What happens when desire takes the wheel, rebellion refuses to be tamed, and love - sweet, obsessive, surreal love - keeps coming back for more?
LOVE, RAGE, REPEAT, curated by Animest Romania for Animocje Festival, proposes a vibrant ride through the emotional extremes of animated storytelling. Playful, sensual, absurd and heartfelt, this selection brings together bold European voices who aren’t afraid to turn feelings inside out.
Together, these films spin through obsession, rivalry, vulnerability, fantasy, and defiance. They explore what drives us toward one another, and what pushes us over the edge. Because sometimes we love, sometimes we rage, and sometimes we do it all over again!
CONTENT INFORMATION
Before the screening, we encourage viewers to review the list of themes addressed in the films. Some of them may be sensitive or challenging for certain audiences.
Themes may include:
nudity, erotic content, physical violence, blood, flashing lights
Suggested audience age:
16+
Cyclists, dir. Veljko Popović, Croatia 2018, 7’ 19’’
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 fighting for the affection of a lady and fulfillment of their erotic fantasies. Meanwhile, the small port town prepares for the arrival of a large ocean liner and its dashing captain. Inspired by the art of Vasko Lipovac.
Deep Water, dir. Anna Dudko, Ukraine 2021, 6’
A lonely chubby mermaid is keen on peeking at people through the water pipelines using magic. One day she falls in love with a man and, blinded by passion, shows up in his apartment to satisfy her burning desires.
Goodbye Jérôme!, dir. Adam Sillard, Gabrielle Selnet, Chloé Farr, France 2021, 7’44’’
Having just arrived in paradise, Jerome sets out to find his wife Maryline. In the course of his search, he sinks into a surreal and colourful world in which no one seems to be able to help him.
Amélia & Duarte, dir. Alice Guimarães, Mónica Santos, Portugal, Germany 2015, 9’
What if there was a place where we could revisit the memories of a relationship? In this archive of remembrances we are guided through the story of Amélia and Duarte, two people that fell out of love and are trying to cope with the feelings that come after a relationship has ended. Their loss was so deep that they tried to divide, wrap, cut, torn and ultimately erase all recollections of each other…
My Tiger, dir. Jean-Jean Arnoux, France 2022, 14’
Mister K works hard for Pastagel, a big company peddling a miraculous product to keep your hair fabulous all day long. Desperate to look like his colleagues, M. K does his best to look clean and sharp but infuriatingly his curly hair just doesn’t stay in place... But deep inside, isn’t he just like his hair, a little too rebellious
Sweet Dreams, dir. Maria Zilli, Sara Priorelli, Italy 2022, 5’
Sweet Dreams is a dark comedy set in a remote motel where a housekeeper is stuck doing her monotonous job. Sick of constantly being humiliated by her co-workers and the motel’s guests, she eventually is overcome by a need for revenge and loses control.
Pentola, dir. Leo Černic, Italy 2022, 7’12’’
“It’s not so easy to be a hero. But you, Pentola, you are my superhero.”
Sierra, dir. Sander Joon, Estonia 2022, 15’57’’
Father and his son are losing the folkrace. In order to win, a boy turns himself into a car tire. Loosely inspired by the director's childhood, Sierra pulls us into the surreal car racing world.
Screening curated by Ligia Soare and Mihai Mitrică
Ligia Soare is a cultural manager who has been working in the world of film festivals for over two decades. She is part of the founding team of Animest International Animation Film Festival (2006), the only Oscar-qualifying film festival in Romania. Head of international relations, programmer, in charge of the education and accessibility, Ligia is actively involved in each festival edition. In terms of programming, Ligia mainly focuses on films and connected activities for young audiences, as well as means of including audiovisual education in school. As regards promotion of European films and innovative ways of building audiences, Ligia is involved in the projects of AFN – the Animation Festival Network, a European alliance of festivals with similar goals and visions. Ligia also works with cultural organizations, film festivals, producers and distributors, as an accomplished audiovisual translator of films and screenplays, and as a screen translation trainer. Her recent interests and Master’s studies focus on cultural accessibility. Ligia is the initiator of a series of inclusive cinema events, educational projects and professional training for cultural managers and festival organisers, and has delivered presentations and masterclasses in accessibility practices in Romania and abroad.
Mihai Mitrică is the co-founder and the director of Animest, the animation film festival based in Bucharest. Animest is the only Oscar-qualifying film festival in Romania, with follow-ups and special editions in various cities of Romania and the Republic of Moldova. Mihai is a short film selector for various international festivals, his main areas being animation, Romanian short film and horror film. He curates animation programmes for cinema events, promotes Romanian film in markets such as MIFA Annecy and Clermont-Ferrand, and has been invited as a jury member in festivals around the world. Since 2014, Mihai has been a freelance producer of animation short films, working with some of the best representatives of the new generation of Romanian animators. His most recent (co)productions with Safe Frame Studio include: Cradle by Paul Mureșan – selected in over 100 international festivals; Amok by Balázs Turai – winner of the Annecy Cristal and of the Heart of Sarajevo award; Simply Divine by Mélody Boulissière and Bogdan Stamatin – winner of Audience Award Mephisto 97.6 at DOK Leipzig and of a Special Mention at IDFA Amsterdam.
Animest Bucharest International Animation Film Festival, Romania
Founded in 2006, Animest is an international animation film festival held annually in Bucharest and the largest event in Romania dedicated exclusively to animated film. It features international and national competitions, curated programs, workshops, and professional training activities. Winners of the Animest Trophy and Romanian Competition qualify for the Academy Awards®, making it the only Romanian festival with this status. Beyond the annual edition, Animest runs year-round projects for children, students, filmmakers, and women in animation, while promoting cultural accessibility. Internationally, it organizes Animest Chișinău and is a founding member of the Animation Festival Network (AFN).
