Melbourne International Animation Festival starts today and runs until next Sunday. Across several programs at the festival, you’ll find animated short films from France, Canada and Switzerland. Read on to find out about the films, and which program you can see them in at Melbourne International Animation Festival.
International Competition Program #1 (also repeated on Saturday)
D’une Peinture…à l’autre
Georges Schwizgebel
Switzerland, 3’10, 2023
An exquisitely hand painted immersion into a world crafted from two classic paintings on the same subject but created half a century apart.
International Competition Program #2 (also repeated on Saturday)
A Different Goal
Marco Joubert
Canada, 3’30, 2023
What might happen if intelligent machines started developing their own goals….. goals different from those of humankind?
Eastern
Dalmont, M. Mina, M. Dorniol, I. Oillic, V. Fripier, P. Pillan, M. Huvé, S. Poirer, M. Machelard
France, 6’32, 2023
A cliché-busting cowboy parody par excellence. A bounty hunter rolls into town after tracking his prey across the desert – but the gene pool here ain’t that deep!
Sit Down, Don’t Touch Anything
Frederic Siegel
Switzerland, 5’20, 2022
A face is born out of chaos. It struggles to exist. It struggles to find its purpose. It struggles to sit on a chair. In fact, it struggles with everything. But thank God, it’s trying.
Gabriel’s Oboe
Jean Detheux (Music, Frank Mento)
Canada, 2’22, 2024
Inspirations collided when a digital artist (Detheux) and a renowned musician (Mento) learned that they shared a love for Ennio Morricone’s “Gabriel’s Oboe.”
International Competition Program #3 (also repeated on Saturday)
Kafarnaum
Deflandre, J. Miternique, A. Colas, A. Adams, A. Antonio, O. Rendu, E. Samyn
France, 7’30, 2023
Deep in the cellar beneath your feet is a force that draws its energy from your worst fears – but as those fears grow can they still be contained?
Apocalypse Dog
Le Clainche, C. Nasarre, J. Qian, J. Barraux, E. Plumey, L. Arnaud, S. Cauchie
France, 7’30, 2022
In a hilariously crafted post-apocalyptic wasteland, Bob and his dog Pasha endure hunger, thirst, and fatigue. Suddenly, they spot a distant city!
▲ (ALT 30)
Mathis Hernoë, Alexandre Clermont, Thomas Louchet
France, 6’30, 2023
Even in an abstract universe, human nature inevitably turns towards instituting a creative revolution – and that’s where animation comes in mighty handy
Box Cutters
Naomi Van Niekerk
France, 8’24, 2023
A young woman recalls the day that she was attacked by three men on her way home, while she now turns to face the world again and rebuild her life.
Whispers Of The Heart
Mourad Hamla
Algeria, 4’34, 2023
Surrounded by souls thirsty for light, for goodness, and for purity, a solitary sentinel watches with mystical grace, protecting his heart from the clutches of the corruption that lurks all around.
International Competition Program #4 (also repeated on Sunday)
La Meuf de Jay
Lola Lefèvre
France, 4’21, 2023
Much to Nina’s frustration, Jay isn’t being entirely upfront. But – as they say – one door closes, another opens.
Love Me True
Inés Sedan
France, 7’38, 2023
Laurence is desperately looking for love. Turning to online dating sites she becomes addicted to her phone and entwined with a truly toxic man.
Sunflower
Natalia Chernysheva
France, 4’00, 2023
A story of a sunflower that learns to share its beauty by looking in a different direction at a different time of the day.
International competition program #5 (also repeated on Sunday)
Entrebaillée
Alma Rajot
France, 3’55, 2023
There are no rules in the liminal space between sleep and wakefulness, which means anything is possible, and anything could happen.
Le Bruit Du Silence
Dutriaux, T. Frantz, D. Özal, D. Rudeaux, V. Talalaeff
France, 7’40, 2023
There is an office for everything in this needlessly complicated, over-organised world, and a thousand arrows pointing the winding path to each one.
Next?
Christel Guibert
France, 9’00, 2023
A quirky menagerie of half-animal, half-human creatures meet at a speed-dating event where they set about exploring their differences.
Toothache
Marianne Lavergne
Canada, 1’55, 2023
The connection between dental health and genitalia has been under-researched… until now.
Danger. This Movie Is Loud And Saturated
Gabriel Eszo Richard
France, 7’04, 2023
A beyond-bonkers fast take on the societal dance of our generation using every appendage on hand
KEY INFO FOR THE MELBOURNE INTERNATIONAL ANIMATION FESTIVAL
WHAT: Melbourne International Animation Festival
WHEN: 5 – 12 May 2024.
WHERE: Treasury Theatre, MELBOURNE and The Backlot Studios, SOUTH MELBOURNE
HOW MUCH: Ranging from $19/$16 for individual tickets to $125/$100 full Festival Pass
HOW: Purchase your tickets via the Melbourne International Animation Festival website
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 May
