The “Homegrown” shorts programme that opened GIRAF-18 set the tone for our experience of this festival. The films were diverse in their themes and styles, but all of them demonstrated creative risk-taking. Following the screening, the long row of artists who came to the stage included emerging animators debuting their first films, seasoned animators credited as mentors by others, and internationally recognized filmmakers showcasing their latest work. We were struck by GIRAF’s embrace of animation as an inclusive and community-centered art form. We were grateful to be welcomed into this community and left inspired by its energy and collaborative spirit.

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With such a diverse and high quality group of films, it felt like it would be a true challenge getting three people together to pick animations that represented the best of the festival this year. I had visions of us trapped in jurors’ limbo, the three of us in a small digital room, fighting and debating the merits and detriments of the year’s animations, sweaty and exhausted, emerging days or even weeks later and still having not come to a conclusion. Thankfully, this was not the case at all. Being part of this jury was such a pleasure, and discussing these films a true privilege. In the end it was just three people speaking passionately to the films that spoke to them personally. Congrats to the Filmmakers as their work was a pleasure to witness.

 

- Arielle McCuaig, Alla Gadassik & Evan DeRushie