"Children of the Sea" and "Genius Loci" win big prizes in Bucheon

The 22nd Bucheon International Animation Festival (BIAF2020; www.biaf.or.kr) announced its winners on Monday. In the competition for feature films, Children of the sea (Children of the Sea) by Watanabe Ayumu won the Grand Prize, during the choice of the opening film Calamity, a childhood of Martha Jane Cannary by Rémi Chayé has received both the jury prize and the music awards. In the short film sections, Adrien Mérigeau Genius Loci won the Grand Prize for International Short Film.

The feature film jury included 2020 featured artist Anca Damian (The fantastic tales of Marona), who designed BIAF's flagship poster and film this year as jury chair, and Korean directors Koo Hye Sun and Lee Jeong Hyang.

“Many thanks to the festival for the opportunity to be on the jury of BIAF2020. While this year is tough for all of us, the festival's efforts to continue supporting art and artists have allowed us to award five awards. In a way we have been influenced in our decisions from the moment we live now, and by the themes that the artists raised we wanted to empower, ”Damian shared in a statement.

“The hardest decision was to select the Grand Prize and the Jury Prize from two films that fascinated us. Each in its own way is a remarkable achievement and after a very long debate, we decided to balance the Grand Prix decision towards the film that describes the connections between humanity and nature, with a mesmerizing imagery of aquatic life and cosmic mystery, now that the humanity is approaching a dead end while abusing nature, so the Grand Prix goes to Children of the sea. The Special Jury Prize goes to the wonderful Magnet, a film that empowers the emancipation of women in a handcrafted animated film with a solid plot construction and an organic visual concept, a film that increases the courage to become what we want to be “.

Igor Kovalyov (Before love), Réka Busci (Solar walk) and Tomek Popakul (Acid rain) swore the shorts. They gave the Grand Prix to Genius Loci by Adrien Mérigeau. The Jury Prize is awarded to Sage at nine by Jang Nari. The stop-motion project Precious by Paul Mars has won both a Special Distinction and AniB's Choice Prize. Furthermore, Polka dot boy by Nihei Sarina e Just a boy by Hara Shoko both won the Special Distinction Award.

Busci made the following statements on the jury's selections:

• Genius Loci: “A beautiful representation of the chaos in the mind, which is reflected in the environment offering the public a unique personal point of view. The compositions and animation are messy and effortlessly elegant. "
• Sage at nine: “Beautifully crafted animations and dynamic compositions. The story is rough and creepy, while the images are soft and comforting. This balance creates a special and cutting-edge cinematic experience ”.
• Precious"Precious is a new take on the often discussed issue of bullying. This director proves to have a very strong tool set in storytelling, writing and editing. A compelling movie that is worth watching more than once.
• Polka dot boy: “A disturbing world, which opens a door to mystery and violence. A gruesome thriller that made me feel awkward and amused. I would like to know more! "
• Just a boy: “Why do women feel attracted to" bad guys "and who can or can't be loved? This documentary asks very complex questions through the telling of an absurd “love story”, which portrays the fascination to its extreme.

Michelle Tamariz's When do we leave won the Jury Prize e Sura by Jeong Haeji won a Special Distinction in the International Graduation Films competition. Oscar-nominated director Siqi Song (Sister) is on both the Graduation Films jury and the TV & Commissioned jury, which awarded TV specials Shooom's Odyssey e The tiger who came for tea. He offered the following statements:

• When do we leave: "Through this beautifully illustrated animation, the director uses a unique motif to show us the loss and struggles of immigrant families they are experiencing when they leave home and face their uncertain future."
• Sura: “Through an intimate story of two high school girls, the director discussed an issue that hasn't been talked about much in our society. Its unique point of view and aesthetic made it a strong and powerful film. "
• Shooom's Odyssey: “This adorable and heartwarming film immediately grabs our attention with its beautiful watercolor aesthetic. Follow the adventure of the two newborn owls, its perfectly balanced narration and animation along with its unique, fun and fascinating performance immerses us in this beautiful world for all 26 minutes.
• The tiger who came for tea: “This wonderfully animated story of a tiger visiting a family for a tea party is simple, yet fascinating and moving. It offers the public 23 minutes of fun, sweetness, adventure and, above all, family joy “.

Full list of BIAF2020 winners:

International Competition - Feature Films
Grand Prix: Children of the sea | Ayumu Watanabe (Japan)
Jury Prize: Magnet | Rémi Chayé (France, Denmark)
Special award of distinction: My favorite war | Ilze Burkovska-Jacobsen (Norway, Latvia)
Special award of distinction: True north | Han Eijin Shimizu (Japan, Indonesia)
Audience Award: Promise | Hiroyuki Imaishi (Japan)

International Competition - Short film
Grand Prix: Genius Loci | Adrien Mérigeau (France)
Jury Prize: Sage at nine | Nari Jang (South Korea)
Special award of distinction: Precious | Paul Mas (France)
Special award of distinction: Polka dot boy | Sarina Nihei (Japan, France, Denmark)
Special award of distinction: Just a boy | Shoko Hara (Germany, Japan)
Audience Award: The fabric of you | Josephine Lohoar Self (UK, Scotland)
AniB's choice: Precious | Paul Mas (France)

International Competition - Graduation Film
Jury Prize: When do we leave | Mitchelle Tamariz (France, Mexico)
Special award of distinction: Sura | Haeji Jeong (South Korea)

International competition - TV and commission
Jury Prize: Shooom's Odyssey | Julien Bisaro (France, Belgium)
Special award of distinction: The tiger who came for tea | Robin Shaw (UK)

International competition - VR
Jury Prize: Ghost in the Shell: Ghost Chaser | Hiroaki Higashi (Japan)

Korean short film
Jury Prize: Tiger and ox | Seunghee Kim (South Korea)
Special award of distinction: Sage at nine | Nari Jang (South Korea)

Special awards
EBS Award (short): If something happens, I love you | Will McCormack, Michael Govier (United States)
Cartoon and Animation Studies President's Award - Korean Film (Feature Film): Climbing | Hyemi Kim (South Korea)
Unity Award - Korean Film (Feature Film): Climbing | Hyemi Kim (South Korea)
Unity Award - Korean Film (short film): Beyond the line | Jinuk Choi (South Korea, United States)
COCOMICS Music Award: Magnet | Rémi Chayé (France, Denmark)
Music Award - Special Mention: Children of the sea | Ayumu Watanabe (Japan)