Anima Festival Unveils Official Selection for 43rd Edition

The Anima Festival is thrilled to unveil the highly anticipated official selection for its 43rd edition, set to captivate audiences from February 23 to March 3, 2024. Spread across iconic venues such as Flagey, Marni, and Cinematek, this edition promises a diverse and enriching cinematic experience.

After a meticulous review of over 1700 previously unreleased films, the festival's selection committee has carefully curated a lineup of 172 short films. This selection, a testament to the global diversity of contemporary animation, comprises 82 titles competing on the international stage and 24 representing the latest releases from Belgium. An additional 66 out-of-competition films will contribute to Anima 2024's thematic programs, showcasing the festival's commitment to offering a comprehensive snapshot of the animation landscape.

The international competition features a dazzling array of films from 39 countries, including 21 European nations. Among these, several have already received accolades at other prestigious international festivals. Notable entries include Flóra Anna Buda's "27," which clinched the Cristal for Best Short Film at the Annecy Festival, and Stephen Vuillemin's "A Kind of Testament," honored with the Best First Film Award at Animafest Zagreb. Daria Kashcheeva, known for her powerful multi-technique film "Electra," returns to the spotlight in the student category.

Anima 2024 introduces exciting new programs, enhancing the festival experience for attendees. Enthusiasts can (re)discover the animated documentary program Real-Life Stories, the musical journey of Watch & Dance, and the highly sought-after Queer Stories and Women’s Perspective, both of which sold out last year. Additionally, two new programs make their debut – "New Talents," spotlighting emerging European talent, and two short-film programs with a focus on science fiction.

Belgium's animation prowess takes center stage at Anima, with 31 films selected from 123 submissions. Among them, Nicolas Keppens, a two-time winner of the Award for Best Belgian Short Film at Anima, returns with "Beautiful Men," his first foray into stop-motion. Nienke Deutz, celebrated for her previous work, including the Cristal for Best Short Film at the Annecy Festival in 2018, presents "The Miracle."

The vibrant landscape of Belgian animation schools is represented by 11 selected films, including the return of Nicolas Gemoets, a regular at Anima. His graduation film, "Muscle Man in: Metal Mayhem," adds another layer of creativity to the diverse selection.

The prestigious juries for the international and national competitions include luminaries such as Barry Purves, Rocío Alvarez, and Steven Henderson. The national competition's jury comprises Catherine Totems, Raman Djafari, and Muriel Andrin, adding expertise and insight to the selection process.

The festival promises further revelations, with the juries for Films for a Young Audience and Feature Films set to be announced at a later date, along with other significant updates about the selection. As anticipation builds, mark your calendars for January 30, 2024, when the complete program for Anima 2024 will be unveiled, promising an unparalleled celebration of global animation.