The International Animation Festival Animest returns to Bucharest from October 4 to 13, featuring over 350 short and feature films from around the globe across 90 screenings. This year's festival promises a rich program for audiences of all ages, with many films presented by their creators.
Executive director Filip Mănișor expressed excitement about the lineup, stating, "It’s always an emotional moment when the program document is released. It signals that we are in the final stretch of preparations for our audience." The opening gala will feature the award-winning film Memoir of a Snail, directed by Adam Elliot, on October 4.
Other highlights include Flow, directed by Gints Zilbalodis, which tells a poignant survival story in a post-apocalyptic world, and The Most Precious of the Cargoes by Michel Hazanavicius, the first animated film to compete for the Palme d'Or. Both films will have screenings on October 5 and 13.
Additionally, Animest will showcase national premieres like The Glassworker and Robot Dreams, along with a retrospective of Jonathan Hodgson's work. The festival aims to celebrate the art of animation while providing inclusive screenings for audiences with hearing impairments.