Festival Description
Countryside Animafest Cyprus is the official Cyprus animation Festival. Its aim is to cultivate the art of animation, by raising audience awareness and promoting cultural, financial and social development in the field of independent animation filmmaking. Its various activities throughout the year include the annual Countryside Animafest Cyprus, expert seminars and workshops, academic forums, special screenings, etc. In this way the festival initiates international collaborations and provides opportunities for artistic growth.
2022 Call for entries
Animafest Cyprus, the International Animation Festival of Cyprus, announces the call for film submissions and invites you to enter your films to the following competition categories at the 21st Countryside Animafest Cyprus - Views of the World.
1. International Animation short film Competition (Grand Prix - Dimitri Eipides)
2. Non Narrative Animation Short film Competition (Experimental)
3. Children short film Αudience Αward
Deadline for submitting International films: February 27th, 2022.
4. Cyprus National Animation short film Competition
Deadline for submitting Cyprus films: June 18th, 2022.
There is no entry fee.
Founded 21 years ago, the official Animation Festival of Cyprus, showcases a selection of the world’s latest productions, focusing on independent, non-commercial films.
The 21st Edition of the festival will take place between 10 - 13 of August 2022 at the village of Salamiou.
Supported by: Cyprus Ministry of Education, Culture, Sport and Youth - Cultural Services.
- Full regulations
- Entry form
- Deadline: 27 Feb 2022 (international competition), 18 June 2022 (national competition)
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2021 Festival Coverage
2020 Festival Coverage
Winners:
- The Grand Prix Dimitris Eipides was awarded to the film “Daughter” by Daria Kashcheeva, from the Czech Republic.
Rationale: In telling a universal story of misunderstanding, regret and forgiveness, the artist revitalises a classic form of Papier-mâché puppet animation. The jury were impressed with the artist’s command of the details of facial expression and body language to convey subtle and convincing displays of emotion, and her unexpected use of fluid camera techniques such as handheld movement and shifting depth of field to convey tension between and within her characters, and to bring their conflicting, non-linear, perspectives to life.
- Honorary Mention: “Deep Love” by Mykyta Lyskov from Ukraine.
Rationale: A powerful cry of anxiety about national and personal identity wrapped in a dense narrative packed with visual gags touching on social, environmental and humanitarian issues whose repetition and subtle subversiveness borders on the poetic.
Special Mentions by the jury members:
Alexis Vasiliou - “Pulsión”, by Pedro Casavecchia, Argentina, France
Elena Alonefti - “Bathhouse of Whales” by Mizuki Kiyama, Japan
Stavros Pamballis - “Signs” by Dustin Rees, Switzerland
- The award for Best Film in the National Competition was given to the film “In Between” by Eleni Chandriotou.
Rationale: The National competition was a showcase of the early, encouraging steps of a new generation of Cypriot animators who are finding their voice and creative identity within a demanding and competitive international space. In this spirit, the Jury noted “In Between” by Eleni Chandriotou for its precise aesthetic choices and characteristic style, deployed in the service of a clear narrative that convincingly reflected the time and place of its creation.
The members of this year’s jury were Elena Alonefti, film director and president of the Directors Guild of Cyprus, Stavros Pamballis, film director and screenwriter, and Alexis Vassiliou, artistic director of Dance House Lemesos.
Audience awards::
In the International Competition: Physics of Sorrow by Theodore Ushev. Canada.
In the National Competition: Ena tzi ena by Michalis Papanikolaou.
In the childrens’ program: The Kite by Martin Smatana. Czech Republic, Slovakia, Poland.
The Grand Prix awards 1000 euros to the winner. The Best Film award for the National competition gives 500 euros to the winner (awards are sponsored by the Bank of Cyprus)
As the festival organizers state, 'during these terrible times for all humanity, international festivals around the world were dealt a huge blow. Animafest Cyprus managed to escape this wave of cancellations because screenings take place outdoors. We count ourselves extremely lucky to have been able to honour the selected films by showing them on the big screen. While it is wonderful that digital platforms have provided so much accessibility in the last few months, making possible the realization of film festivals online, the collective viewing experience that we were able to share these last few days is priceless and must never be taken for granted".
2019 Festival Coverage
Awards for the 18th edition of Countryside Animafest Cyprus Views of the World:
INTERNATIONAL COMPETITION:
- Grand Prix Dimitris Eipides Award (1000 euro): For its exquisite visual qualities, for the compelling humanity of the story and because all the elements of the film contribute to a strong global cinematographic experience, the jury gives the Grand Prix to UNCLE THOMAS, ACCOUNTING FOR THE DAYS by Regina Pessoa.
- Special Mention: For its great graphic consistency and for its troubling and erotic character the jury gives a mention to EGG by Martina Scarpelli.
- Special Mention: For the total freedom of its experimental approach, and for its eloquent use of space, light, sound and music, they jury gives a mention to A SLOWER SPEED OF LIGHT by Stuart Pound.
NATIONAL COMPETITION:
- Best Film Award (500 euro): Because of a clever storyline that avoids clichés and can touch the hearts of children and adults and because it is a major production accomplishment in the field of animation in Cyprus they jury gives the Best Film Award to DRAGON RECIPES by Maria Pavlou.
- Special Mention: For its creative approach to an ecological problem, and for the dramatic character of the visual design the jury gives a mention to CAN YOU EAT PLASTIC by Christiana Constantinou.
International Jury committee (International & National competition): Pierre Hébert (Canada), Liu Yi (China) , Petros Charalambous (Cyprus).
2018 Festival Coverage
Event Dates
- From 10 August 2022 to 13 August 2022
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