To the 30th anniversary of IAFF "KROK":
Grand Prix winning films
The international animated film festival, "KROK" (which, according to international ratings, once became one of the top five animated film festivals in the world. Throughout its quite respectable time of existence, it went through a lot: the collapse of the Soviet empire directly during the first international edition in August 1991, when the festival returned from the Black Sea to independent Ukraine; the period of "brotherly friendship" up till 2013, when this unique festival floated around the Dnieper and the Black Sea in odd years, and steamed by rivers, canals and lakes of our northern neighbor in the even ones; and finally - after the Russian aggression, since 2014, it temporary settled at its Alma mater, the Kyiv Cinema House.
The program suggested consists of a selection of the films that won the main prize of the Festival at a time. There are also films already recognized in the world of classical animation (Daniel Grizz, Igor Kovalev born in Kyiv, a Ukrainian Stepan Koval), and the first works of talented students and debutants. Most importantly, we tried to present the widest variety of styles, techniques, directions, emotions, narratives, and national cultures in it. We hope that this program will inspire viewers in their own creative journey, and in any case, we invite everyone to the jubilee "KROK."
Alik Shpilyuk
IAFF "KROK" Program director
Emile Awards Ambassador in Ukraine
Flatworld
Daniel Greaves
UK / 1997, 28 min
Matt Phlatt, along with his pet cat Geoff and his fish, Chips live in a world where everyone is "flat".
Ponpon
Fabien Drouet
France / 1999, 5 min
A dog rushes out of a house. He crosses the road in front of a truck. Helpless and about to be knocked over, Ponpon sees his life pass before his eyes.
The Tram No. 9 Goes On
Stepan Koval
Ukraine / 2002, 11 min
A morning tram over-occupied with passengers, but more and more people are trying to get in there.
Milk
Igor Kovalyov
USA / 2005, 15 min
Milk is a short film about a boy discovering his father’s affair. The story is told from the boy’s perspective and it unfolds in a dark and disturbing manner and brings out the child’s depressing childhood experience.
Over Time
Oury Atlan, Thibaut Berland, Damien Ferrie
France / 2004, 5 min
A lone, spotlighted puppet raises a trumpet to his lips, playing a klezmer-like solo. A man has died. But the trumpeter and his friends don't realize that their creator has passed away.
The Traveller
Johan Pollefoort
Belgium / 2007, 6 min
The traveller cries: "Woe betide those who are happy with their lot".
Feral
Daniel Sousa
USA / 2012, 13 min
A wild child, raised by wolves, is forced to reconnect with humanity and conform to a society he can barely comprehend.
Women’s Letters
Augusto Zanovello
France / 2013, 11 min
On the battle fields of the First World War, the nurse Simon patches up the shattered faces of the infantrymen with love letters. These words from beloved women have the power to heal the wounds of these paper soldiers.
Late Season
Daniela Leitner
Austria / 2017, 7 min
A long-married couple seem to have lost their affections for one another. One day at the beach, after falling asleep, something incredible happens with them — something that re-kindles their long lost romantic feelings.
Cyclists
Veljko Popovic
Croatia / 2018, 7 min
The cycling season is nearing its grand finale. During the final race, the two men in the lead are competing for more than the Grand Trophy; they are fi ghting for the affection of a lady and fulfilment of their erotic fantasies. Meanwhile, the small port town prepares for the arrival of a large ocean liner and its dashing captain.
Merlot
Marta Gennari, Giulia Martinelli
Italy / 2016, 6 min
In a blue fairy-tale forest, a grumpy granny loses a bottle of wine. This event will give rise to a crescendo of linked events.