Awarded for films in the Eastern and Central European Competition Programme. A monetary award in the amount of €1,000.

Average Happiness, Maja Gehrig,  2019, Switzerland, 7’02”

Justification:

Among numerous outstanding works in the Main Competition, we found one film especially unique for its visual and sonic vitality. As we enter into the strange hallucinatory zone, we are witnessing the secret life of big data represented as an autonomous hyper-organism through seductive colourful visualization of movements. Then we suddenly realize, we are the part of these graphs, charts, groups and numbers. But do these personificated signs really reflect our lives? The images and sounds liberate themselves from top-down imposed conditions and assumptions as if they wanted the viewers to do the same. The film points at a society dominated by calculations and algorithms that are not a useful tool for classifications, but instead they condition our existence, and influence our behaviors.

We are awarding a clever and ironic masterhood that shows an absurdity of statistics and data visualisation that brings a vivid and sensual life to the elements – graphs, diagrams and charts.

Against its title the film is anything but median (also with its pulsating sound) and therefore the Jury Grand Prix of Animateka 2020 goes to AVERAGE HAPPINESS by Maja Gehrig.

Awarded for films in the European Young Talents Competition Programme. A monetary award in the amount of €1,000 is presented jointly by the Academy of Fine Arts and Design (University of Ljubljana) and School of Arts (University of Nova Gorica).

Ahead, Ala Nunu Leszyńska, 2019, GB/Portugal, 5’20”

Justification:

The winning film is one of the most touching portrayals of struggles within an unequal relationship. The film convinced us with just enough little bits of visual detail, sounds and story, all tailored together to form a perfect whole. Every aspect was used to its potential and not a single second felt left unused. In our view, it is well-rounded and complete, what we consider an award-worthy film. The European Young Talent: An Academy of Fine Arts and Design (University of Ljubljana) and School of Arts (University of Nova Gorica) Award goes to Ahead by Ala Nunu Leszynska made at the Royal College of Art in London and co-produced by Colectivo Audiovisual in Portugal.

Awarded for films in the Eastern and Central European Competition Programme. A monetary award in the amount of €1,000 is presented by the Slovenian Animated Film Association.

Mud Chronicles, Vuk Palibrk, 2020, Serbia, 9’45”

Awarded for films in the Elephant in Competition programme. A monetary award in the amount of €1,000.

Matilda And the Spare Head, Ignas Meilūnas, 2020, Lithuania, 13’05”

Justification:

This year’s role of a jury member was a bit different and very demanding because we watched the films from home. We watched 19 films, which were all very good, But, in the end, we had to choose only one winner. The winning film features puppets and it also has a message. Do you want to know what it is? It’s that, despite learning, you need to take the time to play because that brightens up your life. But let’s get to the matter at hand. Where were we? Oh, right. The winner is Matilda and the Spare Head.