05-05-2008

AniFest opens May 7

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    The seventh edition of Anifest, the Czech festival of animated films, runs May 7-13 in Trebon with 633 films representing 59 countries.

    Anifest (www.anifest.cz) general director Petr Slavik announced that the international competition will screen 320 films. The jury includes Ron Diamond (USA), Bretislav Pojar (Czech Republic), Jozsef Fulop (Hungary), Gabriele Zucchelli (Italy), Lucie Stamfestova (Czech Republic), Moon-saeng Kim (Korea), Phillip Bergson (Great Britain), Rony Oren (Israel) and Krzysztof Rynkiewicz (Poland). The 2008 honorary president is multi-awarded German animator/director Raimund Krumme .

    Highlights of the growing young festival include a workshop on pitching animated films and a discussion with animator and film director Michaela Pavlatova. Il Luster Production, Platige Image, and Acme Filmworks are singled out for special screenings from animated studios worldwide.