Animalis Fabula Official Selections

The Pigeon Lady - Short Documentary - Italy

9/19/2021

Every day, an old lady - a philosopher - wanders the streets of the historic center of Rome feeding pigeons but her true mission is another.

Director StatementThe pigeon -as dove- symbolizes the "Holy Spirit", it is the first animal to come out of the ark after the "Universal Flood" and Dante speaks of them as a symbol of monogamous and faithful love, when the couple is formed, it dissolves only with death. My short film is against all forms of discrimination

Giulia Brazzale is a producer, director, screenwriter and editor. She debuted, in 2002, with a short film which won numerous awards throughout Italy.

Director Giulia Brazzale

#AniFab judge's aggregate score for The Pigeon Lady is 6.4 out of 10 with one noting, "What a delight. So may great quotes from this pigeons lady from Italy."

Polar Bear Bears Boredom - Short Animation - Japan

9/16/2021

A polar bear who is very bored with various marine animals in the deep blue sea.

It continues an ancient tradition of "Caricatures of Frolicking animals" in scroll painting-style; this time, "Frolicking Sea Animals," in animation form, with a play on Japanese and English language word-plays: "Hokyoku-Guma Suggoku Hima. / Polar bear bears boredom", "Kawauso Kawaisou. / Other otter, poor otter," etc.

Born in 1964, Koji Yamamura started working on animated films as an amateur, at the age of 13.

During the 1990s, he explored various styles and techniques while working mainly on films for children. Nominated at the Oscars for Best Animated Short, "Mt. Head" marked a turning point, leading him to join the world’s most renowned animation filmmakers.

His major works since include "The Old Crocodile" (2005), "Franz Kafka’s A Country Doctor" (2007) and "Muybridge’s Strings" (2011). His films were awarded with more than 100 prizes, including Grand Prizes at the four most important international animation film festivals: Annecy, Zagreb, Ottawa and Hiroshima.

Director Koji Yamamura

He has been part of many international juries, and has held numerous retrospective screenings around the world. He has been selected as the 2 place at 25 top short animated films directors over the last 25 years in 2021 at Animac, the International Animation Showcase of Catalonia. He was rewarded with the National Medal with Purple Ribbon in 2019. Koji is a Member of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences. and Professor at the Tokyo University of the Arts.

Director Statement
His project is inspired with the Japanese picture scroll in the 12 to 13 century: Bird and Beast Character Caricature. Marine animals spread out in world ocean. Using the short rhythm of the poem, you will enjoy the various sea animals' thoughts and life. This rhyme verse in both English and Japanese at same means and this film is continued in one scene and one cut for 7 minutes.

#AniFab judge's aggregate score is 7.3 out of 10 with one stating, "a stylistic journey to visit the Polar Bear Bears Boredom. Fantastical and whimsical, and quite delightful."

Hug Me, Hug Me Right! - Short Narrative - Korea, Republic of

9/11/2021

What can happen if children live among themselves without guardians? Silver Hair, Bangs, Bobbed Hair. A suspicious man appeared where the orphans lived in hiding!

Filmmaker Lee Jian directed the short film Cemetery of Minds (2011). Since then she has worked as a creative director, Hug Me, Hug Me Right! is her first work as a director in 10 years.

#AniFab judge's aggregate score is 9.1 out of 10 with one judge stating, "I love going to film festivals solely to be able to discover films I would not see anywhere else.

As a programmer I hope for movies like Hug Me, Hug Me Right.

This movie needs a few different viewings. Each viewing you will experience something different. I am going to watch again for a fifth time. Is this what a movie is supposed to do? I can't wait to share this with our live audience.