Baku, September 12, AZERTAC

The 20th edition of the World Festival of Animated Film (WFAF) was unveiled in Varna, reports the Bulgarian News Agency (BTA). More than 70 titles in 7 categories will be shown at the Festival and Congress Centre in the coastal city until September 15.

As usual, the forum is showing horror films in separate categories. It also offers children's titles for the youngest viewers. Apart from the international line-up, the festival also has a selection of Bulgarian animations created in the last two years. The programme includes lectures and meetings with guests of the festival, as well as the annual exhibition of student art of the graduates of New Bulgarian University. In addition, this year posters of films that have won Grand Prix over the years will be presented.

On the occasion of the 20th anniversary of WFAF, this year the jury is composed of Grand Prix winners over the years.

Opening the festival, Vice President Iliana Iotova said that the spirit of animation is freedom and this art brings together free people who dream together about new ideas. "I am sure that every time one watches an animated film, one becomes wiser," said the Vice President. Iotova congratulated all those who have restored the festival, because the organizers and supporters of this art go through many obstacles, and sometimes it is harder to restore something than to create it from scratch. "In the next few days we are going to experience a great but at the same time special and very interesting art. Here there will be an opportunity to exchange experiences, talk about modern visions and the penetration of the latest technologies. Our task, however, is to preserve the human and the humanity in the art of animation," said the Vice President.

Prof. Anri Kulev, organizer of the forum, said that the creation of an animation festival in Varna was a revelation for Bulgarian artists and viewers. In his words, it turned out to be in the prestigious quartet of world animation among the forums in Ottawa, Zagreb and Annecy and it was an extraordinary achievement and a great success. He took the audience back to the 1970s, when, in his words, Bulgarian animation already had a serious face in Europe and the world. He listed those he considers the fathers of animation in Bulgaria, namely Todor Dinov, Donyo Donev, Ivan Vesselinov, Stoyan Dukov, Zdenka Doycheva, Hristo Topuzanov, as well as the directors of the festival, Orlin Filipov and Hristo Tsachev.

The opening ceremony was also attended by the Deputy Mayor of Varna, Pavel Popov, who said that he has always liked animated cinema very much. In his words, it ensures the fall of the limits of imagination and the limitations created by power.

The Festival received a congratulatory address from caretaker Minister of Culture Nayden Todorov reading that the forum brings together the best of Bulgarian and world animation. Although it has a break in its history, today is proof that art is vital for our development as a talented nation. According to the Culture Minister, it is particularly exciting that this year's participants are filmmakers who took part in the first edition.

Animators Bruno Bozzetto, who won the festival's first Grand Prix in 1979, and Jiri Barta sent video messages for the 20th edition.