“Diplodocus Dragon”, dir. Wojtek Wawszczyk

“Diplodocus Dragon” directed by Wojtek Wawszczyk is the first Polish animated film made on such a grand scale. Inspired by Tadeusz Baranowski's comics, “Journey of the Diplodocus Dragon” and  “Professor Nerwosolka’s Mezzanine” in Annecy will have its world premiere in the special screenings section.

The adventurous Diplodocus dreams of adding a bit of color to life. It's gray and boring in the family swamp. When the peaceful life is interrupted by the appearance of a mysterious fog, Diplodocus sets off on an unforgettable journey to find his missing family and restore the lost order. He visits magical places, meets strange creatures and incredible inhabitants of the different worlds. Together with the clumsy wizard Hocus Pocus, the crazy Professor Nerwosolek and the smart pilot Entomology, they will discover a big secret - that their reality is in fact... a page in a comic book by Tadek, an artist who is in a creative crisis. They will try to save Diplodocus' parents and solve the mystery of the insidious fog.

“Diplodocus Dragon” has already been sold to over 100 countries, including Great Britain, Spain, Scandinavia, the Benelux countries, as well as Korea, and the film will be released in Polish cinemas on October 4, 2024, where the heroes and heroines of the animation will speak with the voices of,  among others, Małgorzata Kożuchowska, Borys Szyc and Arkadiusz Jakubik. The voice of the titular Diplodocus was provided by 10-year-old actor Mikołaj Wachowski.

“Diplodocus Dragon” was produced by Human Film and Młode Horyzonty is responsible for its distribution in Poland. The project is co-produced with Polish Television, PFX, Day Hey Film, Masovian and Warsaw Film Fund and co-financed by the Polish Film Institute, Czech Film Fund, Slovak Audiovisual Fund, South Moravian Film Fund and Creative Europe Media.

 “Rock Bottom”, dir. María Trénor

 Spanish director María Trénor makes her debut in Annecy’s Main Competition with her first feature-length film “Rock Bottom”.

Produced by leading Catalan producer Alba Sotorra and inspired by the life and music of Robert Wyatt, “Rock Bottom” tells the story of the self-destructive love between Bob and Alif, a young artist couple immersed in the creative and groundbreaking vortex of hippie culture in the early 1970s. 

On the Polish side, Robert Jaszczurowski from GS Animation is responsible for the production of this vivid and lush 2D rotoscope animation.

The global sales rights to the film “Rock Bottom” co-financed by the Polish Film Institute were secured by the Paris-based company Loco Films.

“Portrait of a Horse”, dir. Witold Giersz

First, a single spot appears on a black background. Then a riot of colors emerges from the blackness, coming from the artist's brush. After some time, the rhythmically moving spots create an amorphous outline of a galloping horse. The camera not only records the subsequent phases of the trot, but also every touch of the brush. In this way, the viewer participates in the animation creation process. Painterly impressions of the horse's silhouette, its flexible movements, the shape of its head and the stallion's fight constitute the content of the first part of the film.

This is an extraordinary work that combines the art of animation with deep artistic expression, offering viewers not only aesthetic experiences, but also insight into the creative process of one of the most important Polish animators.

The film “Portrait of a Hors” directed by Witold Giersz, produced by Fumi Studio, Piotr Furmankiewicz and Mateusz Michalak, with music by Krzesimir Dębski, was co-financed by the Masovian and Warsaw Film Fund, the Masovian Institute of Culture and the Polish Film Institute. In Annecy, it will be presented in the short film competition section.

“A Bear named Wojtek”, dir. Ian Gardner

An animated film directed by Ian Gardner, based on a script by Wojciech Lepianka, will be presented in the TV Films competition category. “A Bear named Wojtek” is an engaging story about Wojtek the bear, a lost animal found by General Anders' soldiers during the events of the action at Monte Cassino. The animated film focuses on the unusual friendship that developed between a wild animal and soldiers, as well as the later fate of Wojtek and his “colleagues”. The producers of the picture are Iain Harvey and Włodzimierz Matuszewski.

The film about Wojtek the bear - the most famous soldier of Anders' Army - is co-financed by the Polish Film Institute.

“Joko”, dir. Izabela Plucińska

 Izabela Plucińska - winner of the Golden Dragon at the Krakow Film Festival and the Silver Bear at the Berlin International Film Festival, will premiere her latest work titled “Joko” in the short film competition section.

“Joko” is an adaptation of Roland Topor's drama, made entirely of plasticine. The film was directed by Izabela Plucińska. The hero of the film is a young boy who supports his mother and sister through his work in a factory. On the second anniversary of their employment, Joko and his colleagues are surprised by a meeting with unspecified foreign delegates who order them to... carry each other on their backs. Initially, the boy rebels against these humiliating practices, but under the influence of peer pressure and the desire to earn good money, he gives in. The delegates begin to dominate the boy more and more.

The producers of the film are: Animoon Sp z o.o. (Poland), Las Sztuki Foundation (Poland), MAUR Film (Czech Republic), and Clay Traces (Germany). In Poland, the film is co-financed by the Polish Film Institute and the West Pomeranian Film Fund POMERANIA FILM. The strategic partner of the project is the Academy of Art in Szczecin.

Polish productions in the festival selection

“Lola and the Piano of Noises” directed by Augusto Zanovello is a beautiful and important story about the need for mutual understanding: the fate of Simon and the story of an extraordinary machine that helps him communicate with his surroundings provide an excuse to reflect on the difficulties faced by people on the autism spectrum. The medium-length animation co-produced by Lodz company Momakin - for which the puppets were created in Lodz, and the props and the titular piano in Wroclaw - will have its premiere in the competition TV Films category.

Midnight Specials will, in turn, present a nine-minute animation “Martyr's Guidebook”, directed and screenwriter by Maks Rzontkowski. The animated film tells the story of a man who is described as the most warm-hearted man in the world. Tony lives under the same roof as an angel, which leads to a series of surprising events. 

Additionally, the Graduation Films section will present: “Sheep out” by Zofia Klamka from the Academy of Fine Arts in Warsaw and “Show” by Jagoda Czarnowska from the Academy of Fine Arts in Krakow.

 Pitch Mifa Annecy 2024

Studio Opus Film is in pre-production of a full-length animated film “A Door to the Woods” directed by Jola Kudela, based on a script by Aga Lesiewicz. The project qualified for the prestigious Pitch Mifa Annecy 2024, one of the most important events in the European animation industry. Out of 500 projects submitted, this film was selected as one of 12 full-length films that will be presented during this event. This huge distinction proves the unique artistic vision and potential of “A Door to the Woods”.

About the festival

The Annecy International Animated Film Festival is one of the most prestigious events in the animation industry in the world. It takes place every year in June in the French city of Annecy, attracting creators, professionals and animation enthusiasts from all over the world. The festival, founded in 1960, offers a rich program that includes screenings of full-length films, short films, student films and animated series. The festival also includes workshops, discussion panels and the Annecy International Animation Film Market (MIFA), which is an important networking platform for industry representatives. The festival is known for its lively atmosphere and the promotion of innovative and artistic animation projects.

This year's edition started on June 9 and will last until June 15, 2024.