The 11th Fest Anča International Animation Festival has announced this year’s grand prize winner is Nothing Happens — a haunting, oil-painting inspired short from Danish filmmakers Uri and Michelle Kranot. “We were entranced by the atmosphere and hypnotizing pace. The deep experience of something happening is pervasive,” said the panel composed of German TV and film consultant Agnès Bizzaro, British filmmaker Peter Millard, and film theoretician Michał Bobrowski from Poland.
The Anča Award bestowed is a trophy designed by ALLT STUDIO as well as 800 euros.
The winning film was presented in both its standard version and as a VR experience during the festival. “In the first version we see people observing, while in the VR version we are in the very place being observed. The filmmakers play with the viewers: you can watch and be watched,” program director Maroš Brojo commented.
Ivana Šebestová won the Anča Slovak Award and 1,000 euros for Yellow. The committee appreciated “the use of color and light to communicate a story of dedication and passion in conquering fear.” This year’s national jury comprised Bulgarian-Canadian director Theodore Ushev, Slovak animator Marián Villaris, and British storyboard artist David Bunting. The Anča Slovak Award is supported by the Slovak Literary Fund.
This year, Fest Anča teamed up with Film Europe Media Company to award a special distribution prize to a short Slovak animated film. The Anča D Award winning film selFish by Lukáš Figel will be screened in Slovak cinemas before feature films distributed by Film Europe Media Company.
2018 Fest Anča Winners:
ANČA AWARD
Nothing Happens
Uri & Michelle Kranot (Denmark, 2017)
Anča Award Special Mention
Musical Traumas
Milos Tomić (Serbia, 2018)
ANČA STUDENT AWARD
Animateur
Alexander Gratzer (Austria, 2017)
Jury Comments: “…A little animation still successfully carries the film with perfect timing and playful use of expectations.”
Anča Student Award Special Mention
Here and Here
Michaela Mihalyiová (Slovakia, 2017)
ANČA MUSIC VIDEO AWARD
w/o – FINKEL
Sanni Lahtinen (Finland, 2018)
Jury Comments: “The video captures you at first viewing – it pulls you in and spits you out at the end. The visuals reflect the music with very organic and dynamic flow. The rhythm, colors and animation take you on a thrilling emotional journey.“
Anča Music Video Award Special Mention
Divisional Articulations
Max Hattler (Germany, 2017)
Music Video Jury: Slovak cultural manager Michaela Kučová, Spanish musician Jordi Baldó, and Danish game and VR developer Milan Grajetzki. Prize: 400 eur.
ANČA SLOVAK AWARD
Yellow
Ivana Šebestová (Slovakia, 2017)
Anča Slovak Award Special Mention
Journey
Marek Jasaň (Slovakia, 2018)
D Award
selFish
Lukáš Figeľ (Slovakia, 2017)
ANČA KIDS AWARD
Birdlime
Evan DeRushie (Canada, 2017)
GAME DAYS PITCHING SESSION
Blood Will Be Spilled
Double Quote Studios
Game Days Pitching Special Mention
Yester Morrow
Bitmap Galaxy
GAME JAM
Lost Voice
Jakub Moravec, Vlado Líška and Katarína Geffertová
Winning films will have an encore screening at Pohoda Festival in Trenčín from July 5 to July 7. More information at www.festanca.sk.
