THE 29TH EDITION OF ANIMAC CLOSES WITH 30,000 SPECTATORS AND CONSOLIDATION AS A BENCHMARK FOR FUTURE PROFESSIONALS

The director, Carolina López, stresses that “the whole professional part has grown”, referring to the significant increase in the number of projects presented at the incubator

The Councillor for Culture, Pilar Bosch, points out that “we have managed to achieve an occupancy rate of almost 90%” and that this figure, together with the number of spectators, “reflects the confidence that the public has in the exhibition”

Animac, the International Animation Film Festival of Catalonia, organised by Lleida City Council, closed its 29th edition with more than 30,000 people who enjoyed a programme focused on our relationship with the animal kingdom under the slogan “We, Animals” from 20 to 23 February. A total of 226 films were shown: 7 feature films, 5 films and 214 short films, including 5 world premieres, 67 premieres in Spain, 50 in Catalonia and 3 international premieres.

The Councillor for Culture, Pilar Bosch, highlighted the excellent reception of the edition, noting that “we have once again managed to achieve an occupancy rate close to 90%” and that this figure, together with the participation of around 30,000 spectators, reflects the confidence that the public places in the festival. He insisted that animated film is much more than a children’s medium, since “it has all the possibilities of telling stories full of sensitivity and tenderness”, which makes it a space capable of connecting with all ages. He also praised the diversity of the programme, which combines international premieres and screenings with innovative initiatives adapted to different needs, reaffirming the event’s commitment as a cultural benchmark of excellence in the world of animation.

For her part, Carolina López, the festival’s director, stressed that this edition was exceptional both in terms of content and the quality of the proposals. She stressed that “the whole professional part has grown”, referring to the significant increase in the number of projects presented in the Incubator, which has consolidated the Festival as a key space for future talent.

The festival director also expressed her satisfaction with the presence of a large number of international guests, adding that the public response was so enthusiastic that in some cases “there were people who couldn’t even get in”, as was the case with Jordi Solanes’ masterclass. In addition, this year Animac has expanded its offer with an increase in parallel activities in cultural centres, which has helped to reach a more diverse audience and strengthen the festival’s presence in different spaces around the city. This professional impulse, which is particularly evident in the Incubator, reflects Animac’s constant commitment to innovation and quality in the world of animation.

Animacrea family workshops

Today, Sunday, the Animacrea family workshops will take place all day long, with activities such as watercolour illustration, handmade bookbinding, screen printing on fabric and fanzine creation. On the last day, the feature film The Storm will be shown as part of the Animac Anime section.

Presentation of the Lifetime Achievement Award to Javier Mariscal

The closing ceremony of Animac 2025 will culminate in the presentation of the Lifetime Achievement Award to Javier Mariscal, in recognition of his influence in the world of animation and graphic design. The creator of iconic characters such as Cobi, the mascot of the Barcelona 92 Olympic Games, and co-director with Fernando Trueba of Chico y Rita (2010) and They Shot the Piano Player (2023), Mariscal is being honoured for his ability to combine art, design and animation in a unique and recognisable style. Chico y Rita was the first Spanish animated film to be nominated for an Oscar.

Before the award ceremony, Mariscal will give the Vivir dibujando masterclass, in which he will explain his multidisciplinary career.

His work in animation includes the acclaimed feature films Chico y Rita (2010) and Dispararon al Pianista (2023), both co-directed with Fernando Trueba. Chico y Rita, created mainly at Estudio Mariscal, founded in Barcelona in 1989, was the first Spanish animated film to be nominated for an Oscar. He has also applied his unique drawings to series such as Twipsy and Acuarinto, experimenting with the digital technologies of the time. Cobi, the original and popular mascot of the Barcelona 92 Olympic Games, also had his own animated series, along with other characters such as Petra, the Paralympic mascot. In addition, during the exhibition, the Open Screen room showed fragments of his work, as well as a special selection of works related to his career.

The last screening of Animac 2025 will be the feature film Dispararon al pianista (They Shot the Piano Player), co-directed by Javier Mariscal and Fernando Trueba, which will close the four days of the festival, a reference event in the world of animation.