The thirteenth in a row VAFI & RAFI – International Children and Youth Animation Film Festival organized by the Film-Creative Studio VANIMA with the co-organization of the Public Institution in Culture Art-Cinema was officially closed in Varaždin on Sunday. 995 animated films from more than 90 countries have applied for this year’s edition of the festival, and selection committees have selected 188 films for official competitions held in Rijeka and Varaždin.
Thus, this Sunday, during live broadcasting, the expert VAFI jury awarded prizes to the best animated films in the VAFI section of the 13th VAFI & RAFI – International Children and Youth Animation Film Festival after watching six official screenings. This year’s expert jury consisted of Alena Čadová, producer of the friendly festival Animanie from the Czech Republic, then Radostina Neykova, animator from Bulgaria, last year’s RAFI award winner and Petra Balekić, animator and graphic artist from Croatia who presented herself to Varaždin audience with the exhibition entitled “Lines” in the premises of the Center for Youth and Independent Culture P4.
After the members of the said jury watched 100 films in the official competition, they decided to award the film “Human Being” from Croatia in the MINI category, “Toucan“ from Belgium in the MIDI category and the film “The Hole” from Poland in the MAXI category.
The jury of the Blue VAFI consisting of Maja Flego, advisor from the Office of the Ombudsperson for Children, Marina Knežević Barišić from the UNICEF Office Croatia and Ana Dokler, editor-in-chief of the medijskapismenost.hr portal, awarded the film “Staring into nowhere” from Portugal. The jury believes that this film is a combination of haiku poetry, artistic aesthetics and excellent animation. The film introduces us to the children’s world and speaks honestly about things that are important to children. Through this film, we see in action the right of children to express themselves freely through various means of expression – word, ima犀利士 ge and animation – with measured guidance and support from adults. This is the tenth year of work of the Blue VAFI jury.
Let us mention that the partner of the next edition of the VAFI & RAFI Festival in 2023 will be the World Animated Film Festival ANIMAFEST.
The festival was held under the patronage of the Croatian Audiovisual Center, the Croatian Film Directors Association, the City of Varaždin, the City of Rijeka, Varaždin County and Primorsko-goranska County, and is realized with the help of co-organizers – Croatian Film Association, ASIFA Croatia, Children’s house, POU Varaždin and Cinema GAJ. The organizers would like to thank all the sponsors, co-organizers, but also numerous partners and media sponsors who have been supporting them all these years.
Check the results HERE