KISKAKAS 5

The main mission of KISKAKAS Animation Festival remains to offer a selection from the most recent, emerging, innovative creations from the world of animation. Following on the traditions of the earlier festivals, opening screenings, presentations, roundtables and discussions are even more in the focus. The discussions deal with important issues like the role of the moving image in online culture, the genre frameworks of animation, the most recent trends in production and distribution, or the alternative creative forms distancing themselves from the market-oriented animation film industry and their interactions with their primer medium, the internet.

The leading animation school, and key studio of Russia, guest of honour this year are introduced, while a selection from the most recent works of the animation training of Israel-based Bezalel Academy can also be seen. Screening of the most recent works of MOME's long standing partners, the schools of the Animation Sans Frontières program is a traditional part of the festival, just like the Best of selection from Paris-based Gobelins, l'école de l’image. In addition to all these, two retrospective screenings are also organised this year celebrating the 100th anniversary of the birth of John Halas and Gyula Macskássy.

Future generations and new media take centre stage: a Demoscene presentation/real-time moving image under the spell of bits, roundtable with Dazoo Forum and HungariAnt about short film distribution, as well as a last year favourite, the Film-Critics Live analysing the student works of MOME are also organised. In addition to all that, Eric Riewer, international relations director at Gobelins, l’école de l’image gives a lively presentation introducing the history of the school and its outstanding animation training.