A sepia-toned tale of womanly resolve, Liliana is a 2D-animated retrofuturistic short film newly launched free to watch on Vimeo. Created by Slovenian first-time director Milanka Fabjančič and produced by Ljubljana-based ZVVIKS (Farewell, Mr. Cloud) , the piece has picked up multiple festival awards leading into its online debut.
Young Liliana is the epitome of modesty, dedication, and hard work. These facets are even more pronounced because of her desire to achieve her goal. The tale lies beyond time and space, nostalgically reminding us of the past.
Liliana premiered at the 2019 Festival of Slovenian Film in Portorož, where it received its first award: the Vesna Award for best animated film. Since then, the film has been featured at numerous domestic and international film festivals, notably at Animafest Zagreb (Croatia), Encounters Film Festival (U.K.) and Sapporo International Short Film Festival (Japan). Liliana also received Creative Innovation in Animation Award (International Filmmaker Festival of New York) and Best Concept Design Award by the Slovene Animated Film Association (DSAF).
Lina Dinkla, Special Programs Coordinator for the DOK Leipzig festival (Germany) wrote about Liliana: “Misty-eyed and nostalgic, this film takes us into the past. The accomplished illustrator Milanka Fabjančič uses sepia and pastel-colored drawings to bring to life the miraculous story of the industrious and meek factory worker, Liliana. Every night she takes off a shining necklace, every morning she puts it back on. During the day, the secret of her meekness remains hidden in her heart.”
Fabjančič is an academic painter working across a broad spectrum of creative projects, including everything from book illustrations to graphics and animations. She works as animation director, animator, illustrator and professor at the Academy of Fine Arts of the University of Nova Gorica and at the Academy of Fine Arts and Design of the University of Ljubljana.
Timed to the online premiere, ZVVIKS announced that it will continue its collaboration with Fabjančič on a second short animated film, Put Down the Octopus, Here’s a Banana (in production), that will once again spotlight Fabjančič’s hand-drawn illustrations as it takes viewers along on the lifetime journey of a friendship that celebrates life and sisterhood.
Watch the trailer for Liliana below and find the full short for free on Vimeo here.
