Koilani, Cyprus. Animafest will celebrate its 25th anniversary from August 7 to 9 in Koilani village, Limassol district, with screenings, competitions, workshops, exhibitions, performances and live concerts.
The festival, held annually in the Cypriot countryside since 2002, will present animated films and activities for audiences of all ages. A three-day festival pass costs €10.
Competitions and poster
The international competition will feature 30 films from 17 countries, selected from hundreds of submissions worldwide.
The International Competition for Young Audience will include 15 films from seven countries. Its winning film will be selected by two juries, each comprising three children and teenagers.
The national competition will feature seven Cypriot animated films.
The official festival poster was designed by German animation filmmaker Andreas Hykade. Animafest annually invites artists from the international animation community to create its poster.
Workshops and local projects
In collaboration with the Association of Graphic Designers and Illustrators, local artists will create a collective artwork for the Fairy Tale Museum in Koilani. Participating teams will design posters and animated visuals for the museum.
A hands-on animation workshop for children and families will take place on August 6, before the official opening. Participants will visit the Environmental Centre in Koilani and explore traditional handmade animation techniques with professional animators and educators.
A two-day workshop on collecting oral histories will run from August 6 to 8, led by Dr Nicoletta Demetriou, ethnomusicologist and director of the Cyprus Music Archive, which organises the event.
Performances and music
Animafest will introduce a second stage dedicated to experimental films and audiovisual performances by emerging Cypriot and international artists.
The International Competition for Young Audience will be screened outdoors in the village on August 6. Five live concerts by Cypriot bands and solo musicians are also scheduled during the festival.
The full programme is available at www.animafest.com.cy.
