'BoxBallet' wins first prize at the GIRAF Indie Animation Fest

The Quickdraw Animation Society announced the winners of the jury and audience awards at its 17th Giant Incandescent Resonating Animation Festival (GIRAF | www.giraffest.ca). The Calgary-based festival ran November 19-28, streaming online across Canada.

“GIRAF International Animation Festival beautifully encapsulates the best of contemporary independent animation, bringing together the best Canadian talent and animation innovators from around the world. In 2021, his genre Indie Mixtape offered a little bit of everything, the Canadian Showcase presented some of the most beautiful and creative works this country has prepared in the last two years and Cosmic Trips has taken us to other worlds and back. " said Canadian animator Greg Doble on behalf of the jury. "All this to say that GIRAF 2021 not only had something for everyone, but the best the world has to offer, perfectly curated on their online platform so you can choose. your adventure! Enthusiastic, shocked, heartbroken or laughter, GIRAF 2021 has had it all and I personally can't wait to see what the next GIRAF 2022 will bring. "

Doble was joined on the jury by Halifax curator, presenter and director Siloën Daley and the collective of artists and writers of Animation Obsessive.

Jury prizes

Best Canadian Short Film: My head hurts when I look too long (directed by Callahan Bracken, 2020)

“A disturbing meditation on self-esteem, love and loneliness in the world of impersonal online infrastructure. With this pictorial film, Bracken expresses mysterious truths about a digital lifestyle whose implications we are just beginning to understand. "- Greg Doble

Honorable mention: Petal to metal (directed by Emily Pelstring, 2020)

“I'm not alone in feeling drawn to something tactile and showing life. Literally placing petals and objects found in the garden on metals in alchemy found on light sensitive films, then manual processing, Petal to metal it allows the artist to work directly with the film, bypassing the camera lens and creating a beautiful play with nature ”. - Siloën Daley

Best International Short Film: Box Ballet (directed by Anton Dyakov, Russia, 2020)

“The jury's decision to select this film was quick. Funny and touching, with animation and cinema like this, Box Ballet recalls the cartoons of the Russian master Eduard Nazarov, confidently pushing this style into the future ”. - Obsessive animation

Honorable mention: The Fall of the Ibis King (directed by Mikai Geronimo and Josh O'Caoimh, Ireland, 2021)

“Tensions mount at the opera after the unlikely return of its lead actor. Fall of the Ibis King is a story of love and jealousy that simmers with emotion and bubbles in a dramatic crescendo. Directors Mikai Geronimo and Josh O'Caoimh masterfully weave a story that is visually stunning, and the jury has invested heavily in every decision its characters make. "- Greg Doble

Special Jury Mentions:

• A bite of bone (directed by Honami Yano, Japan, 2021) | “There is something for everyone in A bite of bone. From the heartfelt story, to creatively drawn "camera work", to exceptional technique, the film illustrates one man's passions that they will carry forward into the next generation. 'If you bite the bone you can be with your father forever.' ”- Siloën Daley

• Yet we are not superheroes (directed by Lia Bertels, Belgium / Portugal / France, 2021) | “At first in the dark, I was drawn to the mystery. I became part of the story and then, when the characters were revealed as high-contrast cartoon-like illustrations, I believed them to be real. I was already attracted. As the piece unfolded, honesty and creativity brought joy and captivated me. - Siloën Daley

• Camille (dir. Nathanaël Sonn, France, 2020) | “With the short film Camille, Nathanaël Sonn beautifully creates a piece that is both visually stunning and deeply personal. With an autonomy of just over three and a half minutes, Camille manages to succinctly bring the audience to get a glimpse of a trans woman's experience of self-doubting and wrestling with her past. It is a story that portrays an experience that may be foreign to some people, but all too familiar to many within the LGBTQ2 + community. No matter where you might fall as an audience member, her deeply passionate story will captivate and emotionally engage you. - Greg Doble

• Fledge (directed by Hani Dombe and Tom Kouris, Israel / France, 2021) | “An inspired piece of magical realism. Fledge uses his specific and unique premise - a Russian family trying to fit into Israel in the 90s - to tell a story about heritage, identity and individuality that resonates universally. "- Animation Obsessive

• Sanctuary (directed by Eva Matejovičová, Czech Republic, 2021) | "Sanctuary brought a ray of light. I recalled the power an animated short has to connect with its audience, unlike any other medium. I felt lucky to get this film through the GIRAF festival. Thanks, Sanctuary, for inspiring me and spreading love! " - Siloën Daley

Audience Choice Award

Chosen by the ratings of the viewers.

Canadian short film: Meneath: the hidden island of ethics (directed by Terril Calder, 2021)

"Given its heavy argument, steeped in religious indoctrination, colonialism and deep inner turmoil, Meneath it seemed like a long chance for an audience award, but it was by far the highest-rated film of the festival. It follows Terril Calder's ability to balance the film's darker elements with moments of strength and triumph. Calder's film tackles difficult themes and complex concepts with grace, resulting in a film that is both inspiring and utterly vital. "

Honorable mention: The Mechanical Elves (directed by Nick Cross, 2020)

“The audience at this year's festival was not afraid to go dark. Nick Cross describes his latest film as "a psychotropic exploration of spirituality and death" or as a "tale of a little fool who has jumped on fools". It's macabre, but darkly beautiful, full of ambiguous images and impossible to look away from. "

International Short Film: Love is only a death away (directed by Bára Anna Stejskalová, Czech Republic, 2020)

“It's surprising but fitting that a film about a worm piloting a dead dog's body is so good at pulling our audience's heartstrings. Bára Anna Stejskalová's directorial debut is sweet despite its excess of death and decay. Ultimately, a story of longing for love and connection, finds humor and warmth in the strangest places, with a unique tone that resonated with the GIRAF17 crowd.

Honorable mention: Notturno (dir. Alexander Dupuis, United States, 2020)

“To call Alexander Dupuis' music video busy would be a dramatic understatement. The rush of colors, patterns and textures in NotturnoThe 3D world should be absolutely overwhelming, but somehow it all works, creating a transcendental journey through rippling and warping worlds and finding serenity beyond excess.