“Today is the International Animation Day. In Armenia this day is marked by the kickoff of 8th ReAnimania International Animation & Comics Art Festival of Yerevan,” Director of festival Vrej Kassouny told the reporters.
According to him they have quite an interesting program. More than 2200 applications have been submitted from 95 countries. 450 films are to be screened during the festival. As the director noted this year’s program of the festival has featured 5 nominations_ full-length films, short films, graduation, television, educational films and animated music videos.
Within the framework of “Yerevan Premieres” the films “The Red Turtle” by Michaël Dudok De Wit, “Louise by the Shore” by Jean-François Laguionie, “Adama” by Simon Rouby, “My Life as a Courgette” by Claude Barras and a number of other films will be screened. In commemoration of the 25th anniversary of the independence of the RA “Independent Animation” program will be implemented. The program features the Armenian films produced during the years of independence. The masters of the Armenian animation will be presented.
The festival will be opened by the screening of “The Red Turtle” by Michaël Dudok De Wit.
French Ambassador to Armenia Jean-François Charpentier, who attended the press conference, noted that they had taken part in the festival for eight years.
“Each year we participate in this festival with great pleasure. It is not accidental as 40 percent of the animated films of Europe are produced by France,” the ambassador noted.
The representative from the Embassy of Poland noted that it is the first time they have participated in the festival and it is a great pleasure to support the animated film festival. Polish films are also to be screened within the festival.
Narek Tovmasyan, Programmes and Partnerships Manager of British Council, noted that within the festival the British Council presents the film series “Shakespeare on Screen” based on Shakespeare’s works. The series has been made within the framework of events in tribute to 400th anniversary of Shakespeare’s death.
Famous animator from different counties have visited Armenia to participate in the festival.
French animator Jean-Paul Komen, who had also attended the press conference, mentioned that he is happy to be in Armenia and to be included in the jury of the festival.
“My visit here will allow me to get acquainted with the Armenian animated film sphere,” he said adding that a French-Armenian co-production animated film will be made one day.
American prominent animator Bill Plympton is the honored guest of ReAnimania 2016.
He mentioned that he is very happy to be in Armenia, to introduce his films and organize a master class. The animator noted that until now he had not watched any Armenian animated films and it was a great opportunity for him to get acquainted with the Armenian animation.
In response to the question what topic he will chose if one day he decides to shoot a film about Armenia the animator said that before visiting Armenia he had studied the Armenian history to discover that Noah’s Ark landed on Mount Ararat. According to him tourism can be developed in that area. Vrej Kassouny said that currently the animator is working on a new script and he is likely to use a footage of mountain Ararat in his film.
The winners of 8th ReAnimania International Animation & Comics Art Festival of Yerevan will be announced on 3 November.
