Animac 2024 Launches with Prestigious Awards to Isabel Herguera and Barry J.C. Purves
Short Summary:
The 28th Animac festival, dedicated to animation, began in Lleida, Catalonia, awarding Isabel Herguera and Barry J.C. Purves for their contributions to the field. The event featured discussions on diversity, presentations of embryonic projects, and highlighted women's achievements in animation, alongside showcasing a retrospective of Purves' work.The International Animation Film Exhibition of Catalonia, known as Animac, inaugurated its 28th edition on February 16, 2024, with a ceremony at the La Llotja Theater in Lleida. This year, the festival recognized the outstanding contributions of two animation professionals: Isabel Herguera and Barry J.C. Purves.
Isabel Herguera, from San Sebastián, Spain, was honored with the festival's Honorary Award. Herguera, a renowned visual artist, producer, and educator in the field of animated films, has a distinguished international career. Notably, she served as the director of Animac from 2003 to 2011. Gianmarco Serra, a collaborator of Herguera, accepted the award on her behalf, highlighting her deep connection with Lleida and Animac.
British animator Barry J.C. Purves received the Animation Master Award, celebrating his extensive career as a director, stop-motion animator, and screenwriter. Known for blending personal storytelling with theatrical stage direction, Purves' work has garnered over seventy international awards. Animac is featuring a comprehensive retrospective of his films, emphasizing his influence on the animation and theater worlds.
The opening day also focused on the theme of diversity within the animation industry. The Women in the Animation Industry Association (MIA) presented the MIANIMA mentoring program, aimed at supporting animation projects by women. María Trénor's feature film "Rock Bottom" was showcased as a success story of this initiative. Additionally, director Toni García discussed the application of artificial intelligence in animation production, reflecting the festival's commitment to technological innovation and industry trends.
Animac's program includes the presentation of embryonic animation projects through its Incubator, offering a platform for emerging talent to receive feedback from industry professionals. The festival's dedication to promoting diversity and inclusion was evident in its selection of short films for screening, including works from Spain, the United States, France, Hungary, and Iran.
Notable attendees of the event included Lleida's mayor Fèlix Larrosa, various council members, and the director of Animac, Carolina López. Their speeches underscored Animac's role as a beacon of creativity, diversity, and innovation in the animation industry, both in Catalonia and internationally.
Animac continues to be a pivotal event for professionals, students, and enthusiasts of animation, offering a space for learning, inspiration, and celebration of the medium's vast potential.
