Hi friends!
The time has come to say goodbye to the Balkanima festival, and to friends we found here in Belgrade!
The last day of the international competition proved to be crucial, providing us with the GRAND PRIX winner of the festival- The film ENTER PARADISE FOR 3,30 Euro by Edith Stauber, the Austrian author has united us, in a unanimous vote for the grand prix award.
I think it was wonderful how the author captured the simple pleasure of a dull afternoon at the local swimming pool, in all its ugly, dull , human glory, accompanied by the ring tones of mobile phones left unanswered while its owners basked under the hot rays of the sun.
I felt the film represented the spirit of the festival in its style, approach to animation and subject.
Unfortunately, a few good films got passed by this year, and this is mostly because the format of the Balkanima festival celebrated and promoted a different look and style then shown in those films. My unofficial tip of the hat goes to our friend Moritz and his film “URS”, which i feel is a great first film which deserves to be on the winners podium. It was a film which the audience recognized, awarding it with a huge applause.
Tomorrow we go to Zagreb, where we will present our work in progress of our upcoming film to the trustee for Animated film Darko Bakliža. Just one more step to finishing our film, which i hope will find itself on the program of the 2010 instalment of Balkanima. I know i will be here, since i have the honour to be invited to hold a workshop in a years time at the BALKANIMA 2010. This means that this is not a goodbye, but rather until we see each other again Belgrade and Balkanima.