site.btaOver 70 Films from 20 Countries to Compete at 21st World Animation Film Festival in Varna

More than 70 films from over 20 countries will take part in the 21st edition of the World Animation Film Festival in Varna, which will run from September 3 to 7, the organizers said on Monday. The festival presents short and feature-length animation for both children and adults. The competitive programme includes seven categories – short, student, children’s, Bulgarian, feature, horror and erotic animation.

The international jury includes renowned filmmakers who will also conduct masterclasses. The panel features Wilson Antonio Lazaretti from Brazil, Paul Driessen from the Netherlands, Veronica Solomon from Romania, Andrea Martignoni from Italy, and Stefan Voyvodov from Bulgaria.

Voyvodov will lead a discussion with the audience on the films 8848, Oceania, and the documentary Ris, which explore universal human themes using a variety of expressive means, from artistic animation and distinctive visual language to a hybrid of documentary and animated cinema. Lazaretti will present his experience leading children’s workshops in Brazil in a masterclass. Driessen will share his creative experience, how he structures ideas and develops design, and will present his book during the festival. Solomon will discuss her journey from sculpture to animation, while Martignoni will talk about his work in animation, his collaboration with street artist Blu, and how this partnership influenced his aesthetic and educational choices.

In its non-competitive programme, the festival will feature an exhibition and screenings by students from New Bulgarian University. The documentary Learning to Walk 2 tells the story of Croatian director, animator, artist, and cartoonist Borivoj Dovnikovic-Bordo. STUDIO M.I.R. will present a programme of award-winning films from prestigious international festivals, including the restored version of On the Edge of the Earth by two-time Oscar nominee Konstantin Bronzit.

As part of the accompanying programme, filmmaker Ivan Popov-Zaeka will deliver a lecture. Animator, director, and producer Nastimir Tzatchev will present his book Animated Memoirs. French director of Greek origin George Sifianos will hold a lecture providing an in-depth analysis of kitsch in animated cinema.

The World Animation Film Festival will pay tribute to Slav Bakalov (1945–2019) on the occasion of what would have been his 80th birthday. During his lifetime, the artist and director created more than 70 films, published books, held exhibitions, and worked as a theatre director. The festival’s panorama will showcase the best of his work. 

The festival is organized with the support of the Ministry of Culture, Varna Municipality, and the Bulgarian National Film Center. BTA is media partner of the event.