Animac 2024 Celebrates Isabel Herguera with Honorary Award

15 January 2024 | Source

The 28th International Animation Film Festival of Catalonia, Animac 2024, has announced Isabel Herguera as the recipient of its Honorary Award. Herguera, an esteemed visual artist, director, producer, and animation film teacher, will be honored for her significant contributions to both national and international animated cinema. Animac will host a retrospective of her work, including her feature film "The Sultana’s Dream," and an exhibition showcasing original drawings from the film.

The 28th edition of Animac, the International Animation Film Festival of Catalonia, has chosen Isabel Herguera, a distinguished figure in the world of animation, as the recipient of its Honorary Award. The festival, organized by the Lleida City Council, is set to take place from February 15 to 18, 2024.

Isabel Herguera, born in San Sebastián in 1961, has an impressive international career as a visual artist, director, producer, and animation film teacher. Her connection with Animac is deep-rooted, having served as its director from 2003 to 2011. This year, Animac will showcase a retrospective of her work, highlighting her significant impact on the animation industry.

The festival will feature a selection of Herguera's short films, including her first feature film "The Sultana’s Dream" (Spain, Germany, 2023). This film has received critical acclaim, earning a nomination for the Goya Awards and winning the Basque Cinema award at the San Sebastián Festival. Furthermore, Herguera will present a masterclass, offering insights into her journey in the world of cinema animation.

Carolina López, the current director of Animac, expressed her enthusiasm about honoring Herguera, emphasizing her unique and independent vision that has significantly contributed to both national and international animated cinema.

In addition to the film screenings and masterclass, an exhibition titled "The Sultana’s Dream" will be held at the Espai

Cavallers de Lleida. This exhibition will offer a closer look at Herguera's creative process, displaying a selection of original drawings and other materials from the film.

Herguera's educational and professional journey is as diverse as her contributions to the field. She graduated in Fine Arts from the University of the Basque Country and continued her studies at the Kunstakademie of Düsseldorf under video artist Nam June Paik. She further honed her skills with a master’s degree at the California Institute of the Arts (CalArts) in Los Angeles. Her career in Los Angeles included collaborations on music videos and various animation projects before returning to Europe to direct Animac and coordinate the Arteleku Moving Image Laboratory in San Sebastián. Her portfolio includes several notable short films and her recent feature film "The Sultana’s Dream."

The 2024 edition of Animac is dedicated to the theme of diversity in animated cinema. This focus reflects the industry's ongoing efforts to embrace a wide range of voices, stories, and characters, representing various cultures, gender identities, sexual orientations, and abilities. The festival will include monographic sessions, retrospectives, a careful selection of short films and feature films from around the world, conferences, and masterclasses.

Animac 2024 is set to be an inclusive event, with adaptations to integrate different groups and demands for inclusion. Special features like relaxed sessions for people with special needs are part of the festival's commitment to diversity and inclusion.

Isabel Herguera's recognition at Animac 2024 is not just an award for an individual; it symbolizes the festival's acknowledgment of her vast contributions to the realm of animated cinema and its evolving landscape.