A baker’s dozen of animated feature films from around the world have been tapped to compete at the 25th Bucheon International Animation Festival in South Korea. One of the selections, Pablo Berger’s Robot Dreams, has also been selected to open the festivities. BIAF2023 runs October 20-24; more information available at biaf.or.kr.
The selected films are, in alphabetical order (descriptions provided by BIAF, edited for clarity):
Art College 1994 (Liu Jian | China)
Xiaojun admires Lili. Lili’s friend Hong dreams of being a vocalist but considers singing in a bar for money. Yingjun proposes to Lili, who contemplates leaving school for marriage. What is the meaning of art in lives filled with learning, creativity, arguments, love and friendship?
Chicken for Linda! (Chiara Malta, Sébastien Laudenbach | France)
One day Paulette’s ring disappears, and she unfairly punishes her daughter, Linda. Paulette tries to make it up by cooking her late husband’s chicken recipe herself. Chicken for Linda! blends vibrant colors into their shared bittersweet memories. The film mixes comedy, music, action and touching moments, urging them to embrace the past’s pain and cherish the present.
The Concierge (Itazu Yoshimi | Japan)
Akino wants to be a perfect store concierge. Competent to adapt to strict management, she has one problem: the customers are animals. The Concierge is a story of growth where Akino’s unique charm and professionalism soften even the sharpest hearts.
The Forest of Miss Tang (Denis Do | France)
In 1886, blocked shipping routes disrupt Tang Hio’s life. This film explores enduring family bonds through choices, old and new, remembering and forgetting, with the forest as a central motif. A rooted tree cannot move easily, yet the bonsai tree shows the family’s next generation.
Kensuke’s Kingdom (Neil Boyle, Kirk Hendry | U.K., Luxembourg)
Michael falls off from the cruise with his dog Stella. He wakes up on the beach and meets Kensuke, an old Japanese man living on the island. The animation focuses on adventure and living with nature. Kensuke, a non-English-speaking veteran, communicates with Michael through drawings and gestures, forming a unique bond.
Mars Express (Jérémie Périn | France)
Mars Express is an investigative sci-fi film about Aline and Carlos. Aline fights alcoholism, while Carlos is an outdated android with memory issues. Their strong bond adds up to this serious genre, raising questions about human-robot coexistence and the essence of humanity.
Phoenix: Reminiscence of Flower (Shojiro Nishimi | Japan)
Romi and George settle on the planet Eden 17 for a new life. George’s death leaves Romi, who goes on a cold sleep and their son Cain. When Romi awakes, she becomes queen of an alien civilization descended from Cain, yet she longs for Earth.
Robot Dreams (Pablo Berger | Spain, France) — Opening Film
Robot Dreams begins from a dog’s perspective, then starts again in a robot’s dream. While the film has no dialog, the shot and sound design turns this story into a dynamic fable. It reaches our desire for a soulmate, yet it is touching because it doesn’t end even when it fails.
Sand Land (Toshihisa Yokoshima | Japan)
Sand Land portrays a world where humans and monsters coexist, facing desertification and demons with extraordinary powers raiding for food. The film expands the dynamic action that the original comics could not express by adding new blockbuster action, while keeping its unique style.
The Siren (Sepideh Farsi | France, Germany, Luxembourg, Belgium)
Set during the Iran-Iraq War, The Siren dives into the tragic history through the eyes of 14-year-old Omid in Abadan. It tells that there is honor in enduring this life: People still live and fight, worry about food and pray through the sirens.
Sirocco and the Kingdom of the Winds (Benoît Chieux | France, La Réunion, Belgium)
Juliet and Carmen enter an extraordinary world in a mysterious book, turned into cats. Sirocco and the Kingdom of the Winds is unique in its imaginative style, flowing lines, colorful emotions and ecological perspectives creating enchanting moments, blending familiar tales to show animation’s magical power.
Sound! Euphonium: Ensemble Contest (Tatsuya Ishihara | Japan)
Kumiko’s first challenge as a new captain of the brass band club is a school competition for the ensemble contest representatives. Kumiko’s growth from the new member to caring captain, the club’s development and inclusion of characters from Liz and the Bluebird will be pleasing to old fans of the series.
White Plastic Sky (Tibor Bánóczki, Sarolta Szabó | Hungary, Slovakia)
In 2123 Budapest, people must offer up their lives to the city at the age of 50 due to limited resources. When Nora leaves to become a tree at 30, Stefan follows her. White Plastic Sky portrays humanity’s struggles in post-apocalypse.
