A Polish film went on to win at the Polish (and equally international) festival of Etiuda & Anima. The Krakow Festival (21-26 November 2023) is always a place for arthouse animation, and this year was no different.

'Winter' (Zima) by Tomek Popakul (Ziegenort, Acid Rain) and Kasumi Ozeki, a self-described 'mosaic portrait of a small fisherman's village' won the festival's Grand Prix Golden Jabberwocky out of 44 animation films competing.

The 'Winter' film was also joined by 4 other Polish films in the awards and special mentions, showing that the Polish contemporary animation scene is a factor to be reckoned with.

Related: 'Zima' film review

The second prize (Sliver Jabberwocky) went to the French comedy film, 'Aaaah' by Osman Cerfon. Best student film went to the Hungarian (and a personal story) film by Alexander Gratzer 'In the Upper Room'.

Every season a little mole visits his blind grandfather, who lives deep underground in a comfortably decorated burrow. As the two grow older their relationship becomes more intense and important questions arise - Film Synopsis

Special mentions were given, including the Estonian puppet film by Kaspar Jancis, 'Antipolis', a steam-punk film that follows the 'flat Earth' hypothesis to its comical absurdity.

All Etiuda & Anima 2023 animation winners

Jury: Ivana Šebestová (Slovakia), Marc Roels (The Netherlands), Paulina Ziółkowska (Poland)

Grand Prix Golden Jabberwocky and PLN 10,000
WINTER / dir. Tomek Popakul, Kasumi Ozeki,Poland 2023

Justification: "A harsh yet mesmerising film depicting a community seemingly on the brink of apocalypse. The film resembles a cold, beautiful kaleidoscope turning and shifting effortlessly between cruelty and longing, between the sacred and vulgar. An absolute masterclass in technique, writing and direction!"

Silver Jabberwocky
AAAAH!, dir. Osman Cerfon, France 2023

Justification: "Surprisingly inventive and thrillingly simple. This film manages to convey with affection and humor the simple, primal fact that we are all just animals screaming into the abyss. And its hilarious!"

Bronze Jabberwocky
MISALIGNED, dir. Marta Magnuska, Poland 2022

Justification: "This film features a strong, confident visual style in its compositions, character designs and animation. Underpinned by deft and elegant editing, it playfully reveals its themes with subtlety, emotion and humour."

Special Golden Jabberwockyfor the best animated student etude:
IN THE UPPER ROOM, dir. Alexander Gratzer, Hungary 2022

Justification: "This deceptively simple film evokes a rich, surreal world that is surprisingly moving and emotional. The characters are as bizarre as they are relatable and are rendered with warmth and a very effective lightness of touch. We also loved all the hairiness."

Special Mentions:

from Ivana Šebestova to:
49 385, dir. Helena Stańczyk, Poland 2023

Justification: "For the light yet powerful commemoration of events that are not to be forgotten."

from Paulina Ziółkowska to:
TOTO, dir. Klaudia Bochniak, Poland 2023

from Marc Roels to:
ANTIPOLIS, dir. Kaspar Jancis, Estonia 2023

Verdict of the student jury (Jan Bryg, Karolina Walas, Bartek Miechowicz):
CRAB, dir. Piotr Chmielewski, WJTeam, Poland

Peoples (Audience) Award

The viewers of the 30th Etiuda&Anima International Film Festival decided to award a mention:
ICE MERCHANTS, dir. João Gonzalez

Etiuda & Anima 2023: Anima Roundtable (c) Etiuda & Anima

The 30th Etiuda & Anima Festival took place 21-26 November in Krakow, Poland.