BORIVOJ DOVNIKOVIĆ BORDO, Born in 1930, Osijek. Attended high school in Belgrade and moved to Zagreb in 1949, to study at the Academy of Fine Arts while working as a newspaper cartoonist and illustrator. In the early 1950s, he joined a group of cartoonists who were trying to produce the first Croatian artistic cartoon film, “The Big Meeting” (1950-51), which marked the beginning of the internationally renowned Zagreb School of Animated Films. He also participated in efforts to produce new animated film as a designer & animator. In 1958, he joined the newly founded Animation Studio at Zagreb film as a designer and animator and in 1961 he began to make his own films. Over the next thirty years, his films won awards at numerous international film festivals. Since 1995, he has received a series of local and international awards for his contribution to Croatian/Yugoslav films and animation. Retrospective presentations of his films were held in many cities and at a number of festivals, including Zagreb School retrospectives. In 1983, he published a book entitled “How to Make Cartoon” which was translated to French in 2000. He has been envolved in the organization of the world festival of animated films in Zagreb since its very beginning in 1972, first as a member of the festival council and the steering committee, and from 1979 as the chairman of the steering committee. From 1985 to 1991, he was the festival director, and at Zagreb 2000 he was the festival’s artistic advisor. From 1977 to 1982 he was active as a member of the board of ASIFA, the International Association of Animated Films and from 1994 to 2000 he served as its secretary general.

ALEXEY ALEXEEV was born in Moscow in 1965. After his graduation as a rocket engineer from Moscow High Technical University in 1988 he studied animation in famous Moscow animation studio Pilot, where later he was working as animator and director.In 1993 he graduated Moscow’s film University VGIK as film director. From 1996 until 2003 he was working at Varga Studio in Budapest on many TV series and pilots, including Mr.Bean animation episodes where he was Series Director. From 2004 he has been Creative Director of Studio Baestarts in Budapest. He also works as director, designer, scriptwriter, composer and editor. His animated shorts have won more then 70 prizes and Grand Prix in festivals around the world including most prestigious Annecy (France) 2008 and 2009 Grand-Prix for best TV series, Animamundi (Brazil), Hiroshima (Japan), New York (USA), AnimaMardrid (Spain), Anifest (Czech), CICDAF and XIAMEN (China), Seoul (Korea), Monstra (Portugal) and others and including Russian festivals like Open Russian Animation Festival Suzdal 2009 (4 prizes: for best TV series, Best sound track, Tatarsky prize and Professional choice) and Suzdal 2010 – Grand Prix and position of President of the festival, International animated film festival KROK 2009 (prize for best series and audience award),was nominated for so-called European Oscar BAFTA 2010 (UK) Alexey was working in selection commissions and was invited as Jury member in more then 25 International festivals including Annecy(France), Karlovy Vari (Czech), Utrecht (Holland), Hiroshima (Japan), KROK (Russia), Orlenok (Russia), Stuttgart (Germany), Zagreb (Croatia), Planete Doc (Poland), Anilogue (Hungary-Austria), Anifest (Czech), Cortoons (Italy) etc. Alexey is also invited as a lecturer to many events and European Film schools like Viborg (Denmark), Luzerne (Switzerland) and others. Based on his recent short ‘KJFG No.5’ Alexey produced the animation series ‘Log Jam’ (at Studio Baestarts in co-production with Nickelodeon UK) which has been sold to Nickelodeon International for worldwide and Canal Plus France. Alexey works with students, makes international master-classes, presentations and acts as creative consultant for different projects and studios around Europe.

ANNA SOLANAS has been working in the world of puppet animation for 9 years, shooting hand by hand with Marc Riba. They have made 6 short films which have been selected in more than 700 festivals around the world, winning 100 prizes. Through their production company, I+G Stop Motion, created in 2005, they are currently developing a new tv serie entitled, Triton, the Little Wizard, the pilot episode of which was aired in winter 2010. They are also developing a feature-lenght film, Errònia. They have found, and with each production developed, their own inimitable style, portraying a world full of misfits and rebels. They pay special attention to the complex and contradictory universe inhabited by children, where innocence, imagination and ingenuity remain inextricably entwined with cruelty, selfishness and petty obsession. The powerful theme of sexuality also features in their work, ever present in our lives and certainly in that of children, from a very early age.

WINNER IN COMPETITION OF SHORT ANIMATED FILMS

WING AND OARS / Vladimir Leschiov, Latvija

SPECIAL MENTION IN COMPETITION OF SHORT ANIMATED FILMS

[R] / Bianco-Levrin Nicolas, Francuska

For its social explanation of a conflict between personality and society made in a simple and original way.

SWIMMING POOL / Alexandra Hetmerova, Češka Republika

For the refreshing perspective on a well-known story delivered in a unique way.

TECLOPOLIS / Javier Mrad, Cuba

For creating an alternate reality through innovative usage of computer components in opposition to fabric objects.