The short film A Demonstration of Brilliance in Four Acts is directed by Lucija Mrzljak and Morten Tšinakov and is produced by Adriatic Animation (Zagreb, Croatia) and Eesti Joonisfilm (Tallinn, Estonia). This is the pair’s first film after completing animation studies in Tallinn, as well as the first international co-production between Adriatic Animation and Eesti Joonisfilm (behind which stands renowned animator Priit Pärn). The producers are Draško Ivezić and Kalev Tamm, and animation is by Marko Dješka, Ülle Metsur, Lucija Mrzljak, Chloe Roux, Maiken Silla and Morten Tšinakov. The film was made with financial support from the Croatian Audiovisual Centre, and has, to date, won at a number of international festivals, and will have its Croatian premiere at this year’s Animafest.

This year’s Annecy short film competition will also include another Adriatic Animation co-production. Toomas Beneath the Valley of Wild Wolves is a minority co-production directed by Chintis Lundgren known for her earlier multiple award-winning films Life with Herman H. Rott (2015) and Manivald (2017). This time, the main character is an attractive wolf named Toomas who, after losing his job, works as a gigolo to support his family, not telling his wife he’s out of work. His wife Viivi also has a secret: she attends an expensive workshop for women’s empowerment which includes whipping male slaves. Besides directing the film, Chintis Lundgren co-wrote the script with Draško Ivezić. The film stars Draško Ivezić, Leon Lučev, Dražen Šivak, Lee Delong and Chintis Lungren. Music is by Terence James Dunn, sound design is by Pierre-Yves Drapeau, and the animators include Chintis Lundgren, Darko Vidačković and Draško Ivezić. The film is produced by Chintis Lundgreni Animatsioonistuudio (Estonia), Jadranska animacija - Adriatic Animation (Croatia) and Miyu Productions (France), with support from the Estonian Film Institute, the Estonian Culture Fund, the Croatian Audiovisual Centre, Arte France and CNC. The screening of Toomas Beneath the Valley of Wild Wolves in Annecy will also be the film’s world premiere. 

Two Croatian films will also screen in the ‘Perspectives’ programme. Daniel Šuljić both wrote and directed From Under Which Rock Did They Crawl Out, a film about evil creatures and beings who feel the time has come to freely step out from their holes and hiding places and spread across the world. Daniel Šuljić is also one of the animators along with Dea Jagić, Ira Bulić and Valent Balun, with whom he also did compositing and editing. Sound and music is by Vjeran Šalamon. The film is produced by Kreativni sindikat (Igor Grubić) and co-produced by Zagreb Film (Vinko Brešan), with support from the Croatian Audiovisual Centre and the City of Zagreb. 

Imbued Life is a film about a young woman connecting with nature’s life energies. She uses her taxidermy talents to ‘restore’ animals to their natural habitats. But the real search for answers begins when in each animal she intends to stuff she finds an undeveloped role of film. The film is written, directed, designed, and animated by Ivana Bošnjak and Thomas Johnson, who also created all the puppets. The cinematographer is Ivan Slipčević, the editor is Iva Kraljević, music and sound is by Andrea Martignoni, and the voice over in the film is by Rakan Rushaidat. The producer is Vanja Andrijević, and the film is produced is Bonobostudio. The film will have its Croatian premiere at this year’s Animafest, while its world premiere will take place at the Oberhausen festival in Germany. 

More than 3000 films from 86 countries applied to this year’s Annecy Festival. The festival has only released the list of films screening in the short film competitions. The 43rd Annecy International Animation Film Festival will take place from June 10th to 15th, 2019. For more details please visit the official website.

Cover photos: scenes from A Demonstration of Brilliance in Four Acts; Toomas Beneath the Valley of Wild Wolves; From Under Which Rock Did They Crawl Out and Imbued Life