We present the list of winners of the 16th International Animation Festival – Hiroshima 2016 that took place from August 18th – 22nd in Hiroshima (Japan).

Grand Prize

The Empty by Dahee Jeong – South Korea | 2016 – 10 min.

In the woman’s room, memories constantly accumulate and disappear like dust. The man spends his time in this room creating futile little games with woman’s memories.

Comments on Awarding: For a delicate and sophisticated masterpiece that expresses the empty place left by a loved one in our life.

Hiroshima Prize

Among the Black Waves by Anna Budanova – Russia | 2016 – 12 min.

A film based on an ancient legend taking place at a Scandinavian shore, where the souls of people who have drowned changes its shape into the sea animals.

Comments on Awarding: For a brilliantly directed and designed film about what happens to Love when there is no freedom.

Debut Prize

Yùl and the Snake by Gabriel Harel – France | 2015 – 13 min.

Yùl, 13 years old, goes with his big brother Dino to conclude a deal with Mike, a thug escorted by his Argentinian mastiff. When things go wrong, a mysterious snake appears.

Comments on Awarding: To express human feelings, contradictions and weaknesses in animation is not an easy task. This young director managed to convey a unique presence through animated acting that brought complex and realistic characters to life.

Renzo Kinoshita Prize

Peripheria by David Coquard Dassault – France | 2015 – 13 min.

A journey into the heart of a large and abandoned council estate. Peripheria portrays an urban environment becoming wild: a modern Pompeii where the wind blows and dogs roam, tailing the remains of human life.

Comments on Awarding: The film portrays how an urban environment can become wild again. How the normal order is turned around. For the brilliant work of a very promising animator.

Audience Prize

The Gossamer by Natalia Chernysheva – Russia | 2014 – 5 min.

An old lady and a spider live near each other.

Special International Jury Prizes

Two Friends by Natalia Chernysheva – France | 2014 – 5 min.

Two friends, a caterpillar and a tadpole, grow up in two different environments.

Comments on Awarding: For a playful drama with excellent graphics, about love and transformation.

One, Two, Tree by Yulia Aronova – France, Switzerland | 2015 – 7 min.

It’s the story of a tree, a tree like any other. One day, it jumps into a pair of boots and goes off for a walk inviting everyone it meets to follow. Boring everyday life fades as they all skip and dance along happily.

Comments on Awarding: This film shows finally what we have always suspected and was never confirmed. 1, 2, trees. Having feelings as well!

Before Love by Igor Kovalyov – Russia | 2015 – 20 min.

Before Love questions solitude, misunderstanding and disunity in our life. The title suggests that everything happening to the characters is not a true love yet. Human shortcomings tie the dramatic knot of the story. Everybody finds his way to be unhappy.

Comments on Awarding: For an overwhelming artistic vision and direction driving us through the mysterious undergrounds of human heart.

FEED by Eri Okazaki – Japan | 2016 – 7 min.

Two enormous creatures count down the end of a day, food is served as it was the day before. Children feed their goat as usual, feeling uneasy about their own daily life.

Comments on Awarding: A clever and sensitive visual treat, playing with negative and positive space.

ZEPO by Cesar Diaz Melendez – Spain | 2014 – 4 min.

Some time ago, on a winter morning, a little girl went out looking for firewood, she went far away from home and came across a blood trail… and she followed it.

Comments on Awarding: In the past, like in our days, those whom we should trust are not always faithful to this task. In three minutes, the director clearly demonstrates that helpfulness can lead to tragedy.

Chulyen, a Crow´s Tale by Angès Patron and Cerise Lopez – France | 2015 – 20 min.

Chulyen is strong, chulyen is handsome. Chulyen is weak, chulyen is ugly. Chulyen is the crow spirit, and three shamans are chasing after him.

Comments on Awarding: For an enigmatic, powerful and beautiful film, supremely designed and animated…

Special Prizes

Satie’s “Parade” by Koji Yamamura – Japan | 2016 – 15 min.

A Parade for 3 managers & 4 performers. Mixing quotes from French composer Erik Satie’s essays with the music Parade, this is an animated re-creation of realist ballet images going beyond reality.

Comments on Awarding: Roll up!! Roll up!! Welcome to the Ballet Russes, a bit different from Picasso. Here comes an innocent and nonsensical parade!

Life with Herman H. Rott by Chintis Lundgren – Croatia, Denmark | 2015 – 12 min.

Herman is a rat who lives alone in his messy apartment. One day a very tidy cat decides to move in.

Comments on Awarding: Opposites are often attracted. This piece is an insightful and original portrayal of such a couple.

The Master by Riho Unt – Estonia | 2015 – 18 min.

A dog Popi and a monkey Huhuu are waiting for their Master to come home who is just one day not coming any more… From this particular day there starts their mutual life.

Comments on Awarding: The film shows how an old story can be turned into an contemporary film that talks about today’s political situation with his own voice. A dog and an ape show how the world can suddenly be reversed.

The Sleepwalker by Theodore Ushev – Canada | 2015 – 5 min.

With the shade around her waist she dreams on her balcony.
[…] Under the gypsy moon, all things are watching her and she can not see them.
A surrealist journey through colors and shapes inspired by the poem Romance Sonambulo by Federico Garcia Lorca. Visual poetry in the rhythm of fantastic dreams and passionate nights.

Comments on Awarding: For surrealistic, playful, explosively drawn music.

Noevus by Samuel Yal – France | 2016 – 8 min.

Fragments of porcelain, enamels and rust… Nœvus explores the mystery of femininity and choreographs a metamorphosis.

Comments on Awarding: For an extraordinary original experimental vision expressing the body in pain.

The Night of the Naporitan by Yusuke Sakamoto – Japan | 2014 – 7 min.

Neither a traditional Japanese cuisine nor an Italian, “Naporitan spaghetti” lost its identity and has gone on a journey. This is a story of spaghetti that does not know how to love people.

Comments on Awarding: For its totally surprising, lyric and absurd humor…

To know more about the festival you can see the FESTIVAL PROFILE or go to the official website to know all the screening times and dates HERE.