A gathering of animators from all over the world

At this year’s feature-length edition of Animafest Zagreb 2013, which will take place between June 4th and June 9th at Europa Cinema and the Cineplexx Centar Kaptol, fans of animation will truly come unto their own as they can look forward to a diverse programme of films as well as an array of concurrent events.

Fans of animated film know that June in Zagreb is reserved for Animafest, one of the most important festivals of animated film in the world. The festival has a competitive character and it was built upon the tradition of Zagreb’s renowned School of Animated Film. The first edition of the festival was held in 1972, when the International Animated Film Association chose Zagreb as host for the biannual gatherings of animators from all over the world. Since then, the global animation production has systematically been followed through various programmes, and in 2005 Animafest introduced the category of feature length animated film in its programme. That is also when a biannual event became an annual affair, with feature length films on the programme every odd year, while shorts are featured every even year.

This year’s feature-length edition of Animafest Zagreb 2013, which will take place between June 4th and June 9th at Europa Cinema and the Cineplexx Centar Kaptol, will present a diverse film programme as well as an array of concurrent events. Nine films will be in the running for the festival Grand Prix, while the World Panorama programme, considered by many to be the most interesting of the festival programmes, will feature many films by innovative authors, created with new techniques.

To mark Croatia’s entry to the EU, this year’s themed programme, “Was ist Europa”, is dedicated to films which cover the social and political life of Europe throughout the 20th century until present day. Since Norway is celebrating 100 years of animation this year, Animafest Zagreb 2013 will also dedicate a special programme to this great anniversary, while the programme aimed at children and youth will include twelve feature length animated films and two special projections – Lota and the Secret of the Moon Rock and On Marko’s Hill.

Along with an array of other interesting festival programmes that the audiences can look forward to, Animafest will also feature numerous concurrent events, such as exhibitions (this year there will be three), and the project titled Animafest Goes MSU. During the festival, 16 selected films will be screened on the media façade of the Museum of Contemporary Art, free for all passers-by to see. 

All information about this year’s programme can be found online at www.animafest.hr, while the Animafest mobile phone application will also be helpful as it offers film programmes, photos, synopsises, times and locations of projections…