LINOLEUM International Contemporary Animation and Media Art Festival is the biggest showcase of short independent animation in Ukraine. Launched in 2014 in Kyiv each year the festival screens around 250 films from all over the world, offers workshops and lectures held by the field’s best players and a special program for children. LINOLEUM aims to support animation artists and promote Ukrainian animation worldwide. The objective of the festival is to encourage and celebrate creativity among animators and media artists as well as promote contemporary animation and media art in Ukraine. The festival is organized by Animagrad. In 2021 LINOLEUM will take place online September 1-5 in a hybrid format.

INTERNATIONAL COMPETITION: NATURAL SELECTION  (1.09 16:00 and 2.09 19:00)

Dog’s Field, Michalina Musialik, Poland | 11:48 | 2020

Animals closed in a flat with a decomposing corpse of their owner try to survive. In this difficult situation one of the dogs finds out that love for its owner is stronger than animal instinct.

INTERNATIONAL COMPETITION: AFFAIRS OF THE ART (1.09 19:00 and 5.09 16:00)

Inertness, Jakub Krzyszpin, Poland | 01:11 | 2021

Animation drawn in black & white, in its understated form shows the story of a day full of unfortunate events.

Empty room, Jakub Baniak, Poland | 15:30 | 2020

The film focuses on human relations with the environment. Shows the illusory nature of freedom and the consequences of the decisions made. The viewer observes the action first-person and interprets reality created by main character.

SPECIAL SCREENINGS | O!PLA. FOCUS ON POLAND 2021 (2.09  18:00)

THE BEST OF O!PLA’21 – FOCUS ON POLAND is a unique program presenting the winners of the 9th O!PLA Animation Festival (2021). As always the only Jury at O!PLA was the audience. THE BEST OF O!PLA’21 is an amazing mix of techniques, styles, and emotions showing what in modern Polish animation (O!PLA means „Oh! Polish Animation”, but also: “Oh! People Love Animation”) is the best. Starting off 2013 O!PLA consequently grows in strength, but one thing remains the same independence and passion, which standing behind the O!PLA.

Psotnik in the Glass Trap, Kamil Wójcik, Poland | 02:44 | 2020

The enchanted town hides many attractions at night, but not all of them are here to amuse the guests. So beware because once you plunge into madness, there will be no going back.

Skull, Zuzanna Rogala, Poland | 01:13 | 2020

Buddies, Amelia Baj, Poland | 02:13 | 2020

Story about Why Devil Limps, Kasia Zimnoch, Paweł Kleszczewski, Poland | 05:21 | 2020

A long time ago, God grazed His sheep on paradise pastures. The devil grazing a herd of goats nearby wanted to take the animals from God… The plot of the film was based on a folk etiological fairy tale explaining this extremely important fact in the devil’s life.

Reason, Szymon Ruczyński, Poland | 07:56 | 2020

In a small town, one of the inhabitants is accused of practicing magic. One woman is openly opposed to the spiral of accusations and camouflaged attacks on that woman, but her personal misfortune puts her position to the test.

Pathological Seamstress – Bad Day, Agata Szwarc, Poland | 01:00 | 2020

Short story about seamstress…

Delinsky’s Madness, Kamil Wójcik, Poland | 03:24 | 2020

It is said that when a man shoots, the devil carries bullets. Or is it the other way around? “Projectile Catcher” is a magic trick in which an illusionist catches a bullet fired at him. This is one of the most dangerous tricks. This trick cost the lives of at least 15 illusionists. One of the most drastic cases is the death of the Polish magician Madame DeLinsky, who appeared alongside her husband in 1820 in front of Prince ShwarznbergSonderhausen. This animation is loosely inspired by their tragedy.

My Dear Quarantine, Ewa Maria Wolska, Poland | 05:19 | 2020

My dear quarantine is a simple story about a pandemic a poetic portrayal of a time of isolation, loneliness and boredom.

Blue Monday, Katarzyna Orłowska, Poland | 01:19 | 2020

A short story about Blue Monday…

HIDDEN – Hidden Beams

Martyna Koleniec, Poland | 03:10 | 2020

“How’d you find me / I’ve tried to stay hid? / As that underground kid In crimson tight fits…” – animated music video.

Subway, Robert Kuźniewski, Poland | 05:00 | 2020

The Wicked Never Rests, Nawojka Wierzbowska, Poland | 07:15 | 2020

Bartholmus is the mayor of a medieval coastal city. He is not interested in governance, but he is very fond of people applauding him. One day he learns that all mayors from the surrounding towns have bought new clocks for the town hall. Bartholmus only has a small and ugly clock, so he calls the great sculptor Hans and his helper Heel to the city. Together, they create an unusual clock, the beauty of which turns out to be dangerous.

The Elephant, Dominika Wilkosz, Poland | 06:52 | 2019

How the elephant looks like, everyone sees … And if cannot see? After reading the enigmatic description, the character decides to know for himself what this strange creature actually is. He leaves the familiar, safe space and immerses himself in the hustle and bustle of the street. Finding the way through a busy area is not easy – three colleagues, also blind, join the expedition to support their friend.

Three Jumps to Happiness, Artur Hanaj, Poland | 11:54 | 2020

A black comedy about one evening in the life of several animals. A pair of turtles, a bear, and a monkey – a personal trainer want to find the will to consciously manage their lives.

Green Tree, Filip Szuksztul, Poland | 02:52 | 2020

Created by the 15-years old artist a journey through the world illustrating the problems faced by modern man – the effects of his own activity.

SPECIAL SCREENINGS | 2.09  21:00

Kill It and Leave This Town, Mariusz Wilczyński, Poland | 01:28:00 | 2021

Fleeing from despair after losing those dearest to him, the hero hides in a safe land of memories, where time stands still and all those dear to him are alive.

NON-COMPETITIVE PROGRAMS | LADIES FIRST 5.09  20:00

Housewife

Dominika Wyrobek, Poland | 05:08 | 2021

A woman after a hard day, dreams of a fantasy land. In this place she feels free, like an animal. The next day, she returns to her daily routine, but the world behind the wall tries to get out again.

COMMISSIONED FILMS COMPETITION (3.09 17:00 and 5.09  17:00)

Broadcaster, Wieslawa Ruta, Poland | 05:56 | 2020

Аbstract animated music video for music of UK based band Squid.

EXPERIMENTAL ANIMATION AND VIDEO ART | VAGUE MISGIVINGS (3.09 20:00)

On Time, Zbigniew Czapla, Poland | 05:30 | 2021

Japanese trains. Non-places. Accidental encounters. An intense experience of travel through time and space. From Matsuo Bashō’s haiku to the images of a vanishing world created by Hokusai in Manga catalogues.

NON-COMPETITIVE PROGRAMS | #KILLMEPLEASE PART I (4.09 21:00)

The coming winter, Kamil Wójcik, Poland | 00:55 | 2020

Back in the days, we had winters with this this layer of white on the ground. We used to call it snow.

INTERNATIONAL COMPETITION: ALL THOSE SENSATIONS IN MY BELLY (4.09  16:00 and 5.09 19:00)

My Fat Arse and I, Yelyzaveta Pysmak, Poland | 10:06 | 2020

One morning a girl tries on a pair of new pants, yet they don’t quite fit her. More precisely, they are impossible to zip. The girl is bewildered. In the mirror she sees herself like the fattest piglet the world has seen. She decides to go on a strict diet as quickly as possible. No sweets, no sodas, just water with an occasional lemon.

*Meeting with Tomek Popakul – a member of Jury of International Competition (4.09 at 14:00, Sichovykh Striltsiv St, 23A, Kyiv)

Animation director, musician, graphic designer, music video creator. Graduated Lodz Film School on direction animation and special effects. Paralelly studied there scriptwiritng for 1 year. His graduation movie “Ziegenort” was shown on many international festivals and gained many awards. Movie “Acid Rain” so far gained 35 awards, was shown in around 90 festivals.

Details: linoleumfest.com