We wish to thank all the filmmakers from many countries who submitted their work to the 2024 Seoul Indie-AniFest Asia Road competition. The members of the jury were filled with excitement as we watched the films before they would be seen by our audience.
These animations showed each country’s unique qualities from across the Asia region. Along with films from the Greater China and Central Asia regions, we received films from Southeast Asian countries such as Singapore, Thailand, Myanmar, and the Philippines. Though the films were few, they included works that truly highlighted their nations and made the Asia Road competition shine.
However, this was also a year in which we could feel the cold realities of each country. War is no longer a far-off concern for the future but a current issue that we must live with during our present day and age. This is a time when creativity is a powerful outlet that is all the more important.
There were numerous films based on real-life stories that used the documentary style and narration, offering the chance to explore less known social issues and hear the voices of marginalized people.
In particular, works combining AI and live action footage showed the limitless storytelling possibilities of the medium of animation. At the same time, stop-motion techniques utilizing fresh new materials also caught our attention, presenting unique textures with a powerful visual impact.
Though there is inevitably a difference in scale between big budget films and independent works, our eyes were drawn to works whose excellent stories transcended that difference. The members of the jury strove to look beyond merely “good films” that can appeal to anyone. We looked instead to discover those works that might not please everyone but would surely make a deep impression.
We believe the stories conveyed through animation have a greater strength than we know. We hope that the creative fire burning in your hearts will never go out. And once more we express our gratitude to all those who made submissions to the festival.
Written by Seo Pyoungwon on behalf of the Asia Road preliminary jurors Kaye Lee, Seo Saerom, Seo Pyoungwon
