Photo: Anifilm
The annual Anifilm festival of animated films kicked off in the north Bohemian town of Liberec on Tuesday. Over the next six days, dozens of films, as well as music videos and computer games, will be screened in numerous venues all over the town. I discussed the event with programme coordinator Radek Hosenseidl and I started by asking him why they decided to focus on Japan this year:
“Actually, we had been considering focusing on Japanese animation for some years now, because Japanese animation is one of the most prolific and most important productions in the world.
“I think many people know a lot of Japanese anime but not so many people know the independent part of Japanese animation. That’s why we decided to show both the independent section and some anime classics.
“We compiled six programmes of short films, starting with pioneers from the 1930s until the present day. We also have feature films like Akira or Howl’s Moving Castle by Hayao Miyazaki, Neo Tokyo and experimental films like Belladonna of Sadness.
“So these represent a bit more mainstream, but not so mainstream part of anime, but we also have an extensive programme of shorts from independent authors.”
See the rest here.
Author: Ruth Fraňková