The Wind Rises to open Anima Festival
The Anima Festival is pleased to announce that the final opus from the undisputed Master of Japanese
animation, Hayao Miyazaki, will be opening its 33rd edition. The Wind Rises is an animated profile
of Jiro Hirokoshi, designer of the famous Japanese Mitsubishi A6M fighter plane, commonly known
as the “Zero”. The film traces the different stages of his life, against a backdrop of the major events
that marked the history of Japan in the first part of the 20th century: the Kanto earthquake of 1923,
the Great Depression, the TB epidemic and Japan’s entry into war.
The Festival bill also includes a competition of new features for both adults and a young audience, and
will be spoiling the youngsters with a great choice of programmes in the afternoons and sometimes
in the mornings.
Anima received 955 short films this year, from which the selection panel has chosen 138 shorts
representing thirty countries, with 69 shorts made by professional directors and students in the
international competition and a special selection chosen for the Animated Night. In addition, twenty
films will be presented in the national competition, plus a selection of fifteen Belgian shorts out of
competition.
A Festival scoop this year! The Academy of Motion Pictures Arts and Sciences has officially qualified
the Anima Festival for the short animated film category! This means that the short film the jury
chooses as Festival Grand Prix this year, from the shorts selected in the Anima competition, will be
eligible for the short animated film Oscar 2015.
Anima is also all about what’s going on in world animation at the moment, with the presence of a
few great names: the Argentinean Juan Pablo Zaramella, the Canadian Théodore Ushev and the
American Bill Plympton; a presentation of the best in Austrian animation, a programme of animated
films related to the Great War of 14-18, a retrospective of films from the Polish 3D SFX studio Platige
Image and a selection of films by the new generation of Russian film makers that will give animation
fans a unique opportunity in Belgium to satisfy their passion.
The Futuranima professional meetings will be showcasing the skills and processes of current
animation film making including: a making of session of the much awaited Song of the Sea by Tomm
Moore, director of The Secret of Kells; a work in progress presentation about the promising feature
Another Day of Life by Raul de la Fuente and Damian Nenow; a unique overview of animation
from Central Africa, not to mention the celebrated “Open screenings” evenings, where the screen
is available to all; the “Pecha Kucha animation special”, projects pitched in just 20 pictures and 20
seconds and last but not least, thirty lucky attendees will have the chance to take part in a one-day
Masterclass hosted by Bill Plympton.
Part of the Anima programme will also be shown in other theatres around the country like Liège,
Charleroi, Mons, Namur, Ghent, Leuven and Antwerp.
Find more info visit: http://www.animafestival.be
