01/10/2024 - The festival producer breaks down what goes on behind the scenes of the vibrant hub for animation enthusiasts and professionals, which has just wrapped its fourth edition

The ABIFF - Animation Bucharest International Film Festival has quickly established itself as a vibrant hub for animation enthusiasts and professionals. With its fourth edition recently concluded, the festival is poised for even greater growth and impact. We spoke to producer Valentin Urziceanu to delve into the festival's vision, its commitment to nurturing young talent, and its ambitious plans for the future. The fourth edition was produced by Mockra Productions and was co-financed by the Administration of the National Cultural Fund (AFCN) in Romania.

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Cineuropa: What do you consider to be ABIFF's greatest achievement in terms of public education and development?
Valentin Urziceanu: Although ABIFF is a relatively young festival, we are proud of the scope we have achieved in terms of public education and development. Organising screenings and workshops in 32 cities across the country, over the course of just four editions, represents a significant achievement. Through these initiatives, we have not only created new audiences and cultivated aesthetic taste, but we have also inspired and educated young people who dream of a career in animation. This openness to the general public and to new generations of creators is, without a doubt, ABIFF's greatest achievement to date.

What are the main educational objectives you set for yourselves when organising workshops and master classes?
In the case of workshops, our intention is to showcase the diversity of professions involved in making an animated film, from programmers to actors and painters. Animation, including special effects, is increasingly present in our lives, from films and commercials to virtual apartment presentations by real-estate developers, and it's important for students to understand this when choosing their future careers. In master classes, the process focuses on transmitting information from experts to young professionals in order to enhance their skills. We had experts from Poland, Lithuania, the UK and Romania, of course.

How were the workshops for secondary-school students structured, and what impact do you think they had on the young participants?
The workshops were structured in a narrative format, gradually presenting the process of making an animated film, from the initial idea to the final product. We tried to maintain a balance between information and practical examples, all sprinkled with humour, to create an enjoyable experience that wouldn't be perceived as a "lesson". The fact that we had almost 2,000 students participate in these workshops across the four editions of ABIFF, as well as the positive feedback we received, leads us to believe that our approach was successful and strengthens our conviction to continue organising them.

How did the idea of transforming ABIFF into a learning platform, not just a simple film festival, come about?
Being involved in the world of animation, and having directed and produced a feature film and several shorts, one of the challenges I encountered from the beginning was finding local talent to work on these films. Unlike neighbouring countries, which were also members of the Communist Bloc, Romania didn't have a proper animation school. Only in recent years has animation begun to be studied at UNATC Bucharest, but it's important for secondary-school students to know how beautiful, rich and lucrative this world is, so that we can create our own school.

Our collaboration with UNATC since the first edition is an excellent example of how ABIFF can contribute to the development of the industry. Students have the opportunity to present their work to a wide audience in the non-competitive "Best of UNATC" section, which motivates and encourages them to continue their artistic journey. We hope that through our efforts, we can contribute to the creation of an animation school in Romania and inspire a new generation of artists and professionals in this field.

What is the role of classic animation in educating the audience about the history and culture of animated film?
Classic animation serves as both the foundation and the keystone in the creation of animation, even today. The 12 principles of animation introduced by Walt Disney in the 1930s remain the basis of animation education to this day. Essentially, we cannot talk about the history or culture of animated film without talking about classic animation. That's why, at every edition of ABIFF, we bring to the audience some of the masterpieces of classic animation, both Romanian and international, to celebrate this heritage and pass it on to future generations.

How has the educational component of the festival evolved from the first edition to the present?
While the workshops have maintained a relatively consistent structure, as the fundamentals and basics of animation remain the same, the master classes have aimed to present the latest developments in the field to young professionals. For example, ABIFF 4 focused on showcasing the possibilities of using AI technologies, featuring a master class on this topic and also proudly presenting the first fully “AI-directed” film to be screened in Lithuanian cinemas.

What are your plans when it comes to expanding the educational dimension of the festival in the future?
We intend to continue organising workshops, in a hybrid format as they have been since the first edition, in as many cities as possible, and to diversify the activities for young professionals. The fifth edition will feature a pitch for animation film projects. The positive feedback from our workshop participants, who expressed a desire for more interaction with industry professionals, has inspired us to expand ABIFF's educational dimension. The upcoming pitching platform is a direct response to this feedback, offering young animators the chance to showcase their ideas and connect with potential collaborators. This pitching platform is a new and exciting addition to ABIFF's educational offerings. It provides a unique opportunity for young animators to gain practical experience in presenting their ideas, receiving feedback from industry professionals, and developing their project development skills. And the winner will also receive prize money to help implement its project.

Beyond the practical aspects, the pitching platform also fosters a sense of community and collaboration. It's a chance for young filmmakers to connect with potential mentors, partners and investors, and to build relationships that could be crucial for their future careers.