Polish „Ziegenort” conquers film festivals (VIDEO)

Ziegenort

Press Release

Still new awards go to short animation „Ziegenort”  by Tomek Popakul, produced by Polish studio Nolabel. Lately the film was honored in New York at Brooklyn Festival (best animation) and in Hamburg at the International Short Film Festival (arte short film award).

„Ziegenort” is a diploma film of Tomek Popakul, graduated from film school in Łódź (Poland) this year. A story of a fish boy is an allegory of problems of growing up, giving the film an universal dimension that everyone can identify with. The fish boy wrestles with the pressure of the society and with his own desires being just shaped. Powerful but austere design together with strong, universal topic and clear message lie behind the international success of the young director and animator.

International success
Popakul’s film has its international premiere in January this year at a prestigious International Film Festival Rotterdam 2013. Having been welcomed very well there, the film were noticed by programmers of significant film festivals from around the world. Soon after that invitations for festivals started, resulting with first, very important award – Principal Prize at the International Short Film Festival Oberhausen. Jury statement highlighted both the message and technical points of the film, just to quote the excerpt: “The artist of this work decided to introduce his film by generously suggesting, more or less, that we all be good to each other. This message is artistically crafted and delivered through a series of animated drawings that portray many depths and several perspectives.” – says the jury.

The story of a fish boy was appreciated in Trebon, gaining – almost at the same time as in Oberhausen – the title of best animation of Visegrad Animation Forum taking place together with Anifilm festival. The beginning of June brought another success – Silver Hobby-Horse of 53. Krakow Film Festival ant the title of best animated short in Polish competition. A week later, „Ziegenort” was awarded best in category prize, becoming best animation of Brooklyn Film Festival. Latest distinction for the film is a French TV Arte award at the International Short Film Festival in Hamburg. The jury says: “(…) a suprising and poetic animated movie. A character who is either human nor fish… on the edge of growing up. The young and talented Polish producer Tomasz Popakul makes you want to fade into a different world where everything seems possible and likely to fail at the same time”

Universal story
Both Tomek Popakul, the director and Piotr Szczepanowicz, the producer, perceive the universal topic of the film as a success factor. “I wanted to tell a simple story that anyone can identify with” – Popakul says – “according to the rule – think globally, act locally – I showed it in the surroundings I know best, in Trzebież (ger. Ziegenort) the village of my origin. This place is out of history, somehow beyond and this is what make universal dimension of the story as well.”

Production company, Nolabel, had decided to engage in Popakul project having had much faith in the success. “I have known Tomek and his works since my studies in Łódź film school” – says Szczepanowicz, the producer – “’Ziegenort’ was a pretty big technical challenge for Nolabel but we like challenges. I’m really glad that our common work is so much appreciated. Tomek is a very promising young artist and ‘Ziegenort’ is only the beginning of his artistic way. A very good beginning indeed.”

Polish representation in Annecy
„Ziegenort” and „The Railway Watchman” were the only two animated shorts fully produced in Poland that represented the country in the main competition of the International Animated Films Festival in Annecy last week. Both films are produced by Nolabel. Poland was a special guest during this year festival edition, organizing many events dedicated to Polish animation.

Ziegenort
19 min., animation. Fish Boy is a teenager facing the challenges of growing up. His problems are especially severe, as he is different from all others: He is half boy, half fish. His drama is set against the background of a seemingly idyllic fishing village, where is father wants to teach him how to become a fisherman. The boy‘s struggle with the stigma of rejection takes place in several dimensions of interpersonal relationships. Ultimately, it also affects Fish Boy‘s relationship with himself.

The film combines cartoon animation with elements of 3D animation. The very basic and expressive color palette shows contrasts – between the reality of a static, conservative fishing village and the drama of Fish-Boy growing up.

techniques: 2D, 3D
dialogues: POLISH
subtitles: ENGLISH
duration: 19 MIN
picture: COLOUR
screen ratio: 16.9 FULL HD
sound system: DOLBY 5.1

Tomek Popakul
Born in 1986 in Szczecin, Poland, comes from nearby Trzebież (ger. Ziegenort). Graduated from film school in Łódź. Animation director, screenwriter, animator. Author of „1000 wiader wody (1000 pots of water)” (2009), winning animation of the Warsaw Uprising Museum competition. “Ziegenort” is Popakul’s graduation film.

Nolabel
Animation and post production studio from Krakow, Poland. Production company of short animations and animated series („Ziegenort”, „Dróżnik”, „Don’t you want me?”, „Hidden”).