The exhibition 40 Years of the World Festival of Animated Film in Zagreb, 1972-2012 (ULUPUH Gallery, Tkalčićeva 14, 29 May – 3 June) will cover four exceptionally successful decades of the second oldest festival dedicated entirely to the art of animation and recall of the life of this still young, fresh and leading festival, the festival which inscribed the name of Zagreb and its filmmakers and animators onto the animation map of the world as one of the capital cities. The exhibition aims to depict this unique festival atmosphere. It displays historical documents and letters, documentary videos, festival trailers, awards, photographs, birthday and other cards by world-acclaimed authors, graphic identities and objects made from 1972 until this day. 

Among the valuable memorabilia, there are works by renowned artists from former Yugoslavia and Croatia, who contributed to the festival identity with great approval from animation devotees and wider public: Nedeljko Dragić, Pavao Štalter, Miroslav Šutej, Zvonimir Lončarić, Borivoj Dovniković, Zlatko Bourek etc. This year’s festival identity, designed by Damir Gamulin and Tina Ivezić, is in fact a reinterpretation of the most prominent posters. For their work they used the festival designs by Nedeljko Dragić, Zvonimir Lončarić, Pavao Štalter, Borivoj Dovniković and Vladimir Straža from 1978, Zvonimir Lončarić’s 1980 poster, and 13th Animafest design, by Borivoj Dovniković and Mihajlo Arsovski from 1998.

Arrival of Renowned Animation Greats, Yoji Kuri and Priit Pärn

The round birthday edition will also be marked with arrival of one of the most important Japanese animation artists and Animafest’s godfather Yoji Kuri. During his visit in Zagreb he will receive Animafest lifetime achievement award. Through several selections we will have a unique opportunity to see most of his films, of which some have never been screened in Croatia or in Europe. In addition to the insight into this exceptional filmmaker’s work, Animafest visitors will have a chance to talk to this master of animation and see the documentary film Here We Are with Yoji Kuri by Ryô Saitani.

Among the programmes reminiscing the 40 years of existence of this world-acclaimed festivity with nostalgia and pride, there is Grand Prix 1972-2012, enabling us to see all the winners of Animafest’s Grand Prix. They include some of the most renowned world animators who often visited Zagreb, with a film or without it. Winner of three Animafest’s Grand Prix, Estonian animator Priit Pärn is one of the Grand Competition jury members.