Celebrating its 10th birthday, the International Animation Comics Caricature Festival is taking on an expanded, 5 day program, and a shorter name – Animix! The festival will take place at the Tel Aviv Cinematheque from August 17 – 21. Hundreds of animated films will be screened at the festival, which also includes workshops, master classes, exhibits, lectures and activities for children.
Jerusalem animator and illustrator Yossi Abulafia will be the keynote guest of the festival and an exhibit of his caricatures will be on display. Abulafia has written 11 books, illustrated 140, and created animation for children’s shows, news programs, entertainment and satire – including the ground-breaking “Nikui Rosh” (1976) a program of social and political satire that merged comic skits with surreal animation, which had an enormous impact on Israeli television and culture. Abulafia will participate in two festival events: one evening will focus on his work in animation, and the second will be a joint appearance with author Meir Shalev, dedicated to the topic of illustrating children’s books.
International guests of this year’s festival will be the Argentinian caricaturist Mordillo and Ron Diamond, leading independent producer and founder of ACME Filmworks. The colorful visual humor of Mordillo’s images has achieved worldwide recognition and the artist has been honored with many awards. One of his most famous cartoons was made for Amnesty International in the 80s – an entirely gray city where a man who has painted his house in bright colors is immediately arrested. Diamond will present “Animation Show of Shows” at the festival, with selections of new animation, as well as two workshops, one aimed at animators where he will map out the international animation scene, and one intended for the general public.
Israeli broadcaster and expert on German film David Witstom will present an evening dedicated to Fritz Lang’s classic film “Metropolis” (1926). The original film was lost and for many years only a shorter version was available for screening. An original version was discovered two years ago in Argentina and an ambitious project was begun to digitally restore each frame. The story of the versions of Metropolis raises many interesting questions – such as, what is an original? Witstom will discuss the restoration project and Fritz Lang, and screen Artem Demenok’s documentary “Journey to Metropolis,” (2010) which includes a rare interview with Lang.
“Harvest 2010” – three programs of Israeli animation will be shown at the festival and ASIFA-Israel, the Israeli branch of Association Internationale du Film d’Animation will hold its annual competition.
In addition to programs of short animated films from around the world, two feature length films will be shown at the festival: ‘My Dog Tulip,’ directed by Paul Fierlinger based on J. R. Ackerley’s novel, and ‘The Immigrants’ (also known as La Dolce Vita) by Gabor Csupo.
Shabi Mizrahi, Deputy Director Culture and Arts Division and Director of the Performance Department that has produced the festival from the start, says, “The journey began ten years ago when the festival was but a day old. Since then it has grown to become an important festival in Israel and the only one to bring together a concentration of Israeli and international animation, comics and caricature and allow the Israeli audience to enjoy and keep up with the latest on these enchanting art forms.”
Nissim (Nusko) Hezkiyahu is the festival’s Artistic Director, Dudu Shalita is the Animation Curator and Galit Barsky is the producer. The festival is produced by the Tel Aviv Cinematheque, Tel Aviv-Yafo Municipality – Performance Department and the Ministry of Culture Israeli Film Commission and will take place at the Tel Aviv Cinematheque, 2 Shprintzak Street, Tel Aviv. Tickets and information: 03-6060800.
