After 10 days of screenings and special events in Brussels, the Anima Festival (animafestival.be) has announced its 2024 award winners. Thousands of film lovers of all ages flocked to 150 screenings over the course of the festival, which saw an overall increase in attendance of 11% and more than 50 sold-out screenings. Anima set a new record of more than 30,000 visitors as well as its highest numbers of films (29 features and 260 shorts) and special guests (150).
Following the Brussels engagement, Belgian animation lovers can catch the program streaming on Sooner as well as in theaters across Wallonia.
The 2025 Anima will be held from February 28 to March 9.
The 2024 winners are:
INTERNATIONAL FEATURE FILM COMPETITION
Jury: Krešimir Zubčić (Croatia), Nienke Deutz (Netherlands), Michiel Philippaerts (Belgium)
Best Animated Feature: Sultana’s Dream
by Isabel Herguera (ES/DE/IN)
“With its dreamy and playful esthetics this film took us along on the journey of the main character, exploring complex ideas about femininity and identity. Never explaining or lecturing, the film simultaneously moves like a fable and a poetic essay.”
Audience Award: The Peasants by DK Welchman and Hugh Welchman (PL/LT/RS)
INTERNATIONAL FEATURE FILM FOR CHILDREN COMPETITION
Jury: Olivier Catherin (France), Eric Montchaud (France), Aline Quertain (Belgium)
Best Animated Feature for Children: Chicken for Linda! by Chiara Malta and Sébastien Laudenbach (FR/IT)
“The jury praised the intelligence and subtlety of the screenplay, the formal daring and also the humor, which, combined with the delicately portrayed characters, is not inferior to the great Italian comedies. A vibrant, heartwarming film.”
Audience Award: Chicken for Linda! by Chiara Malta and Sébastien Laudenbach (FR/IT)
INTERNATIONAL SHORT FILM COMPETITION
Jury: Barry Purves (United Kingdom), Steve Henderson (United Kingdom), Rocio Alvarez (Belgium/Spain)
Grand Prix for Best International Short Film (provided by the Brussels-Capital Region, 2,500€): Wander to Wonder by Nina Gantz (NL)
“An outstanding film which delves into the depths of human condition, masterfully delivering big ideas in a perfectly constructed small scale world with Wagnerian ambition, sublimely acted animation and dark humored delivery.”
Best Student Short Film: The White Night
by Audrey Delepoulle (FR)
“A film that skillfully captures the action and drama of an epic battle against nature, telling a self contained story reveling in a carefully selected color palette which projects its elemental force upon the audience.”
Special Jury Award: The Waiting by Volker Schlecht (DE)
“A film that delivers a powerful message revealing the fragility of the natural world whilst reminding us of our responsibility to take better care of it. The jury were all captivated by the metamorphic movement and craftsmanship that compliments the subject beautifully.”
Special Jury Mention: Such Miracles Do Happen by Barbara Rupik (PL)
“An engrossing film unlike anything we’ve seen before which revelled in its mesmerizing technique.”
Audience Award: Les Pissenlits par la racine by Chloé Farr (FR)
Animated Night Audience Award: My Name Is Edgar and I Have a Cow by Filip Diviak (CZ/SK)
INTERNATIONAL SHORT FILM FOR CHILDREN COMPETITION
Jury: Olivier Catherin (France), Eric Montchaud (France), Aline Quertain (Belgium)
Best Short Film for Children: Yuk! by Loïc Espuche (FR)
“A film that subtly tackles a question that concerns all human beings, at all ages, but which here evokes with mischief and tenderness the contradictory feelings of children about this mysterious kiss.”
Special Jury Mention: To Be Sisters by Anne-Sophie Gousset and Clément Céard (FR)
“The jury gave a special mention to Entre deux sœurs for the emotion the film manages to evoke thanks to its delicate, sublime direction. A particularly tender film that touched us deeply.”
Audience Award: Battery Mommy by Seung-Bae Jeon (KR)
NATIONAL SHORT FILM COMPETITION
Jury: Raman Djafarai (Germany), Catherine Totems
(France), Muriel Andrin (Belgium)
Best Belgian Short Film (provided by Sabam for Culture, 2,500€): Beautiful Men by Nicolas Keppens (BE/FR/NL)
“A sock, thrown in deep rage, hits a wall and sinks to the ground where it lies in deflated anger and shame. This one amazing scene captures so much of the depth this story about brotherhood, toxic masculinity, hope and shame unravels. This film is a true gem.”
Grand Prix for Best Short Film of the Federation Wallonie-Bruxelles (provided by the Fédération Wallonie-Bruxelles 2,500€): Wild Tale by Aline Quertain (BE/FR)
“This film seduces the audience with its charming visual language. We expect to watch a sweet tale of friendship, between a bird and a beast, but we learn all too quickly about the pain of peer pressure, manipulation, self-sacrifice and abuse.”
Author Award (provided by the SACD, 2,500€): Drijf by Levi Stoops (BE)
“Floating on a piece of driftwood, through a seemingly infinite ocean, a couple desperately is looking for dolphins. The audience becomes desperate with them, following the disappointments and frustrations of their relationship with a stunning intensity. Hilarious, gory and painfully relatable.”
Best Student Short Film (provided by Amplo, 1,000€): Jan by Febe Van Avermaet (BE)
“A nervous man on a train, nervously missing what he knows and loves, daydreaming, transforming the world around him for comfort. This film is as funny as it is poetic and left us all feeling surprisingly touched watching a flock of geese fly off into the sky.”
Special Jury Mention: Hervé’s Case by Luna Filippini (BE)
“A film about a morning routine, a day at the office and watching commercials with your pet… and yet it left us with a profound sense of depth and poetry. What a joy. We adored the playful writing, the humor and refreshing bravery of this film and we can’t wait to see more of this director.”
Audience Award for Best Belgian Short Film (provided by La Loterie Nationale, 2,500€): Muscle Man in: Metal Mayhem by Nicolas Gemoets (BE)
