The International Animated Film Festival "Animator" first took place back in 2008, originally marking the 60th anniversary of Polish animation. This year's edition is special, as the festival will be symbolically entering adulthood.
"Turning eighteen is a milestone. As we know, this is a borderline age: while you're legally adult, you still get to celebrate Children's Day," says Adriana Prodeus, the festival's artistic director. "That childlike joy is exactly the spirit we want to evoke at the 18th edition of Animator," she adds. "We've extended the festival this year, as otherwise there simply wouldn't be enough time for all the things we've planned for our audiences," she laughs.
Every year, the festival features some 300 motion pictures from around the world, including retrospectives, reviews, premieres, and animation classics. The programme also regularly includes gaming and virtual reality sections, and this year is no exception. Under the theme "Rotamina - The Chemistry Within Us", Animator 2025 encourages a mature, thoughtful look at the body, the mind, technology, and the social mechanisms that shape our world. This precisely will be the main focus of this year's open thematic competition featuring 25 motion pictures, including "And Don't Call Me Crazy" by Dorota Skupniewicz, whose protagonist is a woman who's undergone psychiatric treatment and now finds herself trapped in a hospital system that eerily echoes Kafka's "The Trial"; "Body Burden" by Benjamin Fox, a dark, haunting, spray-painted-on-paper animation exploring how toxic chemicals and contaminants accumulate in the human body; "Family Dinner" by Margot Fabre, a surreal journey inspired by the director's own life, delving into how family traditions can take root in our bodies and lives; and "Hootchu" by Jung Hyun Kim, a tale about just how irritating allergies can be.
On the Big Screen
The festival will open with the Polish premiere of the feature-length sci-fi animation "Dandelion's Odyssey" (original title: "Planètes") directed by Momoto Seko. The film is described as "a visually hypnotic story of four extraordinary friends - dandelion seeds - who are hurled into space after Earth's destruction. Dandelion, Baraban, Léonto, and Taraxa drift through planets and constellations in search of a place to call home." The animation has earned praise and an award at this year's Annecy International Animated Film Festival. In fact, Annecy and Cannes premieres have become a beloved staple of Poznań's Animator.
Before taking a plunge into the whirlwind of the festival's main attractions, make sure to carve out a little time for a warm-up, the ever-popular Animator Without Selection. This section gives a platform to submissions that do not make it through the official selection process. Audiences get to vote to make sure that their favourites secure the so-called "wild card": a chance to enter the lineup of either the Polish Animated Film Competition or the International Short Film Competition.
Pegasus with a Punch
Two cornerstone competitions have been with Animator since day one: the International Short Film Competition and the International Feature Film Competition. Added to the lineup in 2018 was the Polish Animated Film Competition whose makers vie for the Grand Prix named the Golden Animusz. And the latest addition, launched in 2021 in response to the overwhelming popularity of its genre, is the International Animated Series Competition. In this category, individual episodes of both Polish and international animated series for children and adults, compete for a special award.
Notably, since 2017, Animator has been recognised as one of only five Polish film festivals and the only Polish animated film festival that qualifies for an American Academy Award®. This means the animated short that nabs the Golden Pegasus Grand Prix from the international jury gets a smoother path to an Oscar® nomination, skipping the standard cinema distribution requirement altogether. In other words: this is nothing to sneeze at. Equally meaningful is the Audience Award, conferred on the basis of audience votes which are held after each competition screening, across the three categories of short film, feature film, and animated series.
Once Upon a Time... Guests
"The upcoming edition of Central and Eastern Europe's biggest animation celebration will be bringing fresh energy, bold topics, and extraordinary guests," assure the organisers.
A number of big names from the animation world have been lined up. Among them Mike Hollingsworth, supervising director and executive co-producer of all six seasons of "BoJack Horseman", and Joe Holman, a master sculptor and modeler behind the puppets appearing in "Corpse Bride" by Tim Burton and "Fantastic Mr. Fox" by Wes Anderson. Also anticipated are Rose Bond, experimental animation icon and maker of spectacular urban projections, making her first-ever appearance in Poland!, and Yoshimi Itazu, director of "The Concierge" and longtime collaborator with legends such as Satoshi Kon, Hayao Miyazaki, and Mitsuo Iso. The Japanese animator, who will also be visiting Poland for the first time, is set to appear three times during the festival: at a screening of Satoshi Kon's mind-bending animation classic "Paprika" (which he worked on as animator and which inspired Christopher Nolan's cult picture "Inception"); at a showcase of short films, including his acclaimed debut "Pigtails"; and at a masterclass, providing insights into his creative process, and work techniques, and offering a behind-the-scenes peek into how films are made.
There is also a special treat for the 80s and 90s kids: a rare chance to meet the creative team behind the beloved educational series Once Upon a Time... Life. Jean Barbaud and Afroula Hadjiyannakis, long-time collaborators at the legendary French studio DIC, will share their stories of working with Albert Barillé on the unforgettable animated series that raised entire generations. This is going to be a one-of-a-kind opportunity to get the inside scoop on how the show came to life and hear from the producers who breathed life into familiar beloved characters, such as the unforgettable protagonist Maestro. During the festival, they will also discuss their inspirations (Barbaud once said in an interview, "As a kid, I always drew and copied Disney characters. I read tons of comics, which comes as no surprise as my grandparents ran a bookstore and newsstand.") and the events that followed their resounding success. Needless to say, one will also get a chance to view selected episodes ("Blood, Neurons", and "Hormones") the way they deserve to be seen, on the big screen.
Work in Progress
Animator isn't just an animated film festival, but also an opportunity to meet animation professionals. The Animator PRO section tailored specifically for pros features four days (8-11 July) of diverse events ranging from meets-and-greets to panel discussions to presentations.
"Each day kicks off with a Breakfast with an Animator, a casual chat with a makers of a competition submission. Afternoons are set out for masterclasses, work-in-progress presentations, and case studies with directors, animators, producers, and industry experts from around the world," note the organisers, adding that "Animator PRO will also feature panel debates with the staff of leading international animation magazines, and conversations with artists sharing experience in production strategies, cross-border collaboration, and ways to navigate the current market landscape."
The festival opens on 5 July at 6pm at the Muza Cinema. Other venues hosting screenings, concerts, and accompanying events across Poznań include Scena Quadro in the Old Market Square, Scena na Piętrze, and the Rewiry and Schron clubs. For more information and the complete programme, check out animator-festival.com or social media. "I honestly can't wait for this year's edition," says Adriana Prodeus. "We hope it's going to be a magical experience for everyone. Make sure not to miss it!"
Anna Solak
translation: Krzysztof Kotkowski
International Animated Film Festival "Animator"
5-13.07.
Muza Cinema (Kino Muza)
For further details, see: animator-festival.com
© Wydawnictwo Miejskie Posnania 2025