Anim’Action Film Festival returns for a second year celebrating the world of animated film, both feature length and short film. Find out how to get your fix of animated film by reading on.
About Anim’Action Film Festival
2023 is the second year of Anim’Action Film Festival and sees the addition of a new city to the program: Adelaide (through the Alliance Française of Adelaide and Flinders University). The festival was created last year under the patronage of the French Embassy, in partnership with the Annecy International Animation Film Festival and the support of the Institut Français, and with UTS Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences and UTS Animation Guild (Sydney), Alliance Française of Brisbane and Griffith Film School (Brisbane).
The Annecy International Film Festival in France annually rewards the best of the world’s creativity in short and feature films. The Anim’Action Film Festival offers the best of that selection celebrating the creativity and diversity of animation styles and techniques.over three days of screenings and introductions by filmmakers, a showcase of Australian and French works.
The Anim’Action Film Festival poster
For Anim’Action Film Festival 2023, students of the Bachelor in Animation at Griffith Film School (Brisbane) were invited to create a poster for the festival.
The winning design was by WINNER – design by Patnaree Franklin (@pattart_franklin)
Anim’Action Film Festival Program
Feature films
There are three feature films showing at Anim’Action Film Festival 2023:
CHICKEN FOR LINDA – Australian Premiere
No, Linda didn’t take her mom’s ring! She didn’t deserve to be punished! How unfair…!
And now, Linda’s mom Paulette will do anything to make it up to her daughter–even if that means making chicken with peppers, despite not knowing how to cook!
But how are you supposed to buy a chicken during a general strike?
From henhouse to watermelon truck, trigger-happy police to allergic trucker, grandma to floodwaters, Paulette and her daughter embark on a quest to find chicken, picking up “Linda’s gang” on the way and, eventually, the entire neighbourhood.
Unbeknownst to Linda, the delicious chicken dish that her father used to make is the key to her lost memory… By the way, does anyone know how to butcher a live chicken?
SIROCCO AND THE KINGDOM OF AIR STREAMS – Australian Premiere
Two intrepid sisters, Juliette and Carmen, discover a passage to the extraordinary world of their favourite book, the Kingdom of the Air Streams.
Transformed into cats and separated from each other, the girls will have to be bold and daring to find their way back to each other and, with the help of the singer Selma, to their real world by confronting Sirocco, the master of winds and storms…
But is he as terrifying as they’re fearing?
THE CROSSING – Australian Premiere
A small village looted in darkness, a family forced to flee… The two oldest children, Kyona and Adriel are quickly separated from their parents facing the road of exile alone. They embark on a heroic journey which takes them from childhood to adolescence in search of shelter, peace and the hope of finding refuge and their family.
Crossing a continent torn apart by war and migrant persecution, these courageous siblings survive incredible challenges, before reaching a new world, free at last.
SHORT FILMS AT ANIM’ACTION FILM FESTIVAL
There are four categories under which short films are shown at Anim’Action Film Festival 2023:
- Best of Annecy,
- Best of Kids at Annecy
- Best of “WTF!” 2023 Short Film Collection
- Gobelins Paris School short films showcase
BEST OF ANNECY – SHORT FILM COLLECTION 2023
The “BEST OF ANNECY – SHORT FILM COLLECTION 2023” features a diverse selection of 10 captivating short films from various talented filmmakers. These films explore a range of themes and emotions, from the harmonious lives of girls on a mangrove island in “La saison pourpre” to the surreal journey of a nun who unearths a man in “Nun or Never!”
“Our Uniform” delves into the school memories of an Iranian girl through her old uniform, while “Mano” portrays the protective bond between two siblings in a neglectful family. “Drijf” depicts a tense struggle for survival at sea, and “Havnesjefen” tells the intriguing true story of a swan’s transformation from a beloved icon to a wanted criminal.
“27” follows Alice on her 27th birthday as she daydreams to escape her mundane life, and “Clavel gris” sees a child’s soul taken on a mysterious journey by a strange being. Each film offers a unique and compelling narrative, making this collection a showcase of exceptional storytelling and creativity in the world of short filmmaking.
ANNECY 2023 – BEST OF KIDS 2023 SHORT FILM COLLECTION
This diverse short film selection offers a delightful array of storytelling that will engage audiences of all ages. “To Be Sisters” beautifully captures the essence of sisterhood, celebrating the unique bond that transcends differences. In “The Goose“, a young boy’s dreams of football glory take an unexpected turn as he faces off against an unlikely opponent. “Prinzessin Aubergine” weaves a whimsical tale of a royal couple’s quest for a child, when the only thing blossoming is their garden.
“Pete” is a heartwarming exploration of gender identity, drawing inspiration from real-life experiences and the people who inspire change and the superheroes who allow it to happen. “Wat zit er in die kist?” (“What’s in That Crate?“) takes viewers on a captivating journey filled with curiosity and anticipation, while “Paperplanes” unveils the creativity and character of a mischievous classroom.
Finally, “Colocation sauvage” (“Wild Housemates”), introduces us to a starry-eyed goat determined to make friends in the jungle, but it comes with a price. .
Each of these films offers a unique and engaging narrative, making this collection a testament to the power of storytelling in the world of short cinema.
BEST OF “WTF!” 2023 SHORT FILM COLLECTION
This category features a selection of short films including Safe Mode a surrealist web series in a digital world known as the “Interface”, Cyclepaths, in which an old woman is carrying her shopping, a boy carrying a gun on his back is riding a scooter, birds are flying, a city is collapsing and a party is in full swing, among other films.
GOBELINS PARIS SCHOOL – SHORT FILMS SHOWCASE
This showcase is comprised of films made by students of Gobelins Paris School. It is the world’s leading school for animation and offers programmes in all image-related fields, from design to production in all its forms (still, animated, interactive, 3D), and from 4.0 printing to Virtual Reality.
The Soloists
In a small village ruled by ridiculous laws, three singing sisters and their dog rehearse for the Annual Autumn Festival but an unexpected event will disrupt their plans.
La quête de l’humain
In a fantasy world, a griffin embraces his fate and goes on an epic journey to find a legendary creature : the human.
Go, Fishboy,
A respected chef from a lineage of sushi makers attempts to connect with his son through the shared knowledge of the family trade. Tensions arise as he begins to notice a strange pattern of behaviour in the young boy.
Best friend
In a near future, a lonely man is addicted to a product called ‘’Best Friend” which offers him perfect virtual friends.
Last summer
In the early 90s, a group of childhood friends spend thier last summer together before going to different colleges. Ren tries to write the band’s final song but struggles as he faces their departure.
La Bestia
A young mexican smuggler and a little girl travel illegally on top of a cargo train, called La Bestia, to get to the USA. An injury transforms his perception of the journey.
MASTERCLASSES AT ANIM’ACITON FILM FESTIVAL
DIRECTING AN ANIMATED FEATURE FILM:PATRICK IMBERT
In this exclusive masterclass, director of the award winning animated feature film ‘The Summit of the Gods’ Patrick Imbert revisits his journey as a visual creator and animation director since the origins of the projects. From conception to ideation, to completion of the project, he will give insights on his work as a creative, but also on how to overcome hurdles and find compromises to deliver a unique feature film that already won the hearts of large audiences in festivals around the world.
COME VISIT US AT THE GOBELINS SCHOOL: ANTHONY GOMES
In this exclusive masterclass, Anthony Gomes, in charge of International Exchanges at the Paris Gobelins School will present courses, short courses and curriculum available for international students to complete their education after their Animation degree in Australia.
KEY INFO FOR ANIM’ACTION FILM FESTIVAL 2023
WHAT: Anim’Action Film Festival 2023
WHERE & WHEN:
BRISBANE – GRIFFITH FILM SCHOOL, 22-24 SEPTEMBER 2023
ADELAIDE – FLINDERS UNI & MERCURY CINEMA, 26 SEPTEMBER 2023
SYDNEY – UTS, 27-29 SEPTEMBER 2023
INFO: More info at https://www.animactionfilmfestival.com/
What’s your favourite animated film?
For more events with links to France and the Francophonie happening in Australia this month, check out our What’s on in September
English Title: KANAK 
