■ 독립보행/새벽비행 본선심사 총평

The members of the jury greatly enjoyed the chance to see the films made by emerging artists and long-time animation directors at Indie-AniFest 2018. We are grateful to all of the animation filmmakers who granted us this wonderful opportunity. We were impressed by the boldness and confidence of new directors and the skill and tenacity of experienced filmmakers. The members of the jury examined each film for its message, aesthetic quality, and the broadness of its entertainment appeal to a wide audience. We confess that the number of films that touched our hearts exceeded the number of awards available. Although only some of the films will receive an award, we wish to applaud all of the directors whose films were shown at Indie-AniFest 2018.

본선심사위원 연상호, 유정주, 한병아, 그라우스그루버 발트라우트, 커스틴 레포어를 대표하여 연상호 씀

■ 대상 ‘인디의 별’

[겨털소녀 김붕어 The Armpit Hair Girl] 정다히, 권영서 JEONG Dahee, KWON Youngseo

This coming-of-age story showed an exceptional amount of humor and heart and was unanimously loved by the judges. In addition to being a well crafted film with a clear and concise plot, we appreciated its message of body positivity, which was presented in a way we had never seen before. Something that might be considered shameful was instead turned into our protagonist's superpower, creating a twist that was unexpected and wonderfully absurd.

본선심사위원 커스틴 레포어

■ 독립보행상

[지옥문 Hell Gate] 김일현 KIM Ilhyun

This film takes the commonly used theme of “hell” and reimagines it with its own unique visual style. The main character’s struggles against the absurd contradictions of his plight create a compelling drama in the film’s short running time. A high aesthetic quality and solid storytelling are combined in this outstanding film.

본선심사위원 유정주

■ 새벽비행상

김정현 KIM Junghyun

This outrageous film is a visual feast of texture and sensuality. From the very first moment, tension can be felt in the small, wordless universe. The highly symbolic visual language reveals multiple layers of meaning. Biscuits turn into erotic symbols, and the viewer participates in the exploration of erotic desire. This film captures the curiosity of a child that discovers the sexuality of the parents. The power of this outstanding film lies in its brilliant synthesis of image, story, and sound, culminating in its strong ending.

본선심사위원 그라우스그루버 발트라우트

■ 심사위원 특별상

[춤추는 개구리 Dancing Frog] 김진만 KIM Jinman

This film has a strong energy in its unconventional style and scenes that are unlike anything we have imagined. The director of the film always looks for new and unfamiliar approaches. His adventurousness and unique sensibilities exemplify the explorative qualities of Korean independent animation. This is a film that makes the audience look forward to the director’s next destination.

본선심사위원 한병아

■ 초록이상

[요괴진격도 Monster's Picture] 박세홍

This film truly stood out from the rest in many ways and sparked a lot of conversation from the judges. It's subversion of Samurai movie tropes and unusual humor broke the silence and kept the audience guessing at every turn. And although there were many comical moments, from a technical standpoint we were impressed by the ambitious craft of its puppets and props. Overall, we felt that the film's uniqueness warranted a debut prize.

본선심사위원 커스틴 레포어

■ 음악사운드 부문 특별상

[YUTOPIA 유토피아] 전세리 JEON Seri

The recipient of this year’s music and sound prize is a film that skillfully uses both music and sound effects within a finite visual frame. The film’s music walks in step with the striking imagery to heighten the viewer’s emotional experience. The result is an animated film that offers a new and original aesthetic.

본선심사위원 연상호

■ KIAFA 특별상

[소녀에게 For Her] 김준기 KIM Junki

Thank you for this important opportunity to select the winner of the KIAFA Special Prize from the Korean films in competition at this year’s Indie-AniFest.

The members of the jury discussed the meaning and values of the prize to help guide our selection. We agreed that the prize should be awarded to the work that shows an enduring passion for independent animation, which is what the association strives for.

An artist’s creative world can be weighed by how they reflect the real world in their work. There were many other outstanding films, but the members of the jury agreed that this film could not have been made without the spirit and conviction of a director who recognizes that the past is not a shameful memory to be forgotten but is connected to the issues of our present and future. He is a director who shows an earnest desire for a resolution to a painful history.

This film deals with a highly sensitive and divisive issue between the neighboring countries of Korea and Japan with the hope for a genuine and formal redress for crimes against humanity. Towards that end, it does not rely on outbursts of emotion from individuals or institutions. Instead, this animated documentary uses objective historical research and the testimony of survivors to transport us back in time to an important moment 70 years in the past, offering a glimpse into a chilling scene of brutality.

We hope that the stories and feelings of remorse conveyed through the film are not forgotten but find their way to the women and girls of that time and move the conscience toward a genuine resolution. KIAFA dedicates this prize to the passion and spirit of the director that brought us the last of this trilogy of films.

KIAFA 특별상 심사위원 나기용

■ 독립/새벽 관객상 ‘축제의 별’

[춤추는 개구리 Dancing Frog] 김진만 KIM Jinman

■ 아시아로 부문 본선심사 총평

Animation is a playful yet powerful medium for storytelling. It’s a way for us to show one another worlds of perspective. The congregation of an audience, of witnesses in a collective space allows us to encounter worlds of possibility together. Indie-AniFest is a festival that challenges and also brings to light important issues of our time. This year, we had the honour of seeing artful abstractions, technical brilliance and moving stories of resistance and resilience. Each film offered us insight. Each film showed us the courage and power of creativity. It was very difficult to select only two films to be awarded. We hope the creators and animators find strength in the support they have received during their time at the festival. It has been an incredible pleasure to bear witness and receive the warmth of care from those who cherish the art of animation. We thank each person who has contributed and shown their passion.

김상화, 한지원, 샤이스타 라티프를 대표하여 샤이스타 라티프 씀

■ 아시아로 대상

[바다까지 5분] 미르조얀 나탈리아 Natalia MIRZOYAN

This film uses a delightful visual style with striking transitions against a white background to show people enjoying the sea in their own ways and a child who wants to get out of the mother's grasp to play in the water. When we watch the child waiting impatiently, we can’t help but smile as we experience a moment that seems to stretch into eternity. But when we finally arrive at the longed for sea, the point of view shifts to two elderly characters standing in the middle of the ocean. In a surprising turn, the director’s seemingly playful and lighthearted portrayal of an everyday moment reveals a perspective about "time" that is not all fun and games.

Sometimes, minutes and seconds can feel like an eternity. But at times we look at each other having grown old and marvel at how quickly time has passed. Time can feel like an eternity, or pass by in a flash. The deceptiveness and relativity of time is warmly expressed with an insight as brilliant as the shore that is seen in the film.

본선심사위원 한지원

■ 아시아로 심사위원 특별상

[한로 A Fly in the Restaurant] 첸 시, 안 수 Xi CHEN, Xu AN

We always aim for something new, in all things in our everyday lives.

Regarding social systems and creative endeavors, trying to be new reflects a filmmaker’s dedication to dreaming and striving for a better world. The artist turns his gaze to places of marginalization and oppression. After long contemplation, he makes his statement through the language of animation.

The old saying goes that there is nothing new under the sun. The practice of Chinese shadow puppetry was once the vehicle through which cultural histories, social beliefs, oral traditions, and regional customs were transmitted and shared, all while entertaining the audience. Similarly, this distinguished film uses the medium of animation to make us reflect deeply upon ourselves in the present. Whether it is intended or not, that tradition is part of a living heritage. The visual composition and singular use of the color red are symbols of the imagination which, in a way, is a clear personal statement.

By creating a scene that rotates in a counter-clockwise direction, the film works against our expectations. Meanwhile, the numerous characters and objects in the scene are bursting with stories. In the third rotation, the effort to catch a fly only causes the Chinese character for “NOT” to fall from the wall. Meanwhile, the scene outside is turning in a clockwise direction, as if hoping that this movement will bring a sense of rightness to the people.

 본선심사위원 김상화

■ 아시아로 관객상

[나의 어린 양 My Little Goat] 미사토 토모키 Misato TOMOKI

■ 관객심사단상

[지옥문 Hell Gate] 김일현 KIM Ilhyun

The audience jury would like to applaud all of the films that participated in Indie-AniFest 2018. Selecting the winner of this prize was not an easy task. We carefully considered the films and their qualities – their visual delight, methods of expression, and ability to entertain a wide audience with the artist’s unique imagination.

This film was compelling for its original style and comic humor which deliver a sobering criticism of a hellish society. Its concise story had a profound message and deep values that grabbed the audience's attention. The narrative is constructed by a relay of characters that builds a sense of rhythm and makes their contrasts more striking. The director’s free and creative approach to animation could be seen in the twisted movements of these characters. Most importantly, the film communicates clearly with the audience with striking visuals that are a pleasure to behold. We wish to give our earnest thanks to the director for the passion that was poured into this film.

관객심사위원단 김희라, 유수미, 유수민, 윤정석 이장욱, 최슬기를 대표하여 김희라 씀