TAF 10 is coming!
The “10th Thessaloniki Animation Festival” is organized by AddArt in collaboration with the Municipality of Thessaloniki and the Ministry of Culture. It will take place from October 17 to October 30, 2024. The in-person part of the festival will be held at the Thessaloniki Port from October 17 to 21, while the online segment will be available on the digital platform tafestival.gr from October 22 to 30.
At Warehouse D, attendees will enjoy a highly festive programme as we celebrate our tenth edition this year! Our schedule includes virtual reality experiences, game showcases, international and national animation competitions, special tributes, an Oscar-winning feature film, talks, masterclasses, and much more.
Additionally, the well-established Balkan Animation Pitching Forum will take place for the fifth consecutive year, connecting creators with producers and the festival itself. On Saturday and Sunday mornings, we will dedicate our program to young audiences with TAF Kids. Finally, on Friday and Monday, October 18 & 21, the festival will welcome school classes to enjoy selected films with diverse themes suitable for children, along with other educational activities.
Presentation & play test of the gaming πλατφόρμας “Couch Heroes”
Couch Heroes introduces a new type of Social Networking Platform that highlights the untapped potential of gaming. The creator of Couch Heroes, Vardis Vardinogiannis, will be with us to present this massive online social platform on stage. Players will be able to connect with others who share the same passion and love for gaming, while also enjoying brand-new achievements and rewards from their favorite games.
A day at the ancient Acropolis of Athens | Chronoscope VR
Young and old alike will have the opportunity to explore the wonders of ancient history like never before with “A Day at the Ancient Acropolis of Athens” – an interactive virtual reality experience designed by Chronoscope VR. This immersive journey, guided by Chronoscope VR’s creator, George Zestanakis, offers a unique blend of education and exploration, allowing festival visitors to walk the historic paths, admire the architectural masterpieces, and experience the daily life of Athens during its golden age, all from the comfort of a VR headset.
The Oscar Winning film ‘The Boy and the Heron’ by Hayao Miyazaki is coming to TAF 10
As we celebrate our 10th anniversary, our goal was to enrich our festival with more activities, special tributes, and by adding a feature-length film to this year’s program. We couldn’t imagine a more iconic way to do this than by honoring a true master of the craft, Hayao Miyazaki, who has shaped the art of animation with his storytelling and design, creating a magical universe that has been a refuge for so many. Our audience will have the opportunity to enjoy, with free admission, his latest Oscar-winning film** during this year’s TAF.
Tribute to International Animation Festivals
TAF, in collaboration with the Etiuda & Anima International Film Festival, presents the project “Polish School of Animation: Male Eye, Female Heart” to the Thessaloniki audience, with the support of the Ministry of Culture and National Heritage of Poland and the Polish Film Institute. The block will be introduced by artists Konrad Głąbek and Emilia Gondek. Additionally, TAF joins forces with the Pixelatl Guadalajara Festival, the most popular meeting point for creators in Latin America. Our audience will have the pleasure of watching a special tribute featuring films that celebrate Latin America’s contribution to animation.
“That’s What She Said”: A Tribute to Female Creators
The Animation Festival Network is a network that connects five leading animation festivals from Central and Eastern Europe (CEE): Animafest Zagreb (Croatia), Anifilm (Czech Republic), Fest Anča (Slovakia), Animest (Romania), and Animateka (Slovenia). The Program Directors of these festivals emphasize the importance of female voices in the animation industry by presenting a specially curated collection of exceptional works by women and femininities from the most recent editions of the AFN member festivals. Prior to the screening of this specific block, a panel of female creators—guests of the festival—will discuss and share their insights and experiences regarding the presence of women in the animation industry.
A tribute to Human Rights
As every year, this year we will also have a special tribute titled “Humans Rights Animated,” with the continued support of Select Respect, a network of civil society organizations dedicated to the protection and advocacy of human rights, which will organize screenings to promote this message. The member organizations of this network are responsible for showcasing the winning film in this category, and a representative from them will announce the result on the night of the awards ceremony.
The 5th Balkan Animation Pitching Forum of TAF 10 is coming
For the fifth consecutive year, TAF continues the successful “Balkan Animation Forum,” its initiative for animated films, series, and new media, including virtual and augmented reality, aimed at distribution, television broadcasting, and artistic exhibition. Participants in the Pitching Forum will have the opportunity to discuss and present their projects during the Pitching session in front of a jury composed of expert producers from around the world.
Thanks to the invaluable support of the Greek Film Center, Audiovisual Media and Creation (Creative Greece, former EKOME), the Film Office (Central Macedonia Region), ASIFA Hellas, and the award-winning animation software company TOON BOOM, the winning projects will receive cash prizes and licenses for Toon Boom’s Storyboard Pro 24 and Harmony programs. We are proud to announce that a new partner, XPPen, will sponsor the first two winners with an Artist Pro 16 (Gen 2).
International Competition and Award Ceremony
TAF, remaining true to its character as a festival, will present a multidimensional program of short animated film screenings, as it does every year. The competitive program will conclude on Sunday, October 20, followed by the awards ceremony (1st, 2nd, and 3rd place awards, Storytelling Award, Student Award, Best Greek Production Award, Select Respect/Human Rights Award, and more). Due to the anniversary nature of this year’s event, all winners will receive a free subscription for the use of Storyboard Pro or Harmony software from TOON BOOM!
