After reviewing more than 1,700 submissions, the selection committee of the Brussels International Animation Film Festival – Anima have chosen 172 short films to run in competition; 82 international titles and 24 new works from Belgium. In addition, 66 out-of-competition films will round out the selection and make up Anima 2024’s various thematic programs.
The 43rd edition of Anima is scheduled to take place February 23 to March 3, 2024.
The films in international competition, from 39 countries including 21 European countries, illustrate the diversity of contemporary animation. The selection includes a number of films that have already been honored at other international festivals, such as 27 by Flóra Anna Buda, winner of the Cristal for Best Short Film at the Annecy Festival, and A Kind of Testament by Stephen Vuillemin, winner of the Best First Film Award at Animafest Zagreb.
In terms of short films by students, Oscar nominated stop-motion artist Daria Kashcheeva is making a strong comeback with Electra, a multi-technique film with a powerful message.
For its special programming lineup, this 43rd edition brings back the animated documentary spotlight Real-Life Stories, the music program Watch & Dance, and the in-demand Queer Stories and Women’s Perspective tracks, which both sold out last year.
Two brand-new programs will also be presented for the first time: New Talents, which highlights up-and-coming European animation filmmakers, as well as two short-film programs with a focus on science fiction.
The latest in Belgian animation is also on display at Anima, with 31 films selected for the from 123 submissions, including 24 in national competition. Among them, Nicolas Keppens, who has twice won the Award for Best Belgian Short Film at Anima with his short films Wildebeest (2018) and Easter Eggs (2021), returns with Beautiful Men, his first short film made in stop motion, while The Miracle heralds the return of Nienke Deutz, winner of numerous international awards, including the Cristal for Best Short Film at the Annecy Festival in 2018 for Bloeistraat 11.
Belgian animation schools are also represented, with 11 selected films. And 2024 marks the return of Nicolas Gemoets — a regular at Anima, with his films Un Eldorado (2020) and Woods (2021) — who will present his graduation film. Muscle Man in: Metal Mayhem.
The jury of the international competition for short films will include Barry Purves, Oscar-nominated director, animator and screenwriter of animated films; Rocío Alvarez, painter, illustrator and director; and Steven Henderson, director of the Manchester Animation Festival and editor of U.K. animation news site Skwigly.
The jury of the national competition will be made up of Catherine Totems, storyboard artist, illustrator and former teacher at Atelier de Sèvres; Raman Djafari, Berlin-based director, illustrator and animator; and Muriel Andrin, doctor in film and professor at Université libre de Bruxelles (ULB).
The juries for the Films for a Young Audience and Feature Films competitions will be revealed at a later date, along with further announcements about the selection.
Anima will run from February 23 to March 3, 2024 at Flagey, Marni and Cinematek as well as in a dozen towns across Wallonia and Flanders.
A selection of Anima films will also be available to stream online on Sooner.
