A festival should not be limited to popular films, but give viewers a chance to discover new perspectives and styles, he believes Mirona Raduartistic director of ABIFF – Animation Bucharest International Film Festival #4. The event takes place between September 6 and 8, 2024 and sis expanding this year to 12 cities in Romania.
The festival program includes exciting stories and daring visual experiments, as well as workshops for high school students and masterclasses. On Saturday, September 7, within ABIFF will be projected and MK Ciurlionis AI (Lithuania, 2023), the first animated feature film created entirely with the help of artificial intelligence.
“The selection focuses on relevant themes and original artistic approaches. This year, many films address themes such as ecology, the search for inner balance and the relationship with nature,” says Mirona.
How the program was designed ABIFFwhat are the trends in animation and what is happening this year at the festival, Mirona Radu tells more, in the lines below:
ABIFF in 12 cities
From the beginning, ABIFF had the ambition to reach as many corners of the country as possible, organizing simultaneous special screenings in several cities. We wanted to create a platform for animation enthusiasts from all over Romania, giving them access to carefully selected films, even in areas with fewer cultural opportunities. It is true that depending on the funding we manage to attract for each new edition, we go to several localities or not.
This year we have the support of AFCN, which has enabled us to bring ABIFF branded films to 12 cities. In recent years, I’ve been deeply interested in how we can create and nurture authentic moviegoing communities. I am convinced that by connecting and engaging film lovers today, we can build a future where cinema continues to evolve and enrich our lives.
This year’s selection
I believe that a festival should not be limited to popular films, but give viewers the chance to discover new perspectives and styles. I’m particularly interested in the authors’ vision – the themes that concern them and how they choose to explore them through animation. Of course, in the sections for children, I take into account especially the emotional impact of the stories covered, and less about the form. But overall, the selection focuses on relevant themes and original artistic approaches. This year, many films tackle themes such as ecology, the search for inner balance and the relationship with nature.
Artistic vision & audience expectations
I think we must not forget the context of the film festival – which means from the start more atypical content, which intrigues, which inspires, and I think it is important to have an artistic director’s vision to follow and guide the whole program. I strongly believe that people need curated content in a world flooded with cinematic propositions.
I have great respect for viewers in general, for ABIFF viewers in particular. Over the years I have had the privilege of interacting with viewers from various corners of the country, and I have noticed that there is a real thirst for intelligent films that ask questions, spark debate and create connections between people. This experience taught me that the public is much more receptive to brave and original proposals than we would be tempted to believe.
I think it helps us to know what was created in order to create further. Even if the technical means are perfected, there is an essence of Romanian animation, an inventive spirit and a special sensitivity, which deserve to be rediscovered and passed on. I hope that these sections will inspire new generations of creators, show them that we have a rich and valuable tradition in this field, and that they can build on this foundation.
The first feature film made entirely with the help of Artificial Intelligence
I believe that AI has the potential to be an extremely valuable tool in the animation industry. Used and guided intelligently, it can optimize the time and resources needed to produce a film. It is crucial, however, not to forget that art expresses a personal and assumed vision.
AI can be a powerful ally, but it’s important that artists stay at the helm of the creative process, using it as a tool to augment their vision, not replace it. The Lithuanian film AI is an interesting experiment, worth seeing, because it invites us to deep reflection, it has a great asset, it is created based on the paintings and music of the artist Ciorlionis. You can learn more about the achievement from the coordinators of this project, who were invited to give two masterclasses during this edition – Antanas Skucas and Julius Zubavicius.
Credit photo: Tijana Jankovic-Jevric
Masterclasses and practical workshops
We want to give the young and the not so young the opportunity to learn from seasoned professionals, develop their skills and discover or strengthen their own artistic voice in the world of animation. Beyond film screenings that connect audiences, I also see ABIFF as a learning platform and a source of inspiration.
Memorable moments
The most memorable moment so far remains, without a doubt, the opening of last year’s edition with the screening of the film “Robot Dreams”. To see a room full of children, from the smallest and most talkative and rambunctious, to the oldest, become completely quiet once the film starts and remain mesmerized for an hour and forty minutes, watching a emotional story, without any spoken words on the screen, is a truly magical and unforgettable experience. It was this deep connection, this meaningful silence, that showed us the power of film to unite hearts. We hope that from this edition we will remain with such precious moments, which motivate us to organize new and new editions.
What does the success of an animation festival mean?
Let’s feel the shared satisfaction and excitement of those for whom we dedicate this festival – those who want to learn more about animated film, those who want to improve their knowledge by participating in workshops and masterclasses, those who present their the movies. Organizing a festival is exhausting, and yet we continue to do it year after year, precisely because we feed on this beautiful echo from the hearts of those who attend our event.
What’s next
We have many ideas and plans for the future of ABIFF, and especially to strengthen the community around the festival. We want to create more opportunities for networking and collaboration between artists, industry professionals and the public. We are thinking of organizing artistic residencies and even an animation fair. Also, expanding partnerships with other festivals and cultural institutions is another priority. Our two-year partnership with the European Film Festival Palic in Serbia is a great example, and it is a great joy to see the best ABIFF short films reach Serbian audiences. We can’t wait to share them with you at the next editions of ABIFF! Stay with us!
Source: www.iqads.ro
