red blisters appear on his back, and one of the carried guests can't get off his back. Every subsequent delegate who touches Joko sticks to him permanently. JOKO presents a grotesque vision of eternal exploitation and human domination over fellow humans, filled with absurdist humour and macabre elements.

You can read more about the festival here.

JULY 2025