ANIMAFILM Festival announces winners of 2023 edition
Short Summary:
The 6th ANIMAFILM International Animation Festival was held in Baku, Azerbaijan from September 6 to 10, 2023. The festival screened 64 animated films for children and adults, with the theme of “Women’s Rights”. The Grand Prix went to The End of War by Lei Chen, while the best Azerbaijani film was Stolen Spring by Alexandra Shirinova.The 6th edition of the ANIMAFILM International Animation Festival, organized by the Azerbaijan Animation Association, took place at the Nizami Cinema Center in Baku, Azerbaijan from September 6 to 10, 2023. The festival, supported by the Ministry of Culture and the Film Agency of the Republic of Azerbaijan, showcased 64 diverse and innovative animated films for both children and adults. The theme of this year’s festival was “Women’s Rights”, and the revenue obtained from ticket sales was donated to local young women directors.
The festival also presented awards to the best short animated films in various categories, as well as an audience award. The jury, composed of prominent animation professionals and experts, selected the winners from a pool of high-quality submissions from around the world. The Grand Prix for the best short animated film went to The End of War by Lei Chen, a poignant and powerful film about the aftermath of war and the hope for peace. The best short animated film for children was Everywhere by Ng Kai Chung and Step Cheung. The best Azerbaijani short animated film was Stolen Spring by Alexandra Shirinova. The audience award and the best Azerbaijani student short animated film went to Empty Spaces by Ayan Novruzlu.
The festival also featured other films from Azerbaijan and abroad, such as Karabakh Tale by Firingiz Gurbanova, Timid and the Woodpecker by Togrul Mestelizade, The Half – Birdən Ölsək by Ravan Muradov, Gavaldash by Oqtay Ağamalıyev, Right to Education by Ruslan İbrahimli, and Disbalance by Amin Quliyev. The festival offered a rich and diverse program of animation for all ages and tastes, and celebrated the art and culture of animation. The festival also provided a platform for dialogue and exchange among animation filmmakers, enthusiasts, and audiences. The festival organizers thanked the sponsors, partners, volunteers, and guests for their support and participation, and expressed their hope to see them again at the next edition of the ANIMAFILM Festival.
