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PUPPET ANIMATION TAKES CENTER STAGE AT ANIMARKT: 2 – 6 October 2017 in Lodz, Poland

ANIMARKT in Lodz, Poland is a 3 pronged event focusing on all things having to do with stop-motion and puppet animation.

ANIMARKT in Lodz, Poland is a 3 pronged event focusing on all things having to do with stop-motion and puppet animation.  Animarkt Talks provided producers, distributors, and directors a forum to exchange ideas and discuss international coproduction opportunities.  Projects in progress were presented.  Animarket Masters also provided an opportunity for students and young professionals to meet and talk with experts in various fields of animation.

This year the event was broadened to include the pitching of short puppet animation projects.  At ANIMARKT 15 projects vied for 8 awards of in kind services.  Priority was given to projects from Poland, Slovakia, Czech Republic, Hungary, Estonia, Germany, Ukraine, Lithuania, and Latvia.

We all know that it is not enough to just come up with an idea for a film, you also have to think about how you are going to finance it so learning how to pitch is very important.  Wim Vanacker and I were invited to ANIMARKT to tutor the pitch participants in preparation for their appearance before the jury.  Wim is extremely qualified in this area as he is head of the script department at Nisi Masa, a non-profit organization which promotes and supports young professionals in the European film industry.  Nisi Masa is a reference to Federico Fellini’s film 8 ½, in which Marcello Mastroianni transmits the meaningless phrase to a clairvoyant.  Wim is also the project manager of the MEDIA funded European Short Pitch Project as well as a script consultant and tutor.

After their meeting with Wim, each project had a 15 minute meeting with me where they presented their pitch to me at my How to Pitch and Promote Your Project session.  I helped them tighten up their presentations and offered suggestions on how they make their pitch stronger and more cohesive.

The next day each project was given 8 minutes to pitch their project to the jury and audience followed by a 5 minute question period.  Some people definitely listened to what I had to say and worked late into the night changing and tightening up their presentations.

All of the projects were interesting but 2 stood out for their creativity and excellent pitches.  In The Kite, a 10 minute film for young children, Czech Republic animator Martin Smatana explained death in a very gentle and understandable way.  Martin told us that the story was inspired by his grandfather who used the metaphor of going up into the sky to explain to a young Martin that none of us are here forever but our journey doesn’t end with death.

Martin Smatana pitching The Kite [photo credit Tomasz Kaluzny]   

Martin’s strong presentation was enhanced by his beautiful animation which left me wanting to see the finished film.  The jury agreed and awarded The Kite the 1st prize, 60.000, PLN (14.200 Euros) in kind services from Center of Audio-Visual Technologies in Wroclaw. The film also received an accreditation to MIFA 2018 at Annecy awarded by CITIA.

 Martin Smatana receiving the Grand Prix pitching award for The Kite [photo credit Tomasz Kaluzny]

Norwegian director Margrethe Danielsen is not only an excellent animator; she is also a very entertaining actress.  Along with her visual presentation of Bear Hug, Margrethe and her little bear puppet acted out the story of a little bear who is sad because no one has come to his birthday party until his birthday cake is visited by a flock of birds.  When the little bear makes friends with the birds the film takes a dark turn.  What starts out looking like a sweet little film turns into a lesson for young people about the serious consequences of bullying.

Margrethe Danielsen and her little bear pitching Bear Hugs [photo credit Tomasz Kaluzny]

The jury awarded Bear Hugs 2nd prize, 30.000 PLN (7.100 Euros) in kind contribution from the Center of Audio-Visual Technologies.  The project was also awarded 1 of 3 Ale Kino + Awards which guarantees that television channel Ale Kino + will buy the license rights for the film when it is completed.  Ale Kino + is a Polish television channel owned and operated by Canal+.

The majority of the projects were adult oriented puppet animations.  Moana Rom and Wolfgang Matzl from Vienna were also awarded accreditation for MIFA 2018 for The Man in the Door.  The black and white puppet film has no dialogue and the art work reminded me of M.C Escher’s graphic designs.  The film plays with perspective and the continuity of time while telling the recurring tale of a man who has lost his identity and is trying to regain it.  The Man in the Door looks like it will be an interesting film.

ANIMARKT awards one of the funniest prizes I have ever heard of at an animation event.  A weekend at a spa resort donated by CFI Hotels Group was given to Irida Zhonga for her project Man Wanted.  Come to think of it a weekend at a spa probably wouldn’t be too bad a thing after finishing a film.

The pitching jury was composed of Veronique Encrenaz, MIFA’s Head of Projects; Katerina Krejci, specialist script editor for children’s programs for Czech television; Bartosz Kedierski, Polish director and script writer and Ben Tesseur, Belgian film producer, director, and animator.

Running concurrent with the 3 day pitching event was Animarkt Masters.  The 3 one hour sessions were designed for students and young professionals.  Lighting master Maciej Bedyk took the group through “The Role of Lighting on a Puppet Animation Set”.  Kim Keukeleire has worked on such projects as My Life As A Courgette and Frankenweenie.  During her session she talked about how she came to the animation industry as a director and stop-motion animator.  Kim stressed that every job in animation is different from the previous one and shared insights about what the role of the animation director entails.

Tim Allen is well known in the stop-motion world.  In his 18 years in the industry he has worked on such animated classics as Corpse Bride, Fantastic Mr. Fox, and Peter and the Wolf.  He is currently working on Wes Anderson’s latest feature film.

Tim Allen and Nancy

At ANIMARKT Tim gave a 16 hour, 2 day stop motion workshop.  To apply for the workshop each applicant was required to send in a puppet film that they had made.  The 7 workshop participants were selected from these submissions.  Tim created individual exercises for each participant according to their skills and needs.

One entire day was devoted to Animarkt Talks where producers, directors, and distributors exchanged ideas and promoted the Polish animation industry with an emphasis on the facilities and expertise that the country can offer stop-motion co-productions.

 The audience was also shown co-production projects that are in various phases of completion.  The most interesting project for me was Moomins and the Winter Wonderland.  I love the Moomins, the wonderful carefree family of white roundish creatures that resemble hippopotamuses standing on two feet.  The Moomins were created by Finnish writer Tove Janssan in the 1940’s.  Finland is celebrating the 100 year anniversary of its national independence this year (2017) and as part of the celebration the animated film Moomins and the Winter Wonderland has been selected as an official anniversary cultural project.

Piotr Szczepanowicz and Zofia Jaroszuk presenting Moomins and the Winter Wonderland

What makes this project so exciting to me is that this is not just another remake of a Moomin book.  This film is being created from existing vintage footage from the original series of puppet animated films produced by Film Polski and Austria’s Jupiter Film from 1977 to 1982.  Finish film company Filmkompaniet and Polish animation studio Animoon are co-producing the project which is due in theatres in December 2017.  From the clip that scriptwriter Piotr Szczepanowicz and Zofia Jaroszuk, production manager at Animoon showed it looks like a beautiful film that stays true to the Moomin tradition.

Peter and the Wolf set

No visit to Lodz would be complete without a visit to the SE-MA-FOR animation studio museum.  Lodz was the center of Polish film production in the 1950’s and 60’s.  SE-MA-FOR, a Polish acronym for short format film studio, was established in 1947 and played a key role in the industry.  The studio, renowned for its animated puppet films for young audiences as well as for adults, has garnered 2 Oscars.  The first Oscar was in 1983 for Tango directed by Zbigniew Rybezynaki and another one in 2008 for Peter and the Wolf directed by Suzi Templeton.  A portion of the 150 square meter set that the studio created for the film is on view at the museum.  It was most impressive to see the delicate detail work that went into creating the puppets, especially the wolf.  Even though I know he was made from latex and bristles he looked very fierce and realistic.

The wolf

Characters from the long running children’s television series Flapper and Friends were also on view.  I have seen the puppets in person before so I knew that they were made from latex covered with flocking but I had not realized that the sets were made out of natural materials until I saw one at the museum.

Flapper and Friends

Every time I watch Danny Boy (2010), the short animation about the only man with a head in a town of headless people, I have admired the puppets and sets.  After having the opportunity to see them up close at the museum I have an even deeper respect for the work that went into creating them.

   Set of Danny Boy

SE MA FOR is also renowned for the quality of the armatures they design and produce.  They are used by puppet animators worldwide and the studio can design them to exact specifications.  The museum has a display of various armatures, some in various stages of character creation, to explain their use to the general public.

  Armatures, tools and puppets at the SE-MA-FOR Museum Tree in the Ariekin Puppet Theater lobby  

ANIMARKT is held in conjunction with AnimArt International Festival of Animation Art organized by Arlekin Puppet Theatre.  AnimArt is a festival for puppeteers of all types.  The joint awards ceremony for ANIMARKT and AnimArt was held in the beautiful Arlekin Theatre. The focal point of the theatre lobby is a massive mechanical tree covered in twinkly lights.  At the flick of a switch the branches begin to gently move creating a magical sight of rustling leaves and swaying lights. 

Following the awards ceremony there was a sumptuous feast.  The party went on into the wee hours of the morning with dancing and drinks.

Festival organizer Paulina Zacharek, Agnieszka Kowalewska and Nancy

A big thank you goes to Agnieszka Kowalewska, ANIMARKT coordinator and Iwona Buchcic, PR and marketing manager for inviting me to be part of ANIMARKT.  I also must thank their wonderful volunteers who took such good care of me and made sure that I showed up where I was supposed to be on time.  I appreciate the attention to detail which made my visit to Lodz so enjoyable.  I had never been to Lodz before and I was impressed by the amount of excellent street art throughout the downtown area.  In 2009 the city began inviting noted street artists from around the world to create massive public art and it is worth a visit to Lodz to see the more than 20 murals scattered around the city.

Next year’s edition of ANIMARKT will take place from 7 to 12 October.  If you would like to find out more about the program or a have project to pitch you can visit the website:

www.en.animarkt.pl

AWARD WINNING PITCHES

Jurors:  Veronique Encrenaz, France; Katerina Krejci, Czech Republic; Bartosz Kedzierski, Poland; Ben Tesseur,     

               Belgium

1st Prize:  The Kite- director Martin Smatana, producer Peter Badac, Czech Republic – Center of Audio-Visual

                  Technologies’ contribution in-kind in the amount of 60 000PLN (ca 14 200 Euros)

2nd Prize:  Bear Hug – director Margrethe Danielsen, producer Tonje Skar Reiersen, Mikrofilm, Norway - Center

                   Of Audio-Visual Technologies’ contribution in-kind in the amount of 30 000 PLN (ca 7 100 Euros)

3rd Prize:  Sacculina Carcini – director Kasia Nalewajka, producer Joanna Wendorff-Ostergaard, ANIMA-POL,

                  Poland – Center of Audio-Visual Technologies’ contribution in-kind in the amount of 20 000 PLN

                  (ca 4 700 Euros)

License of Dragonframe 4 + Bluetooth controller:  The Bridge – director Izumi Yoshida, producer Likaon, Poland

Armature Kit from Animation Supplies:  Cassandra’s Head – director Pawel Czarzasty, producer Molo FX Pawel

                   Czarzasty – Poland

Accreditation to the MIFA 2018 market sponsored by CITIA:

                    The Man in the Door – director Wolfgang Matzl, producer Moana Rom, Austria

                    The Kite – director Martin Smatana, producer Peter Badac -  Czech Republic

Ale Kino + Special Award (TV channel Ale kino + will buy license rights for pitched projects when completed:

                   Attitude – director Szandra Pataki, producer Monika Mecs – Hungary

                   Bear Hug – director Margrethe Danielsen, producer Tonje Skar Reiersen – Norway

                   Cassandra’s Head – director Pawel Czarzasty, producer Molo FX Pawel Czarzasty – Poland

Weekend spa visit sponsored by CFI Hotels Group:  Man Wanted – director Irida Zhonga, producer Magikon,

                    Nukufilm, Animated Society from Albania – Greece, Estonia