The fourth edition of Animation Bucharest International Film Festival (ABIFF) is taking place Friday through Sunday in Bucharest and another 11 cities – Pitesti, Sinaia, Alexandria, Slanic-Prahova, Brad, Caransebes, Lupeni, Otelu Rosu, Petrosani, Resita and Vulcan, inviting the public to explore the intersection between emerging technologies and classic animation art through a selection of films ranging from titles that participated in international competitions to children’s animations and creations by students of the National University of Theater and Cinematography. The bill also includes a Constantin Paun retrospective, the organizers said in a statement.

The festival opens in Bucharest on September 6, at 19:00 at Cinemax Veranda with Hungarian animated adventure drama film “Four Souls of Coyote” – winner of the Jury Award at the 2023 Annecy Animation Film Festival; two special screenings are scheduled for Saturday, September 7, at 4:15, and Sunday, September 8, at 16:45: “MK Ciurlionis AI” (Lithuania, 2023), and “Art College 1994” (China, 2023). The festival will close on Sunday, September 8, at 19:00 with the presentation of the film “Into the Wonderwoods” (France, Luxembourg).

Two online masterclasses will also be organized: “Artificial Intelligence and animated films” given by Lithuanian film director and data artist Antanas Skucas (Sunday, September 8, 10:00 a.m.), and “Sound as a score: from Disney classics to modern avant-garde animation” by Hasting-based award-winning sound designer and composer Julius Zubavicius (Sunday, September 8, at 12:00). Both masterclasses are free but require prior registration at: https://forms.gle/yWxNKnebNoo2eyf38.

The ABIFF 2024 jury, which will decide the winner of the Best Children’s Animation Award and the Best Author Animation Award, is made up of professionals with extensive experience in cinematography and animation, ensuring a competent and balanced assessment of the 22 short films entered in the competitive sections.

ABIFF Animation Bucharest International Film Festival is produced by Mockra Productions and co-financed by the Administration of the National Cultural Fund.