V ANIMAFILM International Animation Festival starts tomorrow in Baku

Press conference was held at the Nizami Cinema Center on September 6 related with the 5^th “Animafilm” International Animation Festival, which will be held in Baku with the support of the Ministry of Culture and the organization of the “Azerbaijan Animation Association” Public Union (PU).

Referring to AZERTAC, it is reported that Rashid Agamaliyev, chairman of the union, founder and director of the festival, gave extensive information about the program of the festival. Emphasizing that this year’s festival will be different, R. Agamaliyev said: “From September 7 to 11, the traditional festival intended for children and adults will take place at the Nizami Cinema Center. The festival will be held under the motto “One ticket, one tree”. The proceeds from ticket sales at the event dedicated to climate change will be donated to the Karabakh Revival Foundation for the restoration of ecological balance in the liberated areas.

According to him, 230 films from 50 different countries entered the festival: “The selection commission accepted 75 films from 29 countries. These films will compete in 1 local and 6 international categories. 16 films from Azerbaijan are participating in the competition. All selected films will be judged by an international jury and the winners will be announced at the closing ceremony of the 5th “Animafilm” International Animation Festival”.

According to Bahar Zeynalli, media manager of “Animafilm” International Animation Festival, this year’s festival presents three main programs to the audience. Program for competition and hors concours as well as professionals.

He said that in addition to the screening of animated films, workshops and master classes will be organized with the participation of local and foreign professionals.

Elshad Aliyev, representative of the Ministry of Culture, spoke about the production of animated films in our country. He said that animated films are regularly produced in cooperation with various companies by the order of the Ministry of Culture: “In 2021, a competition called “Great Return” was held. This was a competition dedicated to the Patriotic War and our veterans. In that competition, animations on the theme of Karabakh were selected, which were presented by independent companies. With the support of the Ministry, one of those animations was even finished and presented on the National Film Day. Another animation is still in production. The Ministry of Culture regularly supports animation projects. One of these supports is the 5th “Animafilm” International Animation Festival, which you have witnessed.”

Art director of “Animafilm” International Animation Festival Nazrin Agamaliyeva said that the hors concours program of the festival includes films about climate change, “Mother Nature” program for children, Czech feature film “Even mice belong to heaven”, Ukrainian animation, virtual exhibition and The winning films the Baku International Short Film Festival will be presented. Also, on the occasion of the 30th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between Azerbaijan and Japan, a full-length animated film called “Child of the Air” will be shown. The program for professionals will present Azerbaijani animated films that are currently being worked on, and meetings with the international jury are planned. The selection committee of the 5th “Animafilm” festival, which will be held under the slogan “One ticket – one tree”, announced the list of films included in the competition program. The list is published on the festival’s official website www.animafilm.az”.

Telman Malikzadeh, vice-chairman of Azerbaijan Creative Industries Federation congratulated the festival organizers and said: “Our federation provides support in coordinating the activities of professionals, associations, and companies operating in all creative fields, and our main partners are the Ministry of Culture, the Ministry of Economy and other institutions. In particular, we provide support by actively partnering in many events in the field of creativity in our country. The program of this festival is very rich, and we, as Azerbaijan Creative Industries Federation, always support such important projects.”

Later, animator artist, guest of the 5th “Animafilm” Festival, Nitya Ramlogan, shared her impressions about the festivals and conveyed her good wishes to the organizers.

Then the questions of the journalists were responded.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dZKg8T9-d40