Press releases

MOGILEV, 7 August (BelTA) - About 170 movies from 26 countries will be screened at the International Animated Film Festival Animaevka that will be held in Mogilev on 16-18 August, BelTA learnt from Zhanna Chepelinskaya, the head of the department for methodological work of the Mogilev Oblast state unitary enterprise Kinovideoprokat.

According to Zhanna Chepelinskaya, the number of participating countries increases every year. In 2012 there were 21 of them, in 2013 26 animation studios submitted their applications to partake in the forum, a record number in the 15-year-history of the festival. “Once people come to the festival in Mogilev they become frequenters and bring friends here. At Animaevka 2013 we will welcome the guests from Moldova, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Cuba, Slovakia and Chile,” Zhanna Chepelinskaya noted.

The exhibition of children’s drawings and ornamental art My Favorite Cartoon will be held in conjunction with the festival. About 400 works from Belarus, Russia, Kazakhstan and Kyrgyzstan have already been submitted. For young artists from Kyrgyzstan this will be the debut at the contest. “The festival begins in a bit more than a month, but we are still accepting works from children of all ages. The youngest is only three years old, while the oldest is 18,” Zhanna Chepelinskaya added.

Partaking in the movie contest “I am yet not a magician, I am only learning…” will be about 60 works from 14 children’s animation studios. This year such countries as Armenia, Moldova, Kyrgyzstan and Belgium will debut at the contest. Competing against them will be young artists from Mogilev. “They were gearing up for Animaevka for one year. As a result we have got a very beautiful cartoon about nature, kindness and love. We would not like to disclose the title and the protagonists to make a surprise for the audience,” said Zhanna Chepelinskaya. The program of the festival includes meetings with the creators of the animated films, theatrical performances, master classes and other events.

Honored guests are also expected to attend the forum. Russia’s Honored Artist Oksana Stashenko is set to be a presenter at Animaevka’s opening ceremony. Honored Artist of the Russian Soviet Federative Socialist Republic Lyudmila Gnilova, who provided the voice for animated characters in more than 50 cartoons, is also expected to attend the event. The forum will bring together many directors such as Larisa Glinska from Moldova, Nadezhda Slavova from Bulgaria, a delegation from the Belarusfilm movie studio and others.

The Grand Prix of Animaevka will be awarded on the last day of the festival. The special prize, Crystal Pencil, diplomas and presents will be awarded in five nominations: Best Experimental Film, Best Film for Children, Best Director’s Solution, Prize to Master and Audience Prize.

Held in 1998 for the first time, Animaevka seeks to popularize the best world’s and Belarusian animation movies, support animation film industry and bolster cultural ties between Belarus and the participating countries.

The forum is organized by the Belarusian Culture Ministry, the Mogilev Oblast Executive Committee, the Mogilev City Executive Committee and the Mogilev Oblast state unitary enterprise Kinovideoprokat.