Fest Anča International Animation Festival 2023
Festival Description:
Fest Anča International Animation Festival – the only Slovak multimedia festival focused on animated film – is based in a former train station that has been transformed into a vibrant cultural center.
The festival aims to showcase contemporary, progressive animated films, and commemorate the cream of the genre. The long-term vision is to approximate well-known international festivals by uniquely showcasing this art form in Slovakia. The festival features an international competition of animated short films and music videos, as well as non-competitive screening sections. Attendees can additionally enjoy presentations, exhibitions, workshops, film screenings for children, and numerous accompanying events.
2023 Festival Coverage
Nearly 1,400 films from 73 countries were submitted to the festival. The pre-selection committee selected a generous portion of almost 230 films. This year, the committee selected 33 films for the main competition, of which up to
one-third are student films. These will compete for the Anča Award for the best student animated short film.
This year's strong student representation is also evident from the Korean film Persona, which won the main prize for Best Student Animated Short Film at the Annecy International Animation Film Festival and was also selected for the prestigious Cannes Film Festival. The absurd Polish film 'Headprickles' by Katarzyna Miechowicz, who last year won a special mention at Fest Anča for her film 'Crumbs of Life', may also be of interest. One of the questions the film answers is how many plastic bags are needed to pack one banana.
Besides this author, at this year's Fest Anča you will see other films by authors who have appeared at the festival in the past. Well-known names such as Peter Millard, Steven Woloshen, and Candy Guard, who was even on the jury of the 2019 festival, will present their films here. Nikita Diakur's new film 'Backflip is also in the main competition. Nikita won the main award of Fest Anča in 2019. Not to forget the latest film by the talented Filip Diviak, who won a special mention at last year's festival for 'Sounds Between the Crowns'. The selection also includes the exceptional Oscar-nominated short film 'Ice Merchants' by Portuguese filmmaker João Gonzalez, which delicately deals with the relationship between a father and son.
Slovak animation is an integral part of the international selection of Fest Anča every year. 'My Name is Edgar' and 'I Have a Cow' by the aforementioned Filip Diviak made it to the main competition and also to the Slovak competition. The selection also includes the film Mercy by the renowned director Ivana Laučíková, which depicts the theme of extremism, as well as the film Criss Cross, which is embroidered with a blunt needle.
The combination of animation and music is one of the highlights of the festival every year, and this year will be no different. The music video competition will offer a high level of audience appeal. Visitors of Fest Anča can look forward to music videos from faraway countries such as Argentina, Hong Kong or Costa Rica. However, the competition will also feature a video clip from neighbouring Ukraine, depicting the difficult war situation in Mariupol. The Belgian director Simon Breeveld was particularly creative, and the pre-selection committee even selected two music videos of his.
Parents with children will also be delighted by the rich and varied selection of animated films. Fest Anča will bring films that the child viewer would otherwise not have the opportunity to see in regular cinema distribution. One of such is the German film 'T-Rex' by Julie Ocker's about a dinosaur who can't play basketball. Children can also look forward to this film because Julia is one of the names that have been presented at Fest Anča in the past.
From the children's programme, don't miss the exceptional film The Turnip, which depicts the tale of the enormous turnip from the opposite perspective in an interesting way. The Swiss film Pond, on the other hand, presents the unknown world of the inhabitants of an (extra)ordinary pond.
Call for Entries (Archive)
Only short animated films and music videos created after January 1, 2021 can be accepted for competition
At Fest Anča 2023 you can compete for Anča Awards in the following categories:
– Best Animated Short
– Best Student Animated Short
– Best Animated Music Video
– Best Animated Short for Children
– Best Slovak Animated Short
BEST ANIMATED SHORT
Best Animated Short is the international competition of short animated films made in the last two years. The winning film will be selected by a three-member international committee. The winner of the Anča Award for the Best Animated Short will be awarded €1000.
BEST STUDENT ANIMATED SHORT
Fest Anča will also award the best student short animated film made in the last two years in the international competition of short animated films. The winning student film will be selected by an international committee. The winner of the Anča Award for the Best Student Animated Short will be awarded €500.
BEST ANIMATED MUSIC VIDEO
Best Animated Music Video is the international competition of animated music videos made in the last two years. An international committee will select the winner. The winner of the Anča Award for the Best Animated Music Video will be awarded €500.
BEST ANIMATED SHORT FOR CHILDREN
Best Animated Short for Children is the international competition of short animated films for children made in the last two years. And because adults (as we know) don’t understand much at all, the winning film will be selected by a special children’s committee! The winner of the Anča Award for the Best Animated Short for Children will be awarded €500.
- Festival Regulations
- Submit via FilmFreeway
- Deadline: 31 Dec 2022 (regular, free entry) 31 Jan 2023 (late, 5 EUR fee)
2021 Festival Coverage
- Fest Anča: Thee Unmistakable Spirit of Independent Animation
- Polka Dot Boy, Naked in the Fest Anča Winners
- Fest Anča Showcases Non-Traditional Traditions
- Selection Results
2020 Festival Coverage
2019 Coverage
Event Dates
- From 29/06/2023 to 02/07/2023
