Category: News

24.08.2026

Festival Jury 2026

We are honoured to welcome Anita Killi, Alexander Gratzer and Thomas Volda to this year’s TAFF jury. Bringing together three acclaimed animation filmmakers and artists from across Europe, this year’s jury will select the winners of TAFF’s International Competition and celebrate the year’s most remarkable animated short films. Here they are!

Anita Killi

Anita Killi is the founder of Trollfilm and one of Norway’s leading voices in animation. She studied animation in Volda and at the Oslo National Academy of the Arts, graduating in 1996 with a specialization in multi-plan animation. In 2020, she became a member of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences (AMPAS). Working with handcrafted cutouts and stop-motion, she has developed a distinctive poetic-lyrical language – inspired by Yuri Norstein – to tell socially engaged stories for children and families, addressing themes such as domestic violence, war, cancer, sibling incest and parentification. Her acclaimed films, including Tornehekken (2001) and Angry Man (2009), the most awarded film in the world in 2010, have won over 100 international awards. She is currently preparing her first animated feature film, Christmas Survivors.

Alexander Gratzer

Alexander Gratzer is an animation director and artist from Austria. His short films, including Espresso, Museum Guard, Apfelmus and In the Upper Room, have screened internationally and received numerous awards. He holds a diploma in painting from the University of Applied Arts in Vienna and a Master in Animation from Moholy-Nagy University of Art and Design in Budapest. Combining humour with an interest in human behaviour, relationships and inner worlds, his hand-drawn work explores the contradictions and absurdities of everyday life through dialogue and small gestures When he is not making films, he spends a considerable amount of time in saunas.

Thomas Volda

Thomas Volda is a British-born animation film director and multidisciplinary artist based in Croatia, working primarily in stop-motion animation. A graduate of the University of Wales Institute Cardiff, and the Academy of Fine Arts in Zagreb, Together with his partner Ivana Volda the couple have written, co-directed and animated several animated short films. Their distinctive work blends handcrafted animation with experimental visual storytelling, exploring themes of memory, nature, perception, and the human condition. Their films including Simulacra, Imbued Life, and Remember How I Used to Ride a White Horse, have been screened internationally at major animation festivals and received numerous awards. Alongside filmmaking, Thomas is a multidisciplinary artist often combining animation and performance art disciplines in his work, he has created puppet animation performances at numerous international festivals and galleries across Europe.

Join us in TAFF and meet the Jury at the festival on 26–30 August!

16.07.2026

TAFF Pro 2026: Animated to Life 26.–28.8.2025

TAFF Pro brings together Finnish and international animation artists as well as professionals from related fields. The program consists of talks, presentations, and panel discussions, as well as film screenings. TAFF Pro promotes the vitality of the animation industry and offers new ideas and contacts to industry professionals and students.

This year, TAFF Pro focuses on bringing objects to life and object manipulation. The program offers fascinating perspectives from professionals in stop-motion animation and puppetry on how movement, storytelling, and the magical bringing to life of inanimate characters create a connection between these art forms. The entire TAFF Pro program is suitable for both professionals and students in the fields of animation and puppetry.

We are organizing TAFF Pro in collaboration with Aura of Puppets, a network of puppetry professionals. Based in Turku, Aura of Puppets brings together the top Finnish talents in the field, advances the art form, and promotes contemporary puppetry in Finland and abroad. Our other partner is the Turku Arts Academy at Turku University of Applied Sciences. The Turku Arts Academy not only offers top-tier education in animation in Finland but also part-time studies in puppetry as part of its theater directing program.

Program

Portfolio coaching opens the program

On Wednesday, TAFF Pro is organizing an animation portfolio coaching event in collaboration with the animation program at the Turku Academy of Arts. Participants selected for the portfolio clinic will receive expert guidance on developing their portfolios. The portfolio clinic is a request from the animation industry, and as a festival dedicated to advancing the field, we want to respond to it.

Does your portfolio need some polishing? we’ve now opened additional spots for portfolio coaching. Read more and sign up here:

Masterclass: Thomas Volda – Breathing the Inanimate to Life

On Thursday, director Thomas Volda (UK/CRO) offers an insight into the creative and practical process of making puppet films through his award-winning stop-motion films made in with his artistic partner, Ivana Volda. Drawing on his experience in stop-motion animation, Volda explores storytelling, visual development, puppet performance, and the expressive possibilities of handcrafted filmmaking. Through examples from his own films and production process, participants will gain a deeper understanding of how animation can transform inanimate materials into compelling cinematic worlds.

Masterclass: Anna Ivanova – From the Puppet’s Perspective

Puppet theater expert and director Anna Ivanova (FR) brings the perspective of a puppeteer to the theme of how the inanimate becomes alive. Anna has years of experience in various puppet theatre productions, most recently she has delved into baby theatre.

Nanna Mäkinen & Anni Oja – Laboratorio 

The theme of “Animated to Life” is explored in greater depth in the workshop LABORATORIO, led by puppet maker Nanna Mäkinen and animator Anni Oja. The workshop explores how puppet theater and stop-motion animation can be used to bring puppets, materials, and objects to life. Both the instructors and participants will bring their own perspectives and expertise to the table to create short experiments. Participants are welcome to bring along any (small) objects that interest them. The workshop’s experiments will be filmed using the participants’ own devices, such as a smartphone and the free Stop Motion Studio app.

Register for the workshop via this link:

Masterclass: Anita Killi – MasterGlass

This year’s TAFF jury member, director and screenwriter Anita Killi (NOR) will introduce you to her fascinating world of stop-motion and multiplane animation. Killi founded the film studio Trollfilm in 1995 and has written and directed several award-winning films.

Masterclass: Ishmael Falke – Material narratives & objects’ objectives

A puppeteer’s perspective on storytelling is offered by puppeteer and performance artist Ishmael Falke, whose international career centers on the stories told by materials and spaces, the redefinition of the body, and the deconstruction and reconstruction of old and familiar stories.

Discussion: Animated to Life: The Difference Between Story and Movement

In a discussion moderated by Tatu Pohjavirta, Falke and Claus Gladyszak (NOR), a producer at the Norwegian company Trollfilm, explore two different ways of bringing inanimate material to life: the three-dimensional world of puppets and the layered expression of multiplane work. The discussion will explore the common expressive techniques of these handmade, material-driven art forms and their approaches to addressing both everyday and challenging topics, as a counterpoint to computer-generated and AI-based content.

TAFF Pro Classics: Animated to Life

Friday’s TAFF Pro program concludes with the TAFF Pro Classics special screening, for which TAFF’s artistic director, Joni Männistö, has carefully selected some of the most fascinating stop-motion classics in the art of animation.

Animation Lounge

On Saturday, professionals are welcome to attend the Animation Lounge, where, in a relaxed atmosphere, they can learn about the activities of the Finnish Animation Guild, Mediametka, Grafia’s Association of Visual Communication Designers in Finland and animation organisation Freimi, and exchange ideas and contacts.

Schedule

Manilla Culture Factory, Viinatehdas

Thursday 27.8. Animated to Life

11:00–11:05 Opening Remarks. Annika Dahlsten, Festival Director

11.05-12.30 Masterclass 1: Thomas Volda (CRO): Breathing the Inanimate to Life

12.30-13.30 Lunch (self-financed)

13.30-15 Masterclass 2: Anna Ivanova (FR)

15.30-18.30 Workshop: Nanna Mäkinen (FIN) & Anni Oja (FIN): LABORATORIO

Friday 28.8. Narration and script

11-12.30 Masterclass 3: Anita Killi (NOR): MasterGlass

13-14 Lunch (self-financed)

14-15.30 Masterclass 4: Ishmael Falke: Material narratives & objects’ objectives

16-17 Discussion: Animated to Life: The Difference Between Story and Movement.
Ishmael Falke & Claus Gladyszak. Moderator: Tatu Pohjavirta

Kino Kilta, Art House Turku

18:00 – 20:00 TAFF Pro -screening: TAFF Pro Classics: Animated to Life    

Saturday 29.8.

Manilla, Viinatehdas

17-18 Animation Lounge

All professionals and students in the fields of animation, film and the arts in general can apply for accreditation to the festival. Accreditation grants the festival pass with the discounted price of 38 €. The pass must be purchased on site at the festival ticket office, where the accreditation status will be checked. The accreditation pass gives access to all of the festival’s screenings.

Click here to apply for accreditation »

TAFF takes place in the hometown of the renowned Turku Arts Academy. Our venue is a beautifully restored old factory milieu by the River Aura, as well as a former tobacco factory, nowadays the home of Art House Turku and arthouse-cinema Kino Kilta.

TAFF is organized by the non-profit Association Turun elokuvatapahtumat ry.

See you in Turku!

13.07.2026

Meet the people behind TAFF 2026!

The Turku Animated Film Festival is organized annually through the collaboration of talented industry professionals, artists, and animation enthusiasts. They plan, build, organize, promote, and ensure that the festival comes to life – now for the eleventh time. Here is this year’s festival team!

Annika Dahlsten, Festival Director

This is my fourth year as the festival director of TAFF. My work involves planning the festival, securing funding, and brainstorming content ideas in collaboration with the board of Turun elokuvatapahtumat ry, the organization behind the festival. I also serve as the lead of the production team and as the point of contact for our partners. I have been closely involved in developing this year’s theme, “Animated to Life” and in planning the TAFF Pro program. At the same time, I am already looking ahead to next year.

I have experience in arts production and projects from the Arts Promotion Centre Finland, the Finnish Cultural Foundation, and the Kone Foundation. I graduated from the Turku Arts Academy as an animation director and visual artist, and my works have been shown both in Finland and abroad, at exhibitions and festivals. TAFF is a festival close to my heart, and I’ve been involved with it from the very beginning. I think it’s wonderful to be part of TAFF as part of the international animation scene!

Joni Männistö, Artistic Director

I am a founding member of TAFF and have served as its artistic director from the very beginning. Turku has long had a thriving community of independent animators, and I come from exactly the same background. These factors have strongly shaped TAFF’s identity: to be a platform for art animation and a source of inspiration for everyone hungry for animation. I’m primarily responsible for the festival’s film lineup, though of course I don’t do it alone. The program is carefully curated to meet a wide range of needs. We strive to strike a good balance for those craving nostalgia, those eager for something new, and those who want to delve into challenging topics – or simply enjoy themselves. International relations are also an area where, through TAFF, I have the privilege of building connections and bringing the world’s latest trends to Finland for audiences to enjoy.

Veronika Sekne, Programmer

I have been working as a programmer for TAFF since 2019. I got introduced to independent animation at festivals which eventually led me to pursue a master’s degree in stop-motion animation. My nomadic lifestyle has made me somewhat less successful at attending the festival itself, though. This year’s selections were made among the llamas and condors of South America.

Anton Perttu, Executive Producer

I’ve been a producer at TAFF for four years now, and I’ve come to realize that every festival feels familiar and rooted in tradition in its own way, while always revealing something new, surprising, and delightful. Every year has brought me new encounters, unforgettable experiences, and animation gems I could never have discovered anywhere else. TAFF is a truly unique festival, and I feel incredibly lucky to be part of creating it.

Elias Jurvanen, Publicist

This is my second year as TAFF’s Publicist. I look after the festival’s day-to-day communications and marketing: creating written and visual content for our website and social media, writing press releases and film descriptions, and occasionally spending an unreasonable amount of time tweaking wording and font sizes.

My background is in media studies, but curiosity has led me through the cultural sector, film festivals, and a variety of artistic detours. It didn’t take long for TAFF to become a festival close to my heart, and along the way I’ve fallen for the wonderfully quirky world of art animation. See you in August!

 Ylva-Lii Wahlström, Volunteer Coordinator

Hi! As the volunteer coordinator of the festival, I take care of guiding and supporting our plentiful volunteers both before and during the festival week. Outside of TAFF my life consists of studying animation in Aalto University and working on all sorts of graphic and audiovisual projects. My favourite short films feature offbeat humour, far-out concepts, and intimate details.

Pinja Peltonen, Assistant Producer

Hi, I’m Pinja, the assistant producer for TAFF. My job is to keep track of the details so that the executive producer can focus on the bigger picture. I make sure that day-to-day operations are running smoothly, and I step in myself if needed. I also serve as TAFF’s guest coordinator and am working feverishly to ensure that our amazing jury and other guests can travel safely to Turku to celebrate this year’s fantastic TAFF with us. So I’ll be spending my summer with at least one hand glued to my email! In my personal life, I serve as the chair of the Turku Comics Society and spend a lot of time out and about with my partner and friends, so I know what’s currently happening on the Turku cultural scene. I have two cats, and in my free time, I play cute video games!

Jaani Kekäläinen, Technical Manager

My name is Jaani Kekäläinen, and I’m the technical manager at TAFF. I’m the one they call when something goes wrong technically or when some device starts spewing out magical smoke. I also run some of the screenings – let’s enjoy these great animations together!

Iiris Valkamo, Festival Intern

Hi there! I’m Iiris, and I’m helping to organize TAFF this year. I’m interested in animation, event production, and creative work, so I’m really looking forward to new experiences and the chance to be a part of TAFF. See you at the festival!

Elfim Trotsak, Festival Intern

 I’m a first-year animation student, working as an intern at TAFF. My responsibilities leading up to the festival include managing the film screenings. During the festival, I’ll be helping out wherever I’m needed.

See you in Turku!

08.07.2026

PROGRAM FOR TAFF 2026!

Dust off your dollhouses and fasten your seatbelts, the 11th Turku Animated Film Festival has announced its anticipated program of the year! At the end of August, Manilla Culture Factory and Art House Turku will once again celebrate the magic of animation with five days (August 26–30.) of world-class animated shorts, meet-and-greets, film discussions, and the perfect late-summer festival buzz.

This year’s lineup features over 130 films and 20 curated screenings of festival winners, quirky rarities, and fresh hits from near and far. Heart-pounding excitement is guaranteed by our highly anticipated international and national competition screenings, as well as eye-catching panorama screenings, fresh student productions, and the 20th-anniversary celebration screening of Turun Anikistit!

As always, children and the young at heart have their own parallel reality in the form of TAFF Junior, which offers screenings, workshops, and pure animation magic.

This year, the festival’s professional event, TAFF Pro, brings the worlds of stop-motion animation and puppet theater to the stage under the theme Animated to Life. The program includes lectures, portfolio coaching, and workshops where inanimate objects come to life in the hands of top international and Finnish creators. Professionals can apply for accreditation once the full 2026 TAFF Pro program is released in week 29.

“This year’s theme delves into the most fundamental aspects. In animation, inanimate images and objects come to life in the most interesting and unusual ways, much like in our close relative, the puppet theater. Putting together the competition programs was, once again, a difficult puzzle to solve. The goal is to offer a diverse overview of contemporary animation that challenges, amuses, moves, and confuses the festival audience in all the right ways.” says TAFF’s Artistic Director Joni Männistö.

The festival program, schedule, and ticket sales can be found at taff.fi/timetable. In addition to individual screening tickets, you can purchase a festival pass from the ticket shop, which grants access to all screenings during the festival week.

Individual films will be added to the screening pages on our website gradually as the festival approaches. Keep an eye on our upcoming program highlights and grab your tickets to your favourite screenings!

Turku Animated Film Festival in Turku, August 26–30. Check out the program!

Photo: Lidya Eşmelioğlu.

18.06.2026

Official competition selection of TAFF 2026

Exciting news for animators and all animation fans: The films for TAFF’s competition series have now been selected! A total of 72 high-quality films were chosen for the festival’s prestigious competition programme this year, of which 43 will compete in the international competition and 11 in the national competition. The lineup features a charming collection of films that strike a balance between technical mastery, experimentation, and inventive storytelling.

“This year’s theme reflects on fundamental questions. In animation, inanimate images and objects come to life in the most interesting and unusual ways, much like in our close relative, the puppet theater. Putting together the competition programs was, once again, a difficult puzzle to solve. The goal is to offer a diverse overview of contemporary animation that challenges, amuses, moves, and confuses the festival audience in all the right ways.” says TAFF’s Artistic Director Joni Männistö.

A rich selection of top-notch animations

The program brings together filmmakers from around the world: this year features a delightful array of new voices, whose works will be screened at TAFF for the first time. At the same time, the lineup also includes familiar filmmakers whose films have been celebrated in the festival spotlight before. The festival’s international and national competition films will compete for the coveted Grand Prix and Tough Eye awards. In addition, the Best National Film award will be awarded in the national competition series.

Alongside the main competition selection, films aimed at family audiences compete for the TAFF Junior award.

Both works by experienced filmmakers and student films are in the running for the awards. The festival will also present awards for Best Professional Film, Best Student Film, and the Audience Favorite.

The festival program, schedule, and ticket sales can be found at taff.fi/timetable.

Congratulations to all selected films!

International competition

Trading Cards | Radheya Jang | Australia, United Kingdom | 2026

Symbionts | Quirijn Dees | Switzerland | 2025

Floating | Jelena Milunović | Serbia | 2025

Evacuations | Lilli Carré | United States | 2025

Invisible Walls (Murs Invisibles) | Florian Schönerstedt | France | 2025

Poor Marciano (Pobre Marciano) | Alex Rey | Spain | 2025

A PINT OF BITTER. | Conor Kehelly | Ireland | 2025

Ř | Abigél Dérczy | Czechia | 2025

January Notes (Notas de Janeiro) | Diego Akel | Brazil | 2026

So He Grabbed the Knife | Sam Kuwa | Japan | 2026

KOSMOGONIA | Karolina Chabier | France | 2025

Tourists | Maria Karlovic | France, Slovakia | 2025

The Long coming of the fire | Zharko Ivanov | North Macedonia | 2024

Ball Face | Laurence Thérien | Canada | 2026

When The Mountains Shook | Daiyu LI | Japan | 2025

Daughters of the Late Colonel | Elizabeth Hobbs | United Kingdom | 2026

Hunting (Qui part à la chasse) | Lea Favre | Switzerland | 2025

Plankton α (プランクトン α) | Yini GUO | Japan | 2026

Taming Phenomena | Shunyuan Yao | Estonia | 2025

Sensual | Tanja Nuijten | Germany | 2025

TAUT | Ilya Barrett | Germany | 2025

Me and You and Smoke | Rachel Shiloach | United Kingdom | 2025

Adgwa Ata | Zsuzsanna Kreif | France, Hungary | 2026

Acid City | Jack Wedge, Will Freudenheim | United States | 2026

Autokar | Sylwia Szkiłądź | Belgium, France | 2025

Cosmonauts | Leo Cernic | Italy, Slovenia | 2026

With Tapes and Toasts in the Car (Im Auto Tapes und Butterbrot) | Kiana Naghshineh | Germany | 2025

La vie avec un idiot | Theodor Ushev | France | 2025

Le bain des Sirenes | Lola Degove | France | 2026

Merrimundi | Niles Atallah | Chile | 2025

My name is Lilith | LeoLuna Robert-Tourneur | Belgium, France | 2025

The Amazing Adam! | Areito Echevarria | New Zealand | 2025

Once in a body | María Cristina Pérez | Colombia, United States | 2025

A Taste of Beer | Xie Li | China | 2025

Uka-uka | Henri Veermäe | Estonia | 2026

O’ Bingo! | Ian Kelewae | United States | 2025

Decay (Decaer) | Juan Camilo González | Colombia | 2025

SCREAM! IT’S GROWING! (HURLE ! ÇA POUSSE!) | Anna MURIE | France | 2026

Life of the Organoid | Daan Lucas | Netherlands | 2025

Fingerbang | Yeonwoo Kim | South Korea | 2026

Aquarium | Pauline Carette | Belgium | 2026

Action Bog | Winston Hacking | Canada | 2025

Our Walls | Živa Divjak | Slovenia | 2026

TAFF Junior

Rock Song | Jadwiga Ligęza | United Kingdom | 2025

Hymne anonyme | David Bombardier | Canada | 2025

Experiences and learning. And parenting. | Malgorzata Rybak | Poland | 2025

Duck&Sauerkraut | Eloi Henriod | Switzerland | 2025

Fire in My Pocket | Janka Feiner | Hungary | 2026

Worms | Anna Dokuchaeva | 2026

Birds of Paradise (Rajskie Ptaki) | Tomek Ducki | Poland | 2025

Dancing Friend (Tanzpartner) | Elena Walf | Croatia, Germany | 2025

The Race of Friendship (Utrka prijateljstva) | Dean Hamer | Croatia | 2026

The Sky Was Candy | Anh Tu Nguyen | Germany | 2025

TIME | Robert Löbel, Max Mörtl | Germany | 2025

Eyeliner | Aisha Boudjillouli | United Kingdom | 2026

HUM | Milán Kopasz | Hungary | 2026

Cartoon Physics | Ru Kuwahata, Max Porter | France, Netherlands, Switzerland | 2026

Eeny, Meeny, Miny, Moe! | Andrea Szelesová | Slovakia | 2025

Piccolo Piccolo | Marta Gennari | France, Switzerland | 2025

Cloud Fish (Poisson Nuage) | Noe Garcia | Belgium, France | 2025

The Wily Ones | Zarja Menart | Slovenia | 2026

National competition

Mother of Dawn (Mãe da Manhã) | Clara Trevisan | Brazil | 2025

Interspace (Etäisyyksiä) | Jesse Lähilehto | Finland | 2026

I’d Rather Be a Concorde | Javier Fabregas | Colombia, Finland | 2025

Still Life | Lara Jaydha | Belgium | 2025

Womenfolk (Naisväki) | Sofia Liukonen | Finland | 2025

Breaking The Ice | Tzor Edery | Finland | 2025

a body without a horse? (um corpo sem cavalo?) | Lara Fuke | Portugal | 2026

Mindfullmess | Niina Suominen | Finland | 2026

Richard the Dream Cowboy | Juho Maurinen | Finland | 2026

The Witch | Tomi Malkki | Finland | 2025

Kai | Erika Weiste, Aki Viikilä | Finland | 2026


The festival program, schedule, and ticket sales can be found at taff.fi/timetable. In addition to individual screening tickets, you can purchase a festival pass from the ticket shop, which grants access to all screenings during the festival week. Industry professionals and students will also soon be able to apply for accreditation for the festival on our Professionals page. See you in Turku!

Photo: Lidya Eşmelioğlu.

28.05.2026

TAFF Pro: Portfolio coaching

August 26, 2026, 1:00–4:30 p.m., Turku Arts Academy
Organized by: Turku Animated Film Festival & the Animation Department of the Turku Arts Academy

The Turku Animated Film Festival will take place this year from August 26–30. This year’s theme, “Animated to Life” is particularly evident in our professional program, TAFF Pro, where the worlds of stop-motion and puppetry come together.

A special feature of TAFF Pro this year is portfolio coaching, which has been highly requested. Now we’re meeting that demand! Twenty-five participants will be selected for the portfolio coaching sessions, where they will receive feedback on their portfolios from experts and fellow participants in small groups. We’ll organize the groups by theme, and the topics will include studio work (i.e., portfolios for job seeking), presenting your own project, and funding (i.e., presentation materials for your work when applying for funding).

The portfolio review will be held on Wednesday, August 26, from 1:00 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. at the Turku Arts Academy. Each small group or table will consist of five animators, each of whom will have 30 minutes for their own presentation and for feedback. Participants will receive instructions for their presentations and will give them using their own devices. A maximum of 10 participants may be animation students in the final stages of their studies.

The event is informal in nature, but it provides an opportunity for discussion and professional development. The expert’s role is to briefly comment on each presentation and facilitate discussion at the tables. The expert is a professional in their field, whose insights and experience are invaluable at the tables.

The event will be conducted in Finnish and English.

Apply for portfolio coaching here

Does your portfolio need some polishing? More spots are now available for the portfolio coaching. We will notify applicants of the selection results in August!

Themes and experts

Studio work – What kind of portfolio should I submit when applying for a job in animation production?

Leena Lecklin, Gigglebug

Leena Lecklin. Photo: Johanna Rantala-Cenamor.

Storyboard artist and director Leena Lecklin has been leading Gigglebug’s storyboarding team for several years. She has worked on numerous projects at European animation studios, ranging from children’s series to animated films. At Gigglebug, she focuses particularly on the pre-production of TV animation, such as storyboarding, editing, and character and location design. In addition to Kikattava kakkianen, Gigglebug is known for its series 101 dalmatialaista, Keltainen lumimies and most recently, Bat-Fam.

Terhi Väänänen, Pyjama

Terhi Väänänen is the CEO and founder of Pyjama, an animation studio based in Turku. Pyjama specializes in story-driven 2D animation, producing both its own films and series as well as commissioned work. Pyjama works with numerous talented animation experts and graphic designers. Pyjama’s productions include Belzebubs, a comedy series based on JP Ahonen’s comic strip about a black metal cult family and the family patriarch’s band activities, which is set to premiere soon.

Project presentation – What’s the best way to present my new project?

Mika Koskinen

Mika Koskinen. Photo: Sanna Peurakoski.

Mika Koskinen is an animation director and producer at both Indie Films Oy and Animaatiokopla. Mika has served as the executive director of the Finnish animation guild and currently serves on its board. Mika has experience both in pitching his own animation projects and in evaluating projects in general.

Financing – What kind of portfolio will impress funders?

Janne Niskala, Finnish Film Foundation

Janne Niskala serves as a grant reviewer for the Finnish Film Foundation and evaluates grant applications ranging from screenplay grants to development and production grants. Janne has worked as a producer, director, and cinematographer. His most recent film as a producer is Máhccan – Kotiinpaluu (2023), which won the Jussi Award for Best Documentary last year.

Teija Raninen, WFFC

Teija Raninen. Photo: Shoja Lak.

Film Commissioner Teija Raninen serves as the head of the Western Finland Film Commission (WFFC). She is an expert in project funding and internationalization who promotes film productions made in the Turku region and supports the launch, growth, and internationalization of companies in the gaming, film, and tourism industries.

Schedule
1:00 PM Start – Briefing (10 min) – Breakout sessions
1:20 PM Pitch sessions (30 min per participant; 3 presentations)
2:50 PM Coffee break
3:20 PM Pitching session: 30 min per participant (2 presentations)
4:20 PM Closing remarks
4:30 PM Event ends

In brief:

  • Subject: Portfolio coaching
  • Date and Time: August 26, 2026, 1:00–4:30 p.m.
  • Location: Turku Arts Academy, Linnankatu 54, 20100 Turku. Classroom 330.
  • Contact person: Annika Dahlsten, annika@taff.fi / +358 40 5171750
  • Organized by: Turku Animated Film Festival & the Animation Department of the Turku University of Applied Sciences Arts Academy
  • Supported by: Finnish Film Foundation, AVEK, Finnish Arts and Culture Agency

Application form


The Turku Animated Film Festival, better known as TAFF, is an international film festival that celebrates the art of animation and the creative spirit. TAFF will be held for the 11th time in Turku, Finland’s animation capital, from August 26–30, 2026. In 2026, TAFF will once again feature over 20 different program sections and nearly 200 films.

25.05.2026

Volunteer for TAFF!

TAFF is looking for enthusiastic volunteers for the 11th edition of the festival, to be held at the Manilla Culture Factory & Art House Turku from August 26–30, 2026

We need volunteers during the festival, as well as a few extra hands before the festival. Shifts are approximately five (5) hours long, and we hope everyone will commit to at least three (3) shifts. However, we’ll do our best to accommodate your schedule if needed! In your application, please indicate the days and times that work for you. We offer volunteers a festival pass, one (1) vegan lunch per workday, and insurance coverage for the duration of your shift.

The festival needs all kinds of people and skills, but you don’t need any special expertise or prior experience, as we’ll provide all the guidance you need for the job. There are many different tasks available, so every applicant is sure to find a role they’ll enjoy. You can choose just one volunteer role or participate in multiple roles if you wish. The goal is to keep the shifts relaxed, no one has to work through gritted teeth and dripping with sweat! You can also use the form to let us know if, for example, you’d like to join the same shifts as a friend. Read more about the volunteer tasks below!

At the moment, we’re especially looking for Finnish-speaking volunteers for ticket sales and the information desk. We’re also looking for door staff and screening hosts, runners, technical crew and drivers.

APPLICATION FORM

TAFF (Turun elokuvatapahtumat ry) uses this form to collect information from individuals applying to be festival volunteers. Only festival staff have access to the collected data, which is retained only for as long as necessary. The data will not be disclosed to third parties.

If you have any questions about volunteering or the application process, please send an email to info@taff.fi

DESCRIPTIONS OF TASKS:

  • Setting up, closing down, cleaning, decorating:

On the day before the festival, the festival will be built and the Manilla and Kino Kilta will be decorated. After the event, the place will be cleaned up.

  • Technical support:

Technicians are responsible for the technical aspects of the screenings, i.e. making sure that the image is visible and the sound is audible.

  • Runner:

A runner does what is needed: takes, imports, manages and adjusts, when needed.

  • Driver:

The drivers will have a car to transport all kinds of supplies during the event. A B licence is required.

  • Info, ticket sales:

The information desk sells tickets for film screenings and answers all sorts of tricky questions. We expect volunteers at the information desk to be able to communicate in both Finnish and English.

  • Exhibition guard:

Guidance and supervision of the TAFF exhibitions at the House of Arts.

  • Door manager, screening presenter:

Door staff check visitors’ tickets and take care of the practicalities at the beginning and end of the screenings. The host introduces any creators of films who may be present, opens and closes the screening, and provides guidance to the audience. We expect presenters to be able to communicate in both Finnish and English.

  • Security:

The stewards monitor the smooth running and safety of the side events and respond to concerns raised by customers. A steward card is required.

APPLICATION FORM

Welcome to the eleventh TAFF!

15.05.2026

The official look for TAFF 2026

The new visual identity and trailer for the 11th TAFF is here!

The playful new look and the stop-motion trailer are the work of Turku-based animation artist Anni Oja. TAFF interviewed Anni about this year’s cheerful look and trailer.

Anni Oja (b. 1986) is an animation artist from Turku whose superpowers lie in her incredibly skillfully crafted puppets and their masterful animation. She holds a Master of Arts degree from the University of Lapland and a degree in animation directing from Turku University of Applied Sciences. In her work, Oja utilizes a variety of techniques, ranging from digitally drawn images to handmade crafts and object animation: her work often features concrete objects, the delicate texture of materials, and the play of light and shadow, all brought to life through the camera. She also works as a graphic designer, set designer, and animation instructor at the Turku Arts Academy.

Anni is a coveted puppet animator: she has worked as an animator on projects such as the Lithuanian film Hoofs on Skates (2024) (prod. Kadrų Skyrius, dir. Ignas Meilūnas). Her award-winning animated film The Moustache (2015) was a festival favorite and won several awards, including the Risto Jarva Award at the Tampere Film Festival in 2016.

Watch the festival trailer below:

“Animation isn’t just movement; it’s movement with meaning. Through different rhythms and timings, we create the illusion of life. A character might be nothing more than a soup ladle, but with the right animation rhythm, it comes to life.”

Anni, this year’s design features the Taffeli character as a fluffy puppet. Can you tell us more about how the design came about?

In keeping with this year’s theme, stop-motion and puppet animation were the obvious choice of technique. After a bit of back-and-forth, a traditional theater stage seemed like the perfect setting. Felted wool, on the other hand, is a handy surface material: it leaves no seams, and the end result is easily fun and fluffy. Big-eyed, lovable Taffeli steered the visual style in a more playful, perhaps even childlike direction. I added gold stars to the curtains and even ended up using glitter, even though I usually shy away from it a bit.

You specialize in stop-motion animation. In your opinion, what can puppets or puppet animation convey that might not be possible with other methods?

Puppet animation and stop motion are, in their own way, limited forms of animation: physical objects that are animated in the physical world can’t just do whatever they want, compared to, say, traditional animation, where a character can float in the air or change shape. For me, these limitations serve as inspiration: I have to come up with tricks and workarounds to get the job done. The more traditional and handmade the method of achieving the desired result, the better. Often, though, I’ve gotten myself into trouble with this, and things have gotten pretty tight in the studio.

Anni Oja. Photo: Antti Laakso.

“What matters most to me is working with my hands and appreciating that. Hands are incredibly important to an animator. If you lose the use of your hands, you can’t draw, type on a computer, or bring a puppet to life.”

We find ourselves on a puppet theater stage with red curtains. The stage is, after all, one of the most primitive venues for storytelling. How does three-dimensional animation create a sense of space for the viewer in a different way than, say, two-dimensional animated film? 

You could say, easily, since the space constructed in front of the camera is inherently three-dimensional. But building a space and capturing it on film involves much more than that: I find it inspiring how lighting, camera angles, optics, the arrangement of subjects, and so on can be used to emphasize a sense of space. Of course, the same applies to other techniques as well, but in stop motion, the construction of the image is a concrete, physical playground. Should I move this prop a little forward, dim that light a bit, shift the camera slightly to the right… I can easily spend days tinkering with these details.

The trailer is quite literally a product of your own handiwork, as it centers on your own hands. How important are traditional craft skills to your artistic practice?

Traditional skills and techniques are certainly close to my heart, but I’m not averse to new methods either. What matters most to me is the act of creating with my hands and appreciating it. Hands are incredibly important to an animator. If you lose the use of your hands, you can’t draw, type on a computer, or bring a puppet to life. That’s why I want to celebrate the hands of every artist in this trailer— hands that have created a host of wonderful films for us to see at this year’s TAFF.

The theme of this year’s festival is “Animated to Life.” What does that mean to you personally? 

”Animated to Life” captures the essence of animated movement, regardless of the technique used. Animation is not merely movement; it is movement with meaning. Through different rhythms and timings, the illusion of life is created. A character could be as simple as a soup ladle, but with the right animation rhythm, it comes to life.

What is your relationship with TAFF? 

TAFF is a wonderful place to meet people, enjoy movies, and soak up the great atmosphere. I don’t think I’ve ever missed a single year.

Send your greetings to the TAFF audience!

Everyone, come on over! See you in August!

Turku Animated Film Festival (TAFF) 2026: The “Animated to Life” theme brings together creators from the worlds of animation and puppetry. TAFF is an international festival focused on animation, held in Turku. Finland’s largest event dedicated to the art of animation will be held for the 11th time from August 26–30, 2026, at the Manilla Culture Factory and the Art House Turku.

05.01.2026

The 11th edition of the Turku Animated Film Festival will be held in Turku, Finland, August 26-30, 2026. TAFF will celebrate creativity and the art of animation with screenings during five days.

Submissions for TAFF 2026 are open until March 31. Submit your work via the link below.

submit your film

TAFF offers a wide range of competitions for animated shorts. For the International Competition, International Student Film Competition, TAFF Junior Competition and National Competition we are looking for original, bold, uncompromising & inventive animated shorts under 30 minutes to compete for Grand Prix, Best Professional Film, Best Student Film, Tough Eye award, TAFF Junior Award, Main Prize in National Competition and Audience award in International Competition. In addition, the festival programme consists of a seductive selection of carefully selected special programme.

The Competition is open for short animated films that have been completed after 1st of January 2025.

TAFF takes place in Turku, a city dedicated to art, culture and festivals. Our venues are a beautifully restored old factory milieu Manilla and the freshly-opened Arthouse Turku in the Old town. Both are situated by the River Aura in Turku, Finland. TAFF is organized by the non-profit Association Turun elokuvatapahtumat ry.

 

Photo: Lidya Eşmelioğlu.

29.08.2025

Thank you 10th TAFF!

The tenth Turku Animated Film Festival has come to an end, and what a celebration it was!

Organized since 2016, TAFF celebrated its anniversary this year by once again bringing bold, original, and uncompromising animations, international and domestic guests, and a wonderful selection of exhibitions and side events to Turku, Finland’s animation capital. The anniversary year offered both a review of the festival’s colorful history and a glimpse into the future of animation.

The opening gala was celebrated in the usual manner at the Manilla Culture Factory. Photo: Ekaterina Zhuzhleva.

The festival closes with smiles all round, so it’s time to say thank you, take off your festival pass and look back fondly on the week’s events. It was particularly delightful to see a large crowd of old friends and brand new faces celebrating the festival’s tenth anniversary. TAFF proved its important place in Turku’s cultural scene and attracted a record audience to its animations. This year, the number of visitors more than doubled, with TAFF’s screenings and side program nearly breaking the 4,000 visitor mark! This is a great achievement for a ten-year-old festival, whose visitor numbers have usually remained around 2,000. The programme’s high-level competition series remained a favorite with the audience, but TAFF’s special feature, free screenings for schoolchildren, also once again also attracted hundreds of young people to the animations. Juhana Moisander’s exhibition SERMON proved to be a real hit: over a thousand visitors gathered to hear the moral sermon of a meatless pig.

Artistic director of the festival Joni Männistö and jury member Petrit Gora. Photo: Ekaterina Zhuzhleva.
Eddy Wu’s intimate IMMATURE touched the festival audience. Photo: Lidya Eşmelioğlu.
The festival attracted a record number of visitors this year. Photo: Ekaterina Zhuzhleva.
Shui Yuan, director of Not Satisfied, Redo. Photo: Lidya Eşmelioğlu.
The opening gala concluded with Michaela Müller’s animation Airport. Photo: Ekaterina Zhuzhleva

The festival opened on Wednesday with a gala screening highlighting its 10th anniversary theme, bringing together memorable films from TAFF’s history on the silver screen at the Kino Kilta arthouse cinema. “The theme of the screening depicted the city and its inhabitants from morning to night, from residential areas to the tranquility of nature,” describes Joni Männistö, the festival’s artistic director. The themed screenings outside the competition series also included a screening of Palestinian animations, which gave the festival audience a chance to pause and to consider difficult questions.

The outdoor screening in Brinkkala’s courtyard, organized in collaboration with Kirjakahvila, once again proved its place at the heart of urban culture: despite the cold August evening, the courtyard was almost full as people gathered to enjoy Norwegian director Mats Grorud’s film The Tower (2018).

Outdoor screening in the Brinkkala courtyard. Photo: Lidya Eşmelioğlu.

The festival exhibitions also brought moving images to gallery spaces. The opening night of visual artist Juhana Moisander’s exhibition SERMON attracted nearly a thousand visitors to Gallery Aski in the Art House, while the VR exhibition States of Nature – Virtual Experiments in the Media Studio of the Art House drew the festival audience into the miniature worlds and distortions of virtual reality. Featured artists were: Soile Mottisenkangas, Juha Mustonen (Dos Robots), Pauliina Salminen, Reetta Neittaanmäki and Kaisa Penttilä (Ambulance).

Manilla, meanwhile, hosted Vappu Rossi’s work Generatio Spontanea and animation artist Miira Tonteri’s animated work Erään omenan elämä (the Life of an Apple) and its original drawings throughout the festival.

Original drawings from Miira Tonteri’s animated film Erään omenan elämä. Photo: Lidya Eşmelioğlu.
Juhana Moisander’s exhibition SERMON attracted nearly a thousand visitors on its opening night. Photo: Elias Jurvanen.
The numerous VR installations at the MUU ry exhibition States of Nature – Virtual Experiments attracted the attention of festival-goers. Pictured is one of the artists featured in the exhibition, Juha Mustonen. Photo: Hämid Shajarian.

The anniversary year’s professional event, TAFF Pro, focused on the future of animation and the connections between different art forms. Over the course of two days, attendees heard presentations from, among others, Samppa Kukkonen, director at animation studio Pyjama Films, which is also celebrating its tenth anniversary and media artist Jukka Hautamäki’s lecture on the role of artificial intelligence in art. A special treat in the program were two live expanded cinema performances by Filmverkstaden artists Britt Al-Busultan and Natalia Koziel-Kalliomäki.

Natalia Koziel-Kalliomäki’s expanded cinema presentation WARM DATA. Photo: Lidya Eşmelioğlu.
TAFF Pro concluded with a panel discussion on authorship in animation. Pictured: Mika Koskinen, Eesu Lehtola, Vappu Rossi, and Leena Jääskeläinen. Photo: Lidya Eşmelioğlu.
Photo: Lidya Eşmelioğlu.

Saturday evening in Manilla culminated in an award ceremony, where a total of 10 prizes were handed out. The Grand Prix, awarded to Sasha Svirsky’s film Dull Spots of Greenish Colours received the most attention at the awards gala. The jury described the work as a painful but exceptionally honest and original journey into the depths of the past: “This film searches for answers in a very unique way. Through personal experience, distinctive visual style, and experimental animation, the filmmaker takes us on a painful, deeply touching journey.”

Among the National Competition, the winner was Jenny Jokela’s beautiful hand-painted computer animation Dollhouse Elephant. According to the jury, the work “awakens all our senses and explores how we must interact with our neighbors and learn that community is built on understanding, not just living together.”

At the awards ceremony, the audience award is presented by Kimmo Sillanmikko, the first festival director of TAFF, along with a puppet from Aura of Puppets. Photo: Lidya Eşmelioğlu.

Veera Lamminpää’s Fish River Anthology (Mereneläviä) was awarded as the audience favourite.

Ella Karkulehto and Mea Kemppainen, representatives of the jury from the 8C art class at Luostarivuori School, awarded the TAFF Junior prize to Elena Walf’s work A Pain in the Butt (Der Stachel im Po), which made the youngest (and why not the older ones too) laugh and empathize with the twists and turns of the story. The schoolchildren explained their decision as follows: “It was a difficult choice because there were so many good films. We chose this one as the winner because it was funny and creative.”

Jury member Pavel Horáček awarded the Grand Prix prize to Sasha Svirsky’s film Dull Spots of Greenish Colours. Photo: Lidya Eşmelioğlu.
Marta Reis Andrade was awarded the prize for best professional film for her film Dog Alone (Cão Sozinho). Photo: Lidya Eşmelioğlu.
Quirijn Dees’s uniquely original Pubert Jimbob was recognized with the Tough Eye Award. Photo: Lidya Eşmelioğlu.

Several other gems were also honored during the evening. Quirijn Dees’s uniquely original Pubert Jimbob was recognized with the Tough Eye Award for its depiction of an ordinary man’s strange day, in which 2D and 3D collide boldly and imaginatively.

Marta Reis Andrade was awarded the prize for best professional animation for her film Dog Alone (Cão Sozinho), which deals with loneliness and empathy between generations and species.

In addition, Eddy Wu’s IMMATURE won the award for best student film, capturing the growth of a young mind and the painful process of self-discovery.

In addition to these, other films were also recognized at the awards gala. You can read more about them in this news article »

Q&A session after the screening of Murmuration with directors Tim Frijsinger and Janneke Swinkels. Photo: Lidya Eşmelioğlu.
During the week, there were several Q&A events where filmmakers had the opportunity to talk about their films with the audience. Photo: Lidya Eşmelioğlu.

The heart of TAFF has always been its audience, animators, and volunteers. This year, Manila’s Culture Factory and Art House Turku were filled with animation enthusiasts and professionals from various fields, who once again made the festival unforgettable. Thank you to our professional and inspiring jury: Pavel Horáček, Michaela Müller, and Petrit Gora; to all our hard-working volunteers; to the world’s best festival production team; to our dear partners; and to everyone who makes TAFF possible. But the biggest thanks go to you, our dear animation-hungry audience—without you, we wouldn’t be able to talk about the magic of TAFF!

The festival team thanks the audience for a successful festival. Photo: Lidya Eşmelioğlu.
The puppets from Aura of Puppets were part of the award ceremony. Photo: Lidya Eşmelioğlu.

As the anniversary year draws to a close, our gaze turns to the future: at TAFF 2026, inanimate objects and characters will come to life and gain a soul when animation and puppet theater meet. The theme was already hinted at in this year’s award ceremony, where puppets assisted the festival’s first director Kimmo Sillanmikko and the jury in presenting the awards. Next year, the theme will be explored in depth when TAFF collaborates with, among others, the Turku-based puppet theater Aura of Puppets.

The celebrations are over, but the festival will continue next year! Photo: Ekaterina Zhuzhleva.

See you again in August 2026 – more animation magic and surprises await!

Photo: Lidya Eşmelioğlu.

24.08.2025

The awarded animations of the 10th TAFF

Here they are, this year’s TAFF award-winning films! A total of 10 awards were presented at Saturday evening’s award ceremony. The winning films impressed both the jury and the audience with their spectacular visuals and original storytelling.

GRAND PRIX

Dull Spots of Greenish Colours – Sasha Svirsky 

“How did we get to the point we are at, how could this have happened? This film is searching for answers in a very unique way. Thanks to personal experience, a distinctive visual style and experimental animation the author takes us on a painful, deeply sad descent into a dissection of the abyss of the past. “

TOUGH EYE -AWARD

Pubert Jimbob – Quirijn Dees

“It is just an ordinary day of an ordinary man which turns out to be a journey during which the poor hero as well as the audience are lost and confused. On top of that 2D animation meets 3D here in the most bizarre and daring way.”

AUDIENCE FAVOURITE

Fish River Anthology (Mereneläviä) 

BEST NATIONAL FILM

Dollhouse Elephant – Jenny Jokela

“Using a style that attacks all our senses, this film powerfully explores how we’re forced to interact with our neighbors and learn that community is built on understanding, not just living together.”

BEST PROFESSIONAL FILM

Dog Alone (Cão Sozinho) – Marta Reis Andrade

“Dealing with universal feelings of loneliness and empathy across different generations and species, the film scratches a trace of comfort on our retinas.”

BEST STUDENT FILM

Immature – Eddy Wu

“A brilliant cinematic portrayal of the development of a mind in its fragmented body, diverging in feeling and appearance. In this film we are witnessing a constant, at times painful approach of a young person to themselves.”

TAFF JUNIOR -AWARD

A Pain in the Butt (Der Stachel im Po) – Elena Walf

SPECIAL MENTIONS OF THE JURY

National film: 

Photographs Not Taken – Hanneriina Moisseinen

Professional film:

Fačuk – Maida Srabovic

Student film: 

Poppy Flowers – Evridiki Papaiakovou

Photo: Lidya Eşmelioğlu.

21.08.2025

10th TAFF has begun!

The tenth Turku Animated Film Festival has begun! The first day of the festival got off to a cheerful start yesterday, Wednesday, when the first animated films flashed across the screen at the Kino Kilta arthouse cinema. There were three screenings at the theater during the day: the day began with a special screening celebrating TAFF’s tenth anniversary, which brought together a collection of memorable works from throughout the festival’s history. This was followed by the first screening of the international competition and the national competition, after which directors Hannariina Moisseinen (Photographs Not Taken) and Heta Jokinen (Drawn in Water) discussed their works in a Q&A discussion.

Photo: Elias Jurvanen.

The animation crowd arrived in large numbers. The evening was crowned by an outdoor screening organized jointly by TAFF and Kirjakahvila in the Brinkkala courtyard. Despite the cold weather, the courtyard was almost full as Norwegian Mats Grorud’s feature-length animated film The Tower (Tårnet, 2018) was screened.

Photo: Lidya Eşmelioğlu.

Today on Thursday, the festivities continue at the traditional Manilla Culture Factory. The morning kicks off with the TAFF Pro program for professionals, with opening remarks by festival director Annika Dahlsten, followed by lectures by Samppa Kukkonen, director at the Turku-based animation studio Pyjama Films, and media artist Jukka Hautamäki. In the afternoon, there will also be a rare treat when artists Britt Al-Busultan and Natalia Koziel-Kalliomäki from Filmverkstaden, the analog film and photography center in Vaasa, present a performative lecture on expanded cinema.

Photo: Lidya Eşmelioğlu.

In the morning, traditional TAFF Junior screenings for school groups will be held in Manilla, but in the afternoon, the doors of Manilla’s theaters will also open to the public. During the day, screenings 3 and 4 of the international competition and the international panorama screening will be shown. At the end of the second day of the festival, TAFF and Muu ry’s VR art exhibition States of Nature – Virtual Experiments will open at 17:00 in the media studio of the Art House Turku. The second day of the festival will conclude with the official opening gala of TAFF at the Manilla Culture Factory.

Welcome and enjoy the animations, see you at TAFF!

Photo: Lidya Eşmelioğlu.
(from left to right) Pavel Horáček, Michaela Müller and Petrit Gora.

13.08.2025

MEET OUR JURY!

We are honored to welcome Pavel Horáček, Michaela Müller and Petrit Gora to this year’s TAFF jury, which will select the winner of our international competition.

Pavel Horáček

Pavel Horáček graduated in Film History and Audiovisual Culture from Masaryk University in Brno, devoting his thesis to means of expression and specific animation techniques, namely in Czech animated films. For three years, he worked as programme director at the AniFest, International Festival of Animated Films in Teplice. Since 2013 Pavel has been working as programme director of Anifilm, International Festival of Animated Films, founded in Trebon, settled now in Liberec city. He is a co-founder and curator of the aniont.com, presenting authorial works of animation online. He prepares programmes of animated films for institutions in the Czech Republic and abroad. Pavel writes about film and animation, and served as a jury member of various international festivals.

Michaela Müller 

Michaela Müller is an award winning animation artist known for her striking paint on glass animation technique. Her short animated films Airport (2017) and Miramare (2010) have garnered international acclaim and traveled festivals worldwide, winning multiple awards. Her debut film Miramare premiered at the Cannes Selection Cinéfondation. She holds a Master in Animation and New Media from the Academy of Fine Arts at the University of Zagreb and a Diploma for Art Education from the Lucerne University of Applied Science and Arts. Her distinct artistic style blends fluid, hand-painted imagery with evocative storytelling, often exploring themes of movement, migration, and human connection. In addition to her work as a filmmaker, she is also engaging in multimedia performances where she combines dance and live animation to create immersive experiences. Müller will also present a lecture on performative animation, Eliminating the Stop in Stop Motion – Animation in a Live Performance Setting, at this year’s TAFF Pro professional event.

Petrit Gora

Petrit Gora is an artistic director and festival programmer in the animation field. He currently serves as the Artistic Director of the REX Animation Film Festival in Stockholm, one of Sweden’s first festivals dedicated to animated films. From 2016, he has also led the artistic vision for the Anibar Animation Festival in Kosovo, where he started as a volunteer and helped it grow into a major international event and one of the biggest cultural events in the country. Petrit continues to serve as Art Director for both the REX and Anibar festivals.

06.08.2025

Turku Animated Film Festival is an apartheid free zone

The Turku Animated Film Festival is an Apartheid Free Zone (AFZ). We commit to the targeted boycotts of the international BDS movement and support the Palestinian struggle for human rights, equality and freedom.

In line with TAFF’s values, we are committed to promoting anti-racism, equality, and diversity. We want to play an active role in reducing racism, discrimination and oppression in the world. We recognize that anti-racist work requires continuous development, and we strive to promote it. 

Read more about the campaign: www.sumud.fi

The commitment of the Turku Animated Film Festival organization does not necessarily reflect the views of all participating directors, artists, or production companies.

06.08.2025

TAFF PRO 2025 looks to the future and the arts

This year’s festival program for professionals focuses on the future of animation and visual arts. TAFF Pro, held on August 21–22, brings together Finnish and international animation artists, and its program consists of speeches, presentations, panels, and film screenings. TAFF Pro aims to promote the vitality of the animation industry and provide new ideas and contacts for industry professionals and students.

INTRODUCING THE PROS OF THE FUTURE 

This year, TAFF Pro will focus on the future of animation and the visual arts. Media artists with a close relationship with animation or those who challenge artistic expression through different technologies have been invited to the festival in particular.

On Thursday, the Turku-based studio Pyjama Films will present the making of an animation series based on the Belzebubs comics and  introduces the world of making animation for international distribution. Media artist Jukka Hautamäki will talk about artificial intelligence as a tool for art, and its ethical challenges. Filmverkstaden ry will present a lecture on analogue film art, reflecting on the past and the future through performative means. Thursday’s TAFF Pro section will conclude with an exhibition of VR art curated by MUU ry in the Media Studio of the Art House Turku, titled States of Nature – Virtual Experiments. At the same time, you can visit the exhibition of visual artist Juhana Moisander, SERMON at Gallery Aski in the Art House Turku.

On Friday, TAFF Pro will deepen the theme with a lecture on experimental animation by this year’s TAFF jury member, director Michaela Müller. Director Leena Jääskeläinen, who specialises in VR animation, will present her work and introduce the use of VR technology in animation. A panel discussion moderated by animation director Mika Koskinen, with Leena Jääskeläinen, visual artist Vappu Rossi and film director Eesu Lehtola, will explore the different elements of animation art. TAFF Pro will conclude with a classic TAFF Pro special screening.

All professionals and students in the fields of animation, film and the arts in general can apply for accreditation to the festival. As an accredited member, you can purchase our accreditation pass, which grants you access to all screenings and the TAFF Pro program.

Take a look at the 2025 TAFF Pro schedule here and apply for accreditation »

MEET OUR GUESTS

Jukka Hautamäki, Media and sound artist, educator 

Media artist Jukka Hautamäki presents artificial intelligence as a tool for visual arts in his lecture Syntactic Sorcery from the Data Abyss and reflects on its ethical challenges.

Mika Koskinen, animation director and producer 

Animation director and producer Mika Koskinen will moderate a panel discussion exploring various aspects of animation art, with participants including director Leena Jääskeläinen, visual artist Vappu Rossi, and creative designer Eesu Lehtola.

Michaela Müller, animation director

This year’s festival jury member, internationally acclaimed Swiss animation artist Michaela Müller, will give a lecture on experimental animation: Eliminating the Stop in Stop Motion – Animation in a live Performance Setting.

Leena Jääskeläinen, director

Leena Jääskeläinen, a director specializing in VR animation, will present the use of VR technology in animation in her lecture Neverending Story – Narrative In Virtual Reality.

Vappu Rossi, visual artist

Helsinki-based visual artist Vappu Rossi, known for pushing the boundaries of drawing and for her multidisciplinary collaboration with various fields of art and science, will participate in Friday’s panel discussion.

This year’s striking TAFF festival trailer and visual identity are based on Rossi’s works Tree of Life and Generatio spontanea. Watch Rossi’s interview about the TAFF 2025 trailer and visual identity here »

Eesu Lehtola, animator and creative designer

Animator, director, and creative designer Eesu Lehtola will participate in a panel discussion exploring various aspects of animation art, alongside Mika Koskinen, Leena Jääskeläinen, and Vappu Rossi.

Britt Al-Busultan & Natalia Koziel-Kalliomäki, Filmverkstaden ry

Filmverkstaden presents a performance on expanded cinema, Fragmented Light: Cinema Expanded by Britt Al-Busultan and Natalia Koziel-Kalliomäki. The lecture will showcase two expanded cinema performances, WARM DATA by Koziel-Kalliomäki and what comes around goes around by Al-Busultan.

Samppa Kukkonen, director, Pyjama Films

Samppa Kukkonen, director of Belzebubs animated series, presents the making of the comic-based animated series and explains what it is like to make animation for international distribution.

23.07.2025

Juhana Moisander – SERMON 

15.8.–24.8.2025 | Galleria Aski

This year, the Turku Animated Film Festival presents an exhibition at Gallery Aski, featuring the video installations Sermon II and Sermon III by visual artist Juhana Moisander. The exhibition is part of TAFF’s official programme and invites animation viewers to a slower and more contemplative image.

Sermon II is a video installation in the form of a fable, in which a skinless pig invites the audience to exercise a characteristic and unique feature of the human species: the possibility of exercising moral discretion. Sermon III, on the other hand, highlights the phrase FLESH HAS BECOME DETACHED FROM THE WORD, which flutters on the flag with the rising and falling winds. The work, inspired by a Christmas altarpiece text THE WORD BECAME FLESH, presents a dark moral sermon on the disconnection between body and action.

“In general, the aim of a sermon is to evoke thoughts and feelings about the biblical texts and to comment on the state of the community. The approach is much the same as in works of art: both comment on the prevailing time and its phenomena. In the Sermon series, my starting point has been a critical examination of man and his actions in relation to the world around him and its creatures.”

– Juhana Moisander

Juhana Moisander (b. 1977) is a Finnish visual artist known for his dark-toned media works. Combining visual power and conceptual depth, his video installations invite the viewer to reflect on our shared human experience. The immersive works often focus on combining visual and sound elements with the architecture of the exhibition space. Drawing from art history, literature and the study of human behaviour, the works explore themes such as collective memory, cultural myths and social rituals.

The exhibition is curated by TAFF Festival Director Annika Dahlsten.

The opening will take place on Thursday 14.8.2025 as part of the Night of the Arts, and the exhibition will be open until Sunday 24.8. 

The production of the works has been supported by the Finnish Cultural Foundation, the Promotion Centre for Audiovisual Culture (AVEK) and the Olga and Vilho Lehtonen Foundation.

Another of TAFF’s exhibitions, States of Nature – Virtual Experiments, produced by MUU ry, will also be on display in the Art House on 22-24 August 2025, in the Factory Building. You can check out the exhibition here. TAFF is organising the exhibitions as part of the City of Turku’s pop-up art programme.

21.07.2025

THE PROGRAM OF THE 10TH TAFF IS HERE!

Finland’s most eccentric and charming international animation film festival has now released its programme! In August, at the Manilla Culture Factory and Art House Turku, you can once again be inspired by the hottest world-class short animations, discuss films with new and old friends and enjoy media-art exhibitions and wonderful late summer days in a great cultural setting.

This year’s line-up includes festival winners as well as rarities and new hits, from near and far. The TAFF programme consists of three highly anticipated competition series, plus panorama and thematic screenings. During the long festival week, animation lovers will also be treated to high quality free admission exhibitions of ground-breaking media art as part of the City of Turku’s pop-up art programme.

This year we have again kept our younger audience in mind, and the TAFF Junior screenings are perfect for children of all ages. On Thursday and Friday, there will also be a programme for animation and arts professionals, as TAFF Pro brings together the creators of tomorrow.

For the festival programme, timetable and tickets, visit taff.fi/fi/aikataulu. In addition to tickets, you can also buy a festival pass, which entitles you to all screenings during the festival week.

Still images of the banner: Drawn in Water – Heta Jokinen, Desi Oon – Suresh Eriyat, Long Distance – Iulia Voitova, The Carp and the Child – Morgane Simon, Arnaud Demuynck

Turku Animated Film Festival in Turku 20.-24.8. Get your tickets now!

Pauliina Salminen: In a bubble (Kuplassa)

15.07.2025

MUU & TAFF: States of Nature – Virtual Experiments

22 – 24 August 2025
Art House Turku, Mediastudio (Factory-building)
Nunnankatu 4, Turku
Fri 12-18, Sat-Sun 12-16
Free entry

Opening of the exhibition Thursday 21 August at 17:00-19:00

Featured artists are:
Soile Mottisenkangas
Juha Mustonen (Dos Robots)
Pauliina Salminen
Reetta Neittaanmäki and Kaisa Penttilä (Ambulance)

As part of the future theme of TAFF’s 10th anniversary year, an exhibition of VR art, produced by Artists’ Association MUU, will be on display in the Factory Building of the Art House Turku. The collective exhibition will showcase the potentials and the edges of VR as a medium through virtual installations and narrative-driven miniature worlds. The artists have utilised various techniques including 3D scanning, video-implementation, animation and soundscapes.

Virtual reality (VR) is a simulated experience using 3D near‑eye displays and pose tracking to give the user an immersive feel of a virtual world.

The VR-based experiments open a space to reflect on our relationship with the environment through a virtual lens. The exhibition brings together a diverse array of artists exploring similar themes from different perspectives.

The works were developed in a workshop on VR animation and VR art, organised by MUU and the Finnish Animation Guild in November 2023. The works have previously been exhibited at MUU Helsinki Contemporary Art Centre in September 2024 and at the Supermarket art fair in Stockholm in April 2025. The workshop was supported by the Promotion Centre For Audiovisual Culture (AVEK).

ARTISTS AND ARTWORKS

Ambulance / Reetta Neittaanmäki and Kaisa Penttilä: The Grouch (Marisija)

The Grouch (Marisija)

Ambulance / Reetta Neittaanmäki and Kaisa Penttilä

What do berries discuss in the clearing of a Nordic forest?

Ambulance group takes the viewer into a berry perspective to follow a pair therapy of a blueberry and a raspberry, which exposes the effects of forestry on familiar berries.

Ambulance is an artist duo formed by Kaisa Penttilä (b.1975) and Reetta Neittaanmäki (b.1974), whose works aim to raise issues related to the environment and society in a playful way. Ambulance’s previous work “The Plastic Godzilla of the Baltic Sea” (2018) toured festivals around the world, won an EU award and is currently being used as school book material.

Penttilä and Neittaanmäki have backgrounds in animation. They have studied at the Turku Academy of Arts and Aalto University and have had a long career in animation.

Soile Mottisenkangas: Lush urban pasture (Vehmas kaupunkilaidun)

Lush urban pasture (Vehmas kaupunkilaidun)

Soile Mottisenkangas 2024

If the pasture were returned to the city environments, would the highly endangered bird ortolan bunting return too?

The artist integrates a pasture into the city to revive the endangered ortolan bunting. In the virtual gallery, the viewer can observe and feel a densely built suburban summer night under harsh artificial lighting.

Soile Mottisenkangas (b. 1971) explores virtual environments as a tool that allows residents to design the kind of biotope they wish to live in, coexisting with other species. In her first VR work, the artist is fascinated by three-dimensionality. Soile Mottisenkangas (MA in Film) is a media artist/film director, with documentary work being her forte.

Dos Robots / Juha Mustonen: House of Tales (Tarinatalo)

House of Tales (Tarinatalo)

Dos Robots / Juha Mustonen

A tale of a house, its inhabitants, and the origin of a book.

The work will place the viewer in an idyllic neighborhood where the birth of a story and a book is in focus. At the same time, it is a statement to support the existence of traditional books.

Juha Mustonen (b. 1979) is an artist whose day job is in the IT world. For him, art allows creative self-expression and works as a platform to explore various styles, techniques, and technologies. This creation was largely created within the VR environment.

Pauliina Salminen – In a bubble (Kuplassa)

In a bubble (Kuplassa)

Pauliina Salminen

The piece is set in an underwater environment where gravity and points of view change. In this reversed world, the action occurs beneath the surface, and reality out of water is just a distant reflection.

Choreography by Scheherazade Zambrano and music by Erik M enhance the immersive experience.

Pauliina Salminen (b. 1975) is a media artist whose work looks at themes like identity and memory in relation to environment, border areas and intermediate spaces. She is particularly interested in underwater filming and the use of dance elements in storytelling.With the support of the Promotion Centre For Audiovisual Culture (AVEK).

Artist’s Association MUU

Artist’s Association MUU is a national association for artists working in non-traditional media and new media. Membership is open to practitioners that are Finnish citizens or reside in Finland.

@muu_helsinki
www.muu.fi/en

Turku Animated Film Festival

TAFF organises the exhibitions as part of the City of Turku’s pop-up art programme. TAFF is organised in cooperation with the City of Turku Cultural Spearhead project. Other partners include the Arts Promotion Centre TAIKE, the Promotion Centre For Audiovisual Culture (AVEK), the Finnish Cultural Foundation’s Southwest Finland Fund and Scene Turku.

The actual festival will take place on 20-24 August 2025 at the Manilla Cultural Factory and the Art House Turku. TAFF’s competition series will present boldly original, uncompromising and inventive short animated films. In addition to the competition series, the festival’s programme consists of carefully curated thematic screenings and a selected supporting programme.

Photo: Jussi Virkkumaa.

04.07.2025

The Films in the competition series have been selected!

Exciting news, animators and animation lovers: the TAFF Competition Series films have now been selected! A total of 62 high quality films have been selected for the festival’s competition series, and a total of 39 films for the main international competition series. The selection includes a high calibre of technically diverse works representing a wide range of genres.

Top animations from around the world

The official selection this year showcases the best of narrative animation as well as abstract and experimental expression. This year’s line-up includes a host of top new names whose films will be screened at TAFF for the first time. The programme also includes some familiar directors whose work has been featured at the festival in the past. Films from the international competition compete for the Grand Prix and the Tough Eye award.

In addition to the main competition series, the competition programme also includes series reserved for Finnish animators and films suitable for the younger audience. The films in the national competition will compete for the Best Finnish Film award. The films selected for the TAFF Junior series will also have their own award.

Both student films and works by experienced animators are competing for awards, and the festival will award prizes for the Best Professional Film and Best Student Film. The audience will also decide the winner of the Audience Award.

Congratulations to all the selected films!

International competition:

Sweeter is the night | Fabienne Wagenaar | 2024 | France

Veils of Landscape | Chihiro Yamanaka | 2025

Not Satisfied, Redo | Shui Yuan | 2025 | China

Magic Gulyás | Áron Farkas | 2024 | Germany

My Good Boy | Sara Priorelli | 2025 | Hungary

Cubit | Mattia Bioli | 2024 | Italy

Stone of Destiny | Julie Černá | 2025 | Czech Republic

The Night Boots | Pierre-Luc Granjon | 2024

Murmuration | Janneke Swinkels, Tim Frijsinger | 2025 | Netherlands

Dull Spots of Greenish Colours | Sasha Svirsky | 2024 | Germany

States of Matter | Marvin Hauck | 2024 | Netherlands

Sapan | Kerem Yoruk, Yasir Atis | 2025 | Turkey

Little Saints | Clémence Taveau | 2024 | France

Poppy Flowers | Evridiki Papaiakovou | 2024 | Estonia

Freeride in C | Edmunds Jansons | 2024 | Latvia

Pubert Jimbob | Quirijn Dees | 2024 | Belgium

STAMPFER DREAMS | Thomas Renoldner | 2024 | Austria

How A River Is Born | Luma Flôres | 2025 | Brazil

Caries | Aline Höchli | 2025 | Switzerland

The Shyness of Trees | Bingqing Shu, Maud Le Bras, Jiaxin Huang, Simin He, Lina Han, Loïck du Plessis d’Argentré, Sofiia Chuikovska | 2024

Where the Car Flew | Emmaclaire sardoni | 2024 | Belgium, Italy

Esca | Felice Ronzon | 2024 | France

Psychonauts | Niko Radas | 2025 | Croatia

Aferrado | Esteban Azuela | 2024

Voiceless | Samuel Patthey | 2024 | Switzerland

Fačuk | Maida Srabovic | 2025 | Croatia, Slovenia

FRIED! | Lizzie Watts | 2025 | United Kingdom

Long Distance | Iulia Voitova | 2025 | France

Wandering dot and the blank square page universe | Ieva Lība Ratniece | 2024 | Belgium

Dog Alone | Marta Reis Andrade | 2025 | France, Portugal

The Golden Donkey | Anne Verbeure | 2024 | Belgium

Hello, Headquarters | Zuzanna Zofia Heller | 2025 | Poland

Where Blue Meets Red | Tamás Patrovits | 2024 | Hungary

The One Who Knows | Eglė Davidavičė | 2024 | Lithuania

IMMATURE | Eddy Wu | 2024 | Taiwan

Moving Mountains | Jessica Poon | 2024 | Germany

Can you hear me? | Anastazja Naumenko | 2025 | Poland

In the belly of a snake | Ivan Khanzhin | 2025 | Russian Federation

TAFF Junior:

Tuu Tuu Til | Veronica Solomon | 2024 | Germany

Robot Leo | Piret Sigus, Silja Saarepuu | 2025 | Estonia

The Night tunnel | 2024 | Belgium

Once Upon a Time in Dragonville | Marika Herz | 2024 | France, Switzerland

A Pain in the Butt | Elena Walf | 2025 | Germany |

Tied Down | Jadwiga Ligeza | 2024 | United Kingdom

Sparrows | Rémi Durin | 2024 | France

TIN TUNE | Carolyn Gair | 2025 | United States

Freak of Nature | Alexandra Lermer | 2024 | Germany

The Carp and the Child | Morgane Simon, Arnaud Demuynck | 2024 | France

Capybaras | Alfredo Soderguit | 2024 | France

NRUT | Sophia Schönborn| 2025 | Germany

The drifting guitar | Sophie Roze | 2024 | France

National competition:

Drawn in Water | Heta Jokinen | 2025 | Finland

The Peel | Nan Tung Lin | 2025 | Taiwan

Diabolus ex Machina | Niina Suominen | 2024 | Finland

Speeding, of Course | Anni Sairio, Joonatan Turkki | 2025 | Finland

Dollhouse Elephant | Jenny Jokela | 2025 | Finland

Contact | Lau Rämö | 2025 | Finland

Sauna People | Sanna Taikina | 2024 | Finland

Lights, Haze | Tata Managadze | 2024 | Finland

Photographs Not Taken | Hanneriina Moisseinen | 2025 | Finland

Fish River Anthology | Veera Lamminpää | 2024 | Finland

The full festival schedule will be published later. Early Bird passes are on sale now, giving you unlimited access to all screenings. Professionals and students can apply for accreditation to the festival on our Professionals page. See you in Turku!

Image: Nelly Drachman

24.06.2025

Become a TAFF volunteer!

TAFF is looking for enthusiastic volunteers for the tenth edition of the festival at the Manilla Cultural Factory & Turku Art House from 20.-24.8.2025!

We need people helping us during the festival and a few hands even before that. The shifts are about 5 hours and we would wish you to make at least 3 shifts, but we are open to work around your schedule. In this application form you can choose the days and times that suit you. We offer you a festival pass, one (1) vegan meal per work day and insurance for the duration of the shift.

A wide range of people and skills are needed for the festival, but you don’t need any special skills or previous experience – we provide all the guidance you need to get the job done. There’s a wide range of jobs on offer, so there’s sure to be a job to suit every applicant. You can choose just one volunteering role or take part in more than one if you wish. However, the aim is to keep the shifts relaxed – no one has to work through gritted teeth and sweat! You can also use the form to let us know if you’d like to join a friend on the same shifts, for example. Read more about volunteering below!

APPLICATION FORM

Please note that with this form, TAFF (Turun elokuvatapahtumat ry) gathers information about volunteer applicants. The information is only accessible to festival employees and is kept only for as long as necessary. Information is not given out to third parties.

If you have any questions about volunteering and applying, please contact info@taff.fi

DESCRIPTIONS OF TASKS:

  • Setting up, closing down, cleaning, decorating:

On the day before the festival, the festival will be built and the Manilla and Kino Kilta will be decorated. After the event, the place will be cleaned up.

  • Technical support:

Technicians are responsible for the technical aspects of the screenings, i.e. making sure that the image is visible and the sound is audible.

  • Runner:

A runner does what is needed: takes, imports, manages and adjusts, when needed.

  • Driver:

The drivers will have a car to transport all kinds of supplies during the event. A B licence is required.

  • Info, ticket sales:

The information desk sells tickets for film screenings and answers all sorts of tricky questions.

  • Exhibition guard:

Guidance and supervision of the TAFF exhibitions at the House of Arts.

  • Door manager, screening presenter:

Door staff check visitors’ tickets and take care of the practicalities at the beginning and end of the screenings. The role of the show host is to introduce any artists who may be present.

  • Security:

The stewards monitor the smooth running and safety of the side events and respond to concerns raised by customers. A steward card is required.

  • Distribution (before festival):

Distributors will help distribute marketing materials across the city before the festival.

APPLICATION FORM

Welcome to be part of the 10th TAFF!

30.05.2025

The animation buzz will take over Turku again in August, when the Turku Animated Film Festival celebrates its 10th anniversary. This year’s impressive festival trailer and visual look is based on artist Vappu Rossi’s work Tree of life. Watch the trailer below:

“The power of change overcomes existential fear, as the similarity in the growth of tree branches, leaf veins or human blood vessels is revealed in all its beauty”

Vappu Rossi (b. 1976) is an award-winning visual artist based in Helsinki, known for pushing the boundaries of drawing and multidisciplinary collaboration with different artistic and scientific disciplines. Rossi’s work, which oscillates between drawing, animation, installation and media art, deals with issues such as human emotions, movement, the passage of time and change. Rossi has collaborated extensively with dancers, musicians, scientists and cultural institutions both in Finland and internationally. She is also the first female Drawing Master of the University of Helsinki Art Room in the room’s more than 300-year history.

“I’m fascinated by making slow change visible in art. I work with very different mediums and methods, such as light boxes, paintings or giant wall drawings. However, I always find similar themes of presence, embodiment, transience and ephemerality underlining my art. The power of change overcomes existential fear, as the similarity in the growth of tree branches, leaf veins or human blood vessels is revealed in all its beauty,” says Rossi of her work. Watch the full interview below:

“Charcoal is one of the first things people used to draw with. Because you can erase and redraw it for as long as the paper lasts, it’s an interesting technique for creating metamorphoses”

Rossi is shortlisted for the The 2025 Below Zero art award, an annual British contemporary art prize for an internationally emerging Finnish artist, presented by the Beaconsfield Gallery, the Finnish Institute in Britain and Ireland in association with Serlachius. This year’s TAFF will also feature Rossi’s media piece Generatio spontanea, which has toured international film festivals. See you at TAFF!

Turku Animated Film Festival 20.-24.8. | taff.fi

07.01.2025

The 10th jubileum edition of the Turku Animated Film Festival will be held in Turku, Finland, August 20-24, 2025. TAFF will celebrate creativity and the art of animation with screenings during five days.

Submissions for TAFF 2025 are open until March 31. Submit your work via the link below.TAFF offers a wide range of competitions for animated shorts. For the International Competition, International Student Film Competition, TAFF Junior Competition and National Competition we are looking for original, bold, uncompromising & inventive animated shorts under 30 minutes to compete for Grand Prix, Best Professional Film, Best Student Film, Tough Eye award, TAFF Junior Award, Main Prize in National Competition and Audience award in International Competition. In addition, the festival programme consists of a seductive selection of carefully selected special programme.

The Competition is open for short animated films that have been completed after 1st of January 2024.

TAFF takes place in Turku, a city dedicated to art, culture and festivals. Our venues are a beautifully restored old factory milieu Manilla and the freshly-opened Arthouse Turku in the Old town. Both are situated by the River Aura in Turku, Finland. TAFF is organized by the non-profit Association Turun elokuvatapahtumat ry.

TAFF logo for entries 2025

A full audience and the text "Thank you, TAFF 2024!"
Photo: Jussi Virkkumaa

26.08.2024

TAFF 2024 was full of big emotions and celebrating animation!

The 2024 Turku Animated Film Festival has now come to an end. It’s time to take off our festival passes and store the newly-made memories in a safe place.

Friends of animation catching a screening. Photo: Jussi Virkkumaa
Eija Saarinen, a strong and essential figure behind the animation culture and education in Turku and Finland, celebrating the opening of TAFF 2024 with friends. Photo: Jussi Virkkumaa

Once again, TAFF brought together many old friends, but also new acquaintances in the animation world. Not only the invited guests but also the public enjoyed the festival, and TAFF set a new attendance record again this year.

“This year’s TAFF was all about people and encounters. In addition to many of the visiting directors, the festival saw a happy mix of other guests and artists. One of the best aspects of TAFF has always been the conversations, and this year I had the privilege of interviewing several great guests”, says Annika Dahlsten, Festival Director at TAFF for the second year.

People enjoying the TAFF magic. Photo: Jussi Virkkumaa

Our popular TAFF Junior programme was again welcomed with open arms. The school screenings on Thursday and Friday were attended by an enthusiastic young audience who enjoyed a cultural experience in a safe atmosphere.

Ten films were awarded this year. The level of international competition was high, but the winner of the top prize was quickly made clear to our jury: this year’s Grand Prix went to Gianluigi Toccafondo’s vibrantly atmospheric La Voix des Sirènes that took advantage of cleverly mixing techniques. The overall picture of the TAFF programme was highlighted by puppet animation: every screening of the year saw the use of this challenging and expensive animation technique.

Our thanks go to our professional and charismatic jury, which this year consisted of Pernille Kjaer, Katariina Lillqvist and Slave Lukarov. Thanks also go to our TAFF Junior jury, the arts-oriented eighth class at Luostarinvuori School, who selected My Name is Edgar and I Have a Cow, directed by Filip Diviak, as the winner of the TAFF Junior Award.

The jury of the 9th edition of TAFF: Pernille Kjaer, Katariina Lillqvist and Slave Lukarov. Photo: Jussi Virkkumaa
Being a jury member takes planning and dedication. Photo: Jussi Virkkumaa
TAFF Junior Jury, eighth-grade students at Luostarinvuori School’s arts-oriented class announcing the winner of TAFF Junior Award: Kaspar Möldre, Ben Eshet, Emilia Isomaa and Alina Sjö. Photo: Jussi Virkkumaa
Elli Vuorinen accepting the award for Flower Show (2023) as the Best National Film. Photo: Jussi Virkkumaa
Eleni Aerts won the Best Student Film award for her film Red Meat (2024). Photo: Jussi Virkkumaa

You can read about all the films awarded at the festival here.

Special milestones were also commemorated at the 9th edition of TAFF. Animation education in Turku is celebrating its 30th anniversary this year, and to mark the occasion, TAFF featured a couple of screenings with gems from the Academy’s archives. The 20th anniversary of the cooperative Animaatiokopla was also celebrated with a special screening.

This summer, TAFF offered a record number of free pop-up events open to all, which we arranged in locations easily accessible to the citizens, such as libraries. The events were part of the pop-up art programme organised by the city of Turku’s Cultural spearhead project.

The audience enjoying an outdoor screening in the Brinkkala courtyard. Photo: Jussi Virkkumaa
The outdoor screening was jointly organised by TAFF, Turku Film Club TEK and Turun Kirjakahvila. Photo: Jussi Virkkumaa

We were happy to offer a space at Vanha viinatehdas in Manilla for an exhibition of some students from the Turku Arts Academy. We also opened our own exhibition in Galleria Aski, Art House Turku just before the festival week. The exhibition, which features a wide range of animation art, will be on display until Sunday 1 September.

The students at the Turku Arts Academy left quite an impression with their installations. Photo: Jussi Virkkumaa
Interested people at the opening of the exhibition in Galleria Aski. Photo: Anna-Erika Nurmi

TAFF’s professional programme TAFF Pro once again attracted a large number of animation and film professionals. Thanks to Leo Viirret, Katariina Lillqvist, Niki Lindroth von Bahr, CHRZU, Katja Kettu and Mika Koskinen for providing a high quality programme for our guests!

The master himself: Leo Viirret leading a workshop about scriptwriting. Photo: Jussi Virkkumaa
The wonderful Niki Lindroth von Bahr during her lecture. Photo: Jussi Virkkumaa
The TAFF Pro panel discussion sealed the inspirational professional programme. Mika Koskinen as the moderator, Niki Lindroth von Bahr, Katja Kettu and CHRZU. Photo: Annika Dahlsten

Thank you to the hard-working production team, volunteers and everyone who has been involved in building TAFF. Thank you, our dear audience and guests, for making our work especially meaningful!

In her speech at the opening of TAFF, Elina Rantanen, Deputy Mayor of the City of Turku, pointed out that cities and their inhabitants would be almost nothing without culture. We cannot but agree with this.

Elina Rantanen, Deputy Mayor of the City of Turku. Photo: Jussi Virkkumaa

Thank you TAIKE, City of Turku, AVEK, Liedon Säästöpankkisäätiö, SES, Oskar Öflunds Stiftelse, Pro Manilla Foundation, Finnish-Swedish Cultural Foundation and Finnish-Danish Cultural Foundation for supporting our festival and animation culture.

A big thank you also to TAFF’s sponsors Scene Turku, Yle, SET, Pyjama, Rajupaja and Animaatiokilta.

Thank you to Panimoyhtiö X, ship hostel S/S Bore and Bagelhouse for keeping our production team and guests going!

Roos Hekkens, Festival Producer at TAFF, opening the first screening of this year. Photo: Jussi Virkkumaa
A full house to see the Best of TAFF 2024. Photo: Jussi Virkkumaa
Thank you, TAFF 2024! Photo: Jussi Virkkumaa

Have a happy and colourful autumn everyone – and see you again next year!

24.08.2024

Here are the awarded films at Turku Animated Film Festival 2024

Here they are – the winning films at this year’s TAFF! We were happy to present a total of 10 awards to films at tonight’s Award Ceremony. The winning films enchanted both our jury and audience, thanks to their breathtaking visuals and bold, innovative storytelling.

Grand Prix

La Voix des Sirènes – Gianluigi Toccafondo

…and because of the purposeful combination of techniques, and because of the colorfully rich image, and because of the gentle use of sound, and because of the story, and because of the atmosphere, but mostly because all the members of the jury at the same time said “jo, jo, jo, jo, that’s it”, the Gran Prix goes to the film La Voix des Sirènes.

Best National Film

Flower Show – Elli Vuorinen

The Best National Film award goes to a film with an overflowing, flourishing visual style. The film reveals the constraints of womanhood in a baroque garden of Eden.

The Best National Award is kindly sponsored by SET ry.

Special Mention – Best National Film

I Smell a Mouse – Iiti Yli-Harja

The jury gave a special mention to Iiti Yli-Harja’s surrealistic puppet animation “I smell a Mouse”. It moves cleverly between the agony of everyday life and the grim horror tales of childhood, inviting the audience into a deep dive to the dungeons of the subconscious mind.

Best Professional Film

Zima – Tomek Popakul / Kasumi Ozeki

In this film, the author deprived us of any romance with a rough and realistic depiction of the atmosphere of a small town, combining strong graphics and sound, taking us through loneliness and closeness at the same time. Because of all that, the award for the Best Professional Film goes to the film Zima by Tomek Popakul.

Special Mention – Best Professional Film

A Kind of Testament – Stephen Vuillemin

This high concept film is about surviving your own death.

The Special Mention for Professional Animation goes to “A Kind of Testament” by Stephen Vuillemin.

And remember: always buy the shoes!

Best Student Film

Red Meat – Eleni Aerts

The best student film award goes to a film that really gets into the meat of its subject matter; living is suffering! The author of this film has created a little piece of cinematic poetry.

Special Mention – Best Student Film

Keep Out – Tan Lui Chan

The jury gave an honorary mention in the student competition to Tan Lui Chan’s animation “Keep out”. It is a witty, sad but funny satire about desperate social media addicts who are overdosing on junk food and sex but can’t find a way out from their labyrinths.

TAFF Junior Award

My Name is Edgar and I Have a Cow – Filip Diviak

The best TAFF Junior film has been chosen by eighth-grade students from Martti school. Every year, a class from Martti school makes us a great favour by watching every TAFF Junior screening and carefully choosing the winner. This year the award goes to a funny and animal-friendly film.

Tough Eye Reward

The Mole – Alexey Sukhov

Goes to a very tough film, with a daring graphic style, a surreal and yet  – to a filmmaker – a strangely familiar narrative; it’s tough to be an artist! The Tough Eye Award goes to “The Mole” by Alexey Sukhov.

Audience Award

Beautiful Men – Nicolas Keppens

Our audience has voted, and they voted eagerly. The award was a tough choice between several excellent films.

Entrance to Manilla and festival-goers

22.08.2024

TAFF 2024 has begun!

The ninth round of the Turku Animated Film Festival kicked off yesterday! We had the pleasure to screen “Twisted Impact”, the first of our screenings with films taking part in the international competition as well as “Finnish Gems”, presenting the films in the national competition. Our audience came in big numbers, and we can’t wait to show you more!

Audience and film screen
Screening at Viinatehdas. Photo: Jussi Virkkumaa
Full house! Director Q&A after the national screening. Photo: Jussi Virkkumaa

We also loved to see many people showing up for our outdoor screening of Junk Head, organised together with Turun Elokuvakerho and Kirjakahvila in the late hours at Brinkkala courtyard. The weather played along and the atmosphere was filled with animation joy.

outdoor film screening and people watching the film
Outdoor screening at Brinkkala courtyard. Photo: Jussi Virkkumaa

Turku Arts Academy’s “Behind the Scenes” exhibition started simultaneously at Viinatehdas. The exhibition will be on display until Saturday 24.8.

“Behind the Scenes” exhibition. Photo: Jussi Virkkumaa

Today, on Thursday, our highly awaited TAFF Junior school screenings began. We once again opened the doors of Manilla-teatteri for preschool and primary school students as well as daycare groups from the Turku area. During the weekend, we welcome all families and those young at heart to enjoy the same screenings! The screenings are free for children under 16 years.

Thank you all for coming and making this year’s TAFF start this strong! There is much more to come. Get to know the complete festival timetable here and follow us on social media @turkuanimatedfilmfestival to learn even more!

Happy festival-goers! Photo: Jussi Virkkumaa

Featured Image by Jussi Virkkumaa

Picture with the text "Turku Animated Film Festival Jury 2024" and portraits of the jury members.

16.08.2024

Meet our jury for Turku Animated Film Festival 2024!

We proudly present the esteemed members of our jury for Turku Animated Film Festival 2024! All of our jury members have extensive experience in the animation industry. Their professional and critical approach will highlight the most innovative and insightful films in our competition and ensure that the Grand Prix finds the right address again this year.

Katariina Lillqvist is an award-winning Finnish-born director and scriptwriter who lives and works in Czech Republic and also in Sweden. She is the chairperson of film co-operative Camera Cagliostro (FI/CZ) and curator of the Mikulandska Art Recidency in Prague. Lillqvist has been working over 30 years with Czech animation artists, creating 20 stop-motion animations and also documents, radio features and installations. 

Lillqvist will hold a lecture at TAFF’s professional program TAFF Pro. There will also be a special screening of her work shown at TAFF.

Pernille Kjaer is a Danish independent animation filmmaker and multidisciplinary artist. Former student at the Academy of Fine Arts in Aarhus, she completed her studies with a BA in character animation from The Animation Workshop in Viborg, Denmark. Her work includes animated films, prints, painting and ceramics.

Still prints of Kjaers works will be shown at TAFF’s exhibition at Galleria Aski in Taiteen talo. What’s more, her most recent film Spring (2023) will be shown at the opening of TAFF.

Slave Lukarov is the vice-president of ASIFA Croatia, founder and artistic director of the International Festival of Animated Film and Comics SUPERTOON; organizer and leader of clubbing events, as well as international animation, visual arts and comics workshops; producer of short animated films, curator of the exhibitions and publisher of comics editions; author of 25 short and animated films and 33 multimedia exhibitions. During all that time he was successfully unemployed.

02.08.2024

Meet the people behind this year’s TAFF!

Our team consists of a vibrant mix of artists, curators, and enthusiasts, all united by a shared love for the art of animation. Together we strive to showcase the very best in animated short films from around the world as well as our Finnish gems. We work to ensure a safe, warm and unforgettable festival experience for all our visitors – we are here for you!

Annika Dahlsten, Festival Director

I am now in my second year as Festival Director of TAFF. My job involves planning the festival, applying for funding and brainstorming content together with the board of the underlying association, Turun elokuvatapahtumat ry. I also act as the production team’s front person and keep in contact with our partners. This year, I have planned our pop-up collaborations with libraries and Taiteen talo, and I am responsible for curating two of the festival’s exhibitions. The closer we get to the festival, the more concrete production work I’ll be doing. Meanwhile, my thoughts are already on planning next year’s TAFF festival.

I have experience in art productions and projects from both TAIKE and the Finnish Cultural Foundation. I graduated from the Turku Academy of Arts as an animation director and visual artist, and my work has been shown both in Finland and abroad, in exhibitions and festivals. TAFF is a festival I love and have participated in every year since its beginning in 2016. It’s great to be involved in TAFF and to be part of the international animation scene!

Joni Männistö, Artistic Director

My name is Joni Männistö and I got my animation studies at the Turku Arts Academy. My short animations have been shown at numerous festivals around the world. Since 2016, I have been the Artistic Director of TAFF. In addition to that, I am also part of the curation team for the animation programme of the PÖFF Shorts festival in Tallinn. Over the years, I have had the honour to be invited to several award ceremonies at international film festivals. I currently live and work in Tallinn.

Veronika Sekne, Programmer

I have been working as a programmer for TAFF since 2019. I got introduced to independent animation at festivals which eventually led me to obtaining a master in stop motion in Spain. My strong desire to explore the world results in a very nomadic lifestyle, moving between my hometown Ljubljana, my beloved Barcelona and living out of a backpack every remaining moment.

I’m currently working in Berlin and saving money for my next trip. I love feeding people, warm summer nights, good coffee, long breakfasts and I’m totally incapable of making decisions. I’m also passionate about intersectionality and work as an accessible yoga facilitator.

Anton Perttu, Festival Producer

I’m Anton, Festival Producer at TAFF for the second year running. My expertise lies in event production and audience work, and although I have no background in animation or film, working at TAFF alone has taught me a lot about the industry and given me a whole new perspective on animated films. These new perspectives are the best thing I have gotten from TAFF!

Roos Hekkens, Festival Producer

I’m Roos Hekkens, Festival Producer at TAFF. My main responsibilities are the screenings and contacting the guests and directors who make our festival possible!

TAFF started when I just moved to Turku and that has created a bond between me and the festival. I really like how events such as TAFF bring like minded people together and present great films to audiences in a lovely small town such as Turku. Film has definitely been a medium for me to meet amazing new people and I have very dear animator friends as well! 

Anna-Erika Nurmi, Communications Assistant

I’m Anna-Erika, and I work as a Communications Assistant at TAFF. My job involves a wide range of tasks from communications to marketing. For example, I produce a lot of TAFF’s social media publications, but I also write newsletters, update the website and help our festival team where I can!

My previous work experience in communications lies mainly in the field of linguistics and environmental sciences. TAFF has introduced me to the film industry, which I’m truly grateful for! Animation is an art form I adore, and I’m so happy with everything I’ve already experienced and learned at TAFF.

Ylva-Lii Wahlström, Volunteer Coordinator

My name is Ylva-Lii, but you can call me Ylva, and I am the festival’s Volunteer Coordinator. I moved to Turku to study animation in the autumn of 2017, and my relationship with TAFF has continued in one way or another ever since. I’m looking forward to meeting this year’s volunteers and seeing the brand new animations.

Matti Luukko, Production Intern

I am doing an internship at TAFF as part of my animation studies at Turku University of Applied Sciences. During the festival I work as a technical assistant and before and after the festival I assist in various tasks from film transport to hanging exhibitions.

Jaani Kekäläinen, Technical Officer

My name is Jaani and I am responsible for the technology and technical performance of animation shows. I discovered the technical and narrative richness of animation by chance at the Turku Animated Film Festival. It is great that I can now play my part in promoting this art form, especially here in Turku. It’s exciting to see what kind of work this year will bring! 🙂

Check out the timetable for TAFF 2024 »

TAFF Pro guests in a row.

09.07.2024

TAFF Pro 2024 focuses on adaptations and animation

TAFF Pro brings together Finnish and international animators and strives to promote the vitality of the animation field by offering new ideas and contacts to industry players and students. We are excited to announce this year’s professional program taking place on 22 and 23 August, this time focused on adaptations!

Check the program of TAFF Pro here »

Presenting a truly phenomenal lineup

On Thursday 22, Leo Viirret holds a lecture and a workshop about storytelling. Viirret will especially look into revealing both personal and universal truths in art. We are seeking answers to questions like: How does the writer find a truth to reveal? How can they ensure that their personal truth is recognized as a universal truth that will resonate with the audience? Register to the workshop here!

On Friday 23, TAFF Pro deepens the theme with keynotes from Niki Lindroth von Bahr and Katariina Lillqvist. In the afternoon, we invite you to take a comfortable position as we will be diving into a scriptwriting-oriented panel discussion with Lindroth von Bahr, CHRZU and Katja Kettu, moderated by Mika Koskinen. (We’re sure that we can’t avoid talking a bit about AI, as well..!) The day and TAFF Pro comes to an end with the much anticipated screening Adapted Classics – a screening of classic stories adapted to animation films.

We have now opened the accreditation application for animation & film professionals and students! Once accredited, you can purchase our accreditation pass which gets you into all of our screenings and the TAFF Pro program.

Check the program of TAFF Pro here and apply for accreditation »

Get to know our guests

Leo Viirret

Leo Viirret is a versatile screenwriter with a career spanning various genres and formats since the late 1990s. His portfolio encompasses short films, feature films, and TV series produced using live action, 2D, 3D, stop-motion, and motion capture animation techniques. While diverse, much of Viirret’s work is characterized by a comedic touch. In addition to his creative endeavors, Viirret has been invited to lecture at numerous universities and universities of applied sciences.

Niki Lindroth von Bahr

Niki Lindroth von Bahr is an artist and animation director based in Stockholm. Her award winning short films Something to Remember (2019), The Burden (2017), Bath House (2014) and Tord and Tord (2010) have been screened at festivals like Cannes, Berlinale, Toronto and Sundance. The Burden has since its premiere in 2017 won 82 awards, including the Cristal for Best Short Film in Annecy, Best International Short Film in Toronto and Guldbaggen for Best Short Film. Niki got her master’s degree in fine arts from The Royal Institute of Art in 2016. As of 2024, Lindroth von Bahr is a member of the Oscars Academy.

Katariina Lillqvist

Katariina Lillqvist is a Finnish director and scriptwriter who lives and works in Czech Republic and also in Sweden. She is the chairperson of film co-operative Camera Cagliostro (FI/CZ) and curator of the Mikulandska Art Residency in Prague. Lillqvist has been working over 30 years with Czech animation artists, creating 20 stop-motion animations and also documents, radio features and installations. Her works have won numerous prizes and awards from major film festivals world-wide, including the Silver Bear of Berlin Film Festival, Special Prize of Annecy Animation Festival and Master of Animation-award from Lleida Animation Festival.

Katja Kettu

Katja Kettu is an acclaimed and award-winning writer with a strong, unique voice. Originally from Rovaniemi, Lapland, she graduated from the Turku Academy of Arts in 2001 as an animation director and has also studied in the University of Tampere and in the National Film and Television School in the UK. Her debut novel Surujenkerääjä (2005) was nominated for the Helsingin Sanomat Literature Prize and won the Tiiliskivi Prize, but her breakthrough came with The Midwife (orig. Kätilö, 2011), which won the Kalevi Jäntti Prize, the Runeberg Prize and the Thank You for the Book Medal, and was adapted into a film in 2015.

CHRZU

Christer CHRZU Lindström (b.1977) is a director of both animation and live action films. He also produces, acts, designs costumes, does makeup, designs sets, composes, edits and writes screenplays. Lindström’s filmography consists of award winning short films, which range from animation, documentaries to live action films. His first feature film was released last year. Lindström is also known for teaching narration for the animation students of the Turku Arts Academy.

Mika Koskinen

Mika Koskinen is an animation director, producer, and animation artist. Koskinen has directed and produced several short animations that have screened in several festivals in Finland and around the world. In addition, Koskinen has made animation projections for museums and public spaces, such as the Moomin Museum in Tampere and the Rakastajat Theater in Pori. Koskinen uses 2D drawn animation in his work, but he is also interested in combining different techniques into a whole that supports the storytelling. Koskinen has also taught animation and has been active in the animation organizations.

Check the whole timetable for TAFF »

01.07.2024

The program of the 9th edition of TAFF has been published!

Get inspired by the latest world-class short animation, discuss the films with new and old friends and enjoy the last summer days in a great setting from 21 to 25 August at the Manilla Culture Factory! You can already start to get excited about all this, as the program for TAFF 2024 has now been published!

Our program consists of three competition series plus panorama and themed screenings. During the festival week, animation lovers will also be offered free admission to screenings and workshops around the city as part of the pop-up art programme by the city of Turku’s Cultural spearhead project.

We have kept our younger audience in mind again this year, as a selection of this year’s films is also suitable for children of different ages. On Thursday and Friday, there will also be a programme for animation and film professionals, as TAFF Pro brings together animators and filmmakers. Find out more about this later!

As Joni Männistö, the Artistic Director of TAFF, sums up this year’s program: “Animators still don’t disappoint. Imagination has not been neglected in the making of films. The scale ranges from serious to absurd, and the techniques used are varied and skilful. The screenings have been put together to suit a wide range of tastes, and you can easily choose from them, whether you are a fan of narrative or more experimental animation.”

For the program, timetable and tickets, visit taff.fi/timetable. In addition to the screening tickets, you can also buy a festival pass with unlimited access to all of our screenings or a 6-ticket screening card.

Stills in the banner from left to right: Las Voix de Sirenes (dir. Gianluigi Toccafondo), I Smell a Mouse (dir. Iiti Yli-Harja), Yuck! (dir. Loïc Espuche), Hurikan (dir. Jan Saska), Meatseller (dir. Margherita Giusti) and Boy Blue (dir. CIANG, Matteo Dang Minh, Francesca Colombara).

Tumma elokuvateatteri, jossa ihmiset katsovat elokuvaa. Päällä teksti, jossa lukee TAFF 2024. / A dark cinema where people watch a film. On top of the picture, a text reads TAFF 2024.

17.06.2024

Discover the Official Selection of TAFF 2024!

We are excited to announce the official selection of this year’s TAFF!

This year, TAFF got a record number of submissions from over 100 countries. Out of all the great films submitted, we have now selected the most captivating ones for our audience to see.

We will publish the film titles gradually (click the link to see the list):

Mon 17 June: International Competition

Tue 18 June: National Competition

Wed 19 June: Junior Competition

Thu 20 June: Panorama program

This year’s films were selected by the festival’s Artistic Director Joni Männistö, Programmer Veronika Sekne and Turun Anikistit ry.
  • International Competition, International Panorama and Documentary Panorama: Joni Männistö & Veronika Sekne
  • Junior Competition: Joni Männistö
  • National Competition and Music Video Panorama: Turun Anikistit ry.

11.06.2024

TAFF Pro offers high quality program for professionals and students

TAFF will take place for the ninth time at the charming Manilla Cultural Factory in Turku from 21 to 25 August 2024, and the industry-favourite TAFF Pro will be back, too! The two-day event during the festival week offers program for animation and filmmaking professionals and students.

On Thursday, 22 August, and Friday, 23 August, TAFF Pro will feature lectures on various relevant themes. Prominent speakers are expected and include the Finnish screenwriter Leo Viirret, the Swedish animator Niki Lindroth von Bahr and the animation director Katariina Lillqvist.. There will also be a unique screenwriting workshop organised by Viirret as well as a panel discussion with Lindroth von Bahr, writer-director Katja Kettu and filmmaker CHRZU. The cherry on top will be a special curated TAFF Pro screening devoted to adaptation!

The exact TAFF Pro program will be published in July.

The program is being funded by AVEK, Finnish Animation Guild, Finnish Film Foundation and Suomalais-ruotsalainen kulttuurirahasto.

What, where and when?

WHAT: Professional lectures, a screenwriting workshop & more fun for animation and filmmaking professionals and students

WHERE: Manilla cultural factory (Itäinen Rantakatu 64b, 20810 Turku)

WHEN: Thu 22 August and Fri 23 August 2024

Accreditation

Professionals and students in animation, film and the arts can apply for accreditation. Once accredited, you can get a TAFF festival pass for the reduced price of 30 €. The pass must be purchased on site at the festival ticket office, where your accreditation status will be checked. The festival pass gives you access to all screenings and the versatile TAFF Pro programme! The accreditation will open here in July.

Come and spend an inspiring summer’s day in a charming environment with fellow animation devotees! 
Still picture from the film Rider on the Bucket (Hiilisangolla ratsastaja) from 1992. The picture shows a person playing a violin in a dimly lit room while a rat listens nearby.
Rider on the bucket (Hiilisangolla ratsastaja) from 1992. Archive of the Finnish Film Foundation.

29.05.2024

Finnish animation master to visit Turku this summer

Katariina Lillqvist, a respected Finnish film and animation artist, will be visiting Turku in August to delight animation lovers at TAFF. Based in the Czech Republic, Lillqvist has worked in animation for more than 30 years and enjoys international renown. During her career, she has directed twenty short animations, as well as several documentaries and radio programmes.

Portrait of Katariina Lillqvist.
Katariina Lillqvist. Lillqvist’s archive.

Lillqvist is particularly known for her puppet animations and enjoys a reputation of skillfully fusing literary art and animation. She has won numerous awards during her career, including the Silver Bear at the Berlinale and the main prize at the Tampere Film Festival.

In addition to a special screening of Lillqvist’s film during the festival week, the animator will be a member of the international jury to award the best films in this year’s festival’s competition and will lecture at TAFF Pro, an event for professionals in the field. In his lecture, Lillqvist will present his animation trilogy based on short stories by Franz Kafka.

Still picture from The Country Doctor (Maalaislääkäri) from 1996. The picture shows an elderly person travelling in a carriage in grey weather while lower limbs are pulling the carriage.
The Country Doctor (Maalaislääkäri) from 1996. Archives of the Finnish Film Foundation.

To read the press release in Finnish, click here!

24.05.2024

Presale for TAFF 2024 has begun!

You can now purchase festival passes to this year’s festival! Secure your seats in advance or give as a gift to a graduating art and culture aficionado. Don’t miss out on the most luminous event of the year!

TAFF features more than 20 different series of programmes and nearly 200 films. In addition to the screenings of the international and national competitions, the festival has a variety of special screenings, exhibitions and workshops to offer.

This year’s festival will take place from 21st to 25th of August 2024 at the idyllic Manilla Culture Factory (Itäinen Rantakatu 64b, 20810 Turku).

Buy your festival pass here!

15.05.2024

Volunteer at TAFF!

Turku Animated Film Festival is looking for enthusiastic volunteers to join us at the 9th edition of the festival at Manillan Kulttuuritehdas & Taiteen talo, taking place from 21st to 25th of August 2024!

As a TAFF volunteer, you’ll be part of an amazing community in a great atmosphere, and you have the opportunity to see many animated films! Our aim is to create a relaxed, cosy, and safe event for everyone, both our beloved visitors and our incredible volunteers. 

What you will get:
  • a festival pass that will give you free access to the screenings when you’re off-duty, if not sold out. 
  • We offer one (1) vegan meal per workday and insurance for the duration of the shift for each volunteer. 
  • At the end of the festival we celebrate the success and hard work with an afterparty and our volunteers are more than welcome to join! 
  • Plus, if you want, we’ll be happy to provide you with a reference letter!
What we ask from you:
  • We wish for you to commit to a minimum of 3 shifts, together approximately 15 hours of your time, but we are open to work around your schedule!
  • A hands-on attitude to make the festival happen together!

You don’t need any specific qualifications or previous experience – we’ll give you all the guidance you need. There are different tasks we need help with and you may help with one or more roles during the festival. Check out the roles available below!

Don’t forget to mention in the application if you’d like to be paired up with a friend and double the fun!

If you have any questions, please drop us an email at talkoo@taff.fi

Welcome to be part of the TAFF magic this summer. Apply now and let’s make this year’s festival an unforgettable experience!

 

FILL THE VOLUNTEER APPLICATION HERE!

Please note that with this form TAFF (Turun elokuvatapahtumat ry) gathers information about volunteer applicants. The information is only accessible to festival employees and is kept only for as long as necessary. Information is not given out to third parties.

 

Job descriptions:
  • Setting up / closing down / cleaning / decorating

Setting up the venue, bringing the festival atmosphere with decorations, cleaning up and breaking down at the venue.

  • ​​Ticket sales / info

Selling tickets and merchandise, answering questions and providing customer service.

  • Door manager / Screening presenter

Checking tickets at the door, making sure everything is in order at the venue, presenting the screening.

  • Exhibition guard

Guiding and guarding the TAFF exhibition at Taiteen talo.

  • Runner

Runner does whatever is needed at the moment.

  • Technical support

Making sure the films are running smoothly, assisting the responsible technician.

  • Security

Securing the evening events and helping our guests with issues that arise. Official licence required.

  • Driver

Driving things and people around the city. B-licence required.

  • Distribution

Handing out marketing materials around the city before the festival in August.

 

FILL THE VOLUNTEER APPLICATION HERE!

Sinisävyisessä piirroskuvassa susi tanssittaa naista

25.04.2024

Wolf and woman are dancing on blue backgroud. Drawing styleThe multi award winner and internationally acclaimed animation artist Heta Jäälinoja has created the festival identity for TAFF 2024. The festival poster and trailer presents an odd couple in a whirlwind of a passionate dance.


TAFF’s festival director Annika Dahlsten interviewed Heta.

A: Heta, where did you get the idea for the visual identity?

H: I thought it would be fun to draw dancing. I was listening to music at the studio and I rediscovered the album called “Kimaltavia unelmia” by Ville Leinonen. It’s shamelessly romantic and grandiose with pathos, diamond boots and all… It delighted me a lot while working with the identity. Probably it even inspired me. The appearance of the woman who’s reading is inspired by the pantsuit style of Meg Ryan in ”When Harry Met Sally”.

A: I admire your fluent and skillfully drawn line. How would you describe your style?

H: I like lively drawings and that’s the style I aim for. The sketchy drawing style is very forgiving when drawing the inbetweens for animation and it suits me well because I’m pretty lazy.

A: You mostly make drawn films, why is that so?

H: I make drawn animations because tinkering with puppets isn’t really my thing. Nevertheless I’m still fascinated by frame-by-frame masochism.

A: In addition to animated films, you do illustrations. How do these jobs differ from each other? How is the work process different?

H: This TAFF identity is my first illustration job in years and it’s nice that I was free to do whatever I wanted. On the other hand, making this took forever because I couldn’t clearly figure out how to transfer an analogue image and text into a digital format. Animation workflow comes more from muscle memory.

A: Your latest film “Nun or Never!” was awarded as the audience’s favourite at TAFF last year. It has been touring around the world and has won 24 awards and nominations. That’s quite an achievement! What does success feel like?

H: The success gives me confidence that I can continue in my chosen path as an animation filmmaker. When I start a new project, the gained arrogance unfortunately disappears fast and I find myself facing the same insecurity as always when making a film. This is why I try to sunbathe in the glow of the previous film’s fame as long as possible. I’m also a bit disappointed that the glorious success hasn’t made me rich yet. I still have to gather money for living from here and there.

A: What’s your relationship with TAFF?

H: TAFF means a warm-hearted place for animators to meet and well curated high level screenings to me. I truly hope that more and more audiences from in- and outside of the animation industry find their way to TAFF and to enjoy the warm August days in Turku.

A: Send greetings to TAFF guests!

H: Enjoy the films and the company of each other!

 

Heta Jäälinoja (b.1989) studied animation at Turku Arts Academy and finished her MA at Estonian Academy of Arts in 2016. Her graduation film “Penelope” won multiple awards in festivals, for example best national short film at Tampere Film Festival 2017. The film was also nominated for best short film in the Finnish film awards 2018.

Heta’s film “Nun or Never!” (2023, Böhle Studios) is an internationally awarded animation that has won e.g. in Annecy, both the audience award and the France TV Prize. The 11-minute film tells the story of a nun whose underground discovery breaks the harmony of the monastery and disturbs the main character’s peace of mind.

Heta likes romantic comedies and salty liquorice ice cream.

Animaatio-ohjaaja Heta Jäälinoja seisoo vihreän pensaan edessä
Heta Jäälinoja. Photo: Erik Liiv

12.01.2024

The 9th edition of the Turku Animated Film Festival will be held again in Turku, Finland, August 21-25, 2024, presenting dozens of screenings during five days.

Submissions for TAFF 2024 are open until March 31.  Submit your work via the link below.

The competitions for animated shorts will be held again in 2024. For the International Competition, International Student Film Competition, TAFF Junior Competition and National Competition we are looking for original, bold, uncompromising & inventive animated shorts under 30 minutes to compete for Grand Prix, Best Professional Film, Best Student Film, Tough Eye award, TAFF Junior Award, Main Prize in National Competition and Audience award in International Competition. In addition, the festival programme consists of a seductive selection of carefully selected special programme.

The Competition is open for short animated films that have been completed after 1st of January 2023.

TAFF takes place in the hometown of the renowned Turku Arts Academy. Our venues are a beautifully restored old factory milieu Manilla and the freshly-opened Arthouse Turku in the Old town. Both are situated by the River Aura in Turku, Finland. TAFF is organized by the non-profit Association Turun elokuvatapahtumat ry.

 

18.12.2023

TAFF joins Finnish Short Film Day!

We at Turku Animated Film Festival celebrate the Finnish Short Film Day! It is held for the 11th time on December 21st, and the celebration will start a week prior on the 14th of December. The day’s origins go back to France, and its purpose is to increase the visibility of short films and bring short film screenings closer to every film lover.

This year Finnish Short Film Day is organised by Tampere Film Festival, Yle, The Centre for Finnish Media Art, The Finnish Film Foundation, Helsinki International Film Festival Love & Anarchy, Oulu International Children’s and Youth Film Festival, Turku Animated Film Festival, IhmeFilmi and Azh Boyzz. It is funded by The Finnish Film Foundation.

Read more about the Finnish Short Film Day and how to apply for your own, free film package and organise a screening from the Finnish Short Film Day pages.

Turku Animated Film Festival has curated its own animation film package called Games X Animation. The package consists of gaming themed animations and was shown at TAFF last summer. The cinema package has also two animations. Nun or Never! by Heta Jäälinoja was rewarded at TAFF2023 with the Best National Film award. Much loved Barbeque by Jenny Jokela was screened at TAFF 2018. Read more about the cinema screenings here.

Hardly Working by Total Refusal

Games X Animation

68 min | Eng | Recommended age limit 16
Animations with gaming themes. The package has been curated by Turku Animated Film Festival.

Kids

Switzerland | 2019 | Animation | 9 min | Director: Michael Frei | Eng | Recommended age limit: for all ages
An animated short exploring group dynamics. How do we define ourselves when we are all equal? Who is steering the crowd? What if it is heading in the wrong direction? Where does the individual end and the group begin? What is done by choice, and what under duress?

Hardly Working

Austria | 2022 | Animation | 20 min | Director: Total Refusal | Recommended age limit: for all ages
Hardly Working sheds a limelight on the very characters that normally remain in the background of video games: NPCs. They are non-player characters that populate the digital world as extras to create the appearance of normality. A laundress, a stable boy, a street sweeper and a carpenter are observed with ethnographic precision. They are Sisyphus machines, whose labour routines, activity patterns as well as bugs and malfunctions paint a vivid analogy for work under capitalism.

Ugly

Germany | 2017 | Animation | 12 min | Director: Nikita Diakur | Eng | Recommended age limit: for all ages
An ugly cat struggles to coexist in a fragmented and broken world, eventually finding a soulmate in a mystical chief. Inspired by the internet story ‘Ugly the Cat’.

My Exercise

Japan | 2019 | Animation | 7 min | Director: Atsushi Wada | Eng | Recommended age limit: for all ages
A boy is doing an exercise with his dog.

In My Chest of Fire There Is Still Place to Temple Your Dagger

Spain | 2020 | Animation, romantic comedy | 5 min | Director: Pablo Ballarín | Eng | Recommended Age Limit 16
Picacho is a fighter who has to prepare for an important interview, an important combat and deal with a strange relationship with the trainer.

 

27.08.2023

Thank you, TAFF 2023!

The eighth edition of TAFF has come to an end with The Audience Choice and Best of TAFF 2023 screenings!

Turku Animated Film Festival gathered a multitude of seasoned animation enthusiasts and a great number of festival newcomers dared to explore the screenings as well! The Junior screenings in particular attracted a new and enthusiastic audience this year.

“Many of our films are experimental auteur works, not always the easiest viewing experiences. Therefore it has been a great joy to see that Turku as a cultural city has embraced TAFF into the lineup of late-summer festivals, and there is a growing interest in animation films,” says Annika Dahlsten, who stepped into the role of festival director this year.

This year, nine films were awarded at the festival. The awarded films included both anticipated favorites and surprising charmers. Among the audience favorites, domestic films had a strong presence. The festival’s main award went to Flóra Anna Budai’s French film “27,” an emancipation story that impressed the jury with its relevance and rich storytelling. The Audience Award, on the other hand, was won by Iiti Yli-Harja’s “Blush – An Extraordinary Voyage,” whose chaotic portrayal of friendship amused and charmed its viewers.

You can see all the awarded films and the reasoning behind the choices HERE.

Thanks to all the directors who submitted their films to us – without you, there would be no TAFF! Thanks also to our keen-eyed judges Thomas Renoldner, Aline Höchli, and Kaisa Penttilä, as well as our junior jury from Martti School’s 5C class! Thanks to the production team, volunteers, and everyone who helped build the backbone of our festival – and thank you, our dear audience, for giving it a heart!

Thanks to our partners Rajupaja Oy, WFFC and Scene Turku, Finnish Animation Guild, Taiteen talo, Turun Kirjakahvila, Aurinkobaletti, Jo-Jo Theater, Museum boat hostel S/S Bore, and Bagel House. Thanks to YLE, AVEK, SET ry, Arts Promotion Centre Finland TAIKE , SES, Turun kaupunki, The Finnish Cultural Foundation, and Pro Manilla Foundation for supporting the festival!

See you again next year!

26.08.2023

The Best films of Turku Animated Film Festival have been awarded!

At tonight’s Award Ceremony, a total of 9 awards were presented to films that captured the hearts of our jury and audience with their stunning visuals and daring, imaginative storytelling. Here are the best of TAFF 2023!

Grand Prix

27 – Flóra Anna Buda

“Many young adults today for economical reasons have to live together with their parents unvoluntarily. Alice’s attempt to grasp for autonomy in this sufficating enviroment is a rollercoaster of excess. The film convinces with its captivating visual realization and cinematically rich storytelling.”


Best National Film

Nun or Never! – Heta Jäälinoja

“This film is examining the role of an individual in a society of strict rules. Drawn with a sensitive line, the film tells a story of playful observations and finally reveals the audience everybody’s secrets.”

The award for Best National Film is sponsored by SET ry.


TAFF Junior Award

Battery Mommy – Seungbae Jeon

The amusing characters of the film lead a suspenseful story, where the narrative’s humour lightens it into a suitable everyday adventure for children.


Best Professional Film

Drijf  – Levi Stoops

“This film takes the audience in the middle of a strange journey, where the power dynamics of a relationship are examined. The film is provocative in a funny way, being lost with your partner can be empowering or a sheer nightmare.”


Special Mention – Professional Film

The TOBOS – Tobias Rud


Best Student Film

 

The Eastern Rain – Milly Yencken


“Based on the slightly absurd idea, that rain is falling not outside, but inside our houses, the film uses this animation film-specific narrative starting point to move towards experimental animation by combining a flow of expressive paintings with contemporary music.”


Special Mention – Student Film

Above The Clouds – Vivien Härshegyi


Tough Eye Award

Skinned – Joachim Hérissé

“Two people tragically bound together by interdepedence navigate through an everyday life moulded by violence and surpression. Atmospherich roughness and visual metaphors create an intense insight into the horror, which human connection can inherit.”

Audience Favourite

Blush – An Extraordinary Voyage – Iiti Yli-Harja

Our audience was particularly moved by this film that tackles the fear and realities of discrimination in a hilariously chaotic yet encouraging way – in space!

24.08.2023

The eighth round of the Turku Animated Film Festival kicked off yesterday, Wednesday!

Once again, TAFF presents the boldest, most beautiful, and insightful international short animations from the past two years. Out of over 2200 submitted short films, a total of 23 animations from 23 different countries were selected for the competition categories. In addition to the main competition, there are separate categories for Finnish films and films suitable for younger audiences.

In addition to the competition films, TAFF also features panorama screenings, catering to music and documentary enthusiasts. This year’s TAFF retrospective screening is dedicated to Thomas Renoldner, a member of this year’s judging panel, who has created an impressive experimental film career since the 1980s.

Today, on Thursday 24th, TAFF Pro Forum’s program provides space for the voices of professionals in games and animation, encouraging participants to engage in discussions, experiments, and collaborations. On Friday, 25th, the program shifts its focus to the future, as Jaakko Kemppainen, the regional artist for game art, discusses new technological prospects in digital games and the creative opportunities arising from them. The future theme continues with game designer Jussi Kemppainen, who examines the use of artificial intelligence as a tool for game development and what needs to be relinquished when relying on it.

You can find the entire program of TAFF Pro HERE.

TAFF Junior school screenings have begun as part of the TAFF Junior program. The highly popular school screenings are attended by preschool and primary school students from the Turku area, as well as daycare groups. This year, the most sought-after screenings were fully booked within hours of registration opening. However, during the weekend, the same films can be enjoyed in open and free TAFF Junior screenings for those under 16, providing the whole family with a chance to admire international animation art.

On Saturday, at the TAFF Junior workshop at the Taiteen talo, children and young people can also try their hand at creating animations themselves! Armed with the tips gained from the workshop, aspiring animators can continue their experiments using materials they have at home.

Tomorrow evening, Friday 25.8. around 10 pm, TAFF celebrates Turku Pride Week and, in collaboration with Kirjakahvila, presents the touching and poignant animated documentary “Flee,” which specifically addresses refugee experiences from a queer perspective.

You can find the complete festival timetable and buy tickets to the screening from HERE.

Welcome to the festival, all new and old friends of animation!

17.08.2023

Few words on Accessibility and Safer Space at Turku Animated Film Festival

This year, TAFF is expanding its reach of venues compared to the past few years. For this reason, it’s a good time to update our accessibility information.

TAFF screenings will take place at the Aurinkobaletti Manilla Theatre, where we’ll also return to the Jo-Jo Theatre. This year, TAFF Pro Forum will be held at the Manilla Viinatehdas. In addition to these venues, the non-stop screening in collaboration with Turun Anikistit and Finnish Animation Guild will be hosted at the Taiteen talo Media Studios. Taiteen talo will also host the TAFF Junior workshop on Saturday. Our outdoor screening will once again be held at Kirjakahvila.

Aurinkobaletti and Viinatehdas are the only fully accessible venues for people using mobility aids. Taiteen talo is partially accessible, but Jo-Jo Theater and Brinkkala yard (of Kirjakahvila) are not accessible with mobility aids. You can read detailed information about each venue from our Accessibility and Safety page.

This year, TAFF’s free program includes an outdoor screening of the animated documentary ‘Flee’, a children’s animation workshop, and a non-stop screening at Taiteen talo. Children and teens under 16 years old can attend TAFF Junior screenings for free. Individuals with low income can purchase screening tickets for 7 euros. You can find detailed instructions on our Timetable and Tickets page.

We want TAFF to be an inspiring, relaxed, and safe space for everyone! We do not tolerate any form of discrimination or harassment at the festival.

Since 2023, we have been a part of the Keep Festive community, whose goal is to promote comfort and safety for all participants in animation industry events. Keep Festive stands against any inappropriate behavior and harassment.

We expect everyone visiting the festival to abide by the rules of a safer space and to respect the personal psychological and physical boundaries of others. Please refrain from using discriminatory or derogatory language, embarrassing others, making assumptions, or engaging in any disrespectful behavior. Many of our films address sensitive topics, so in discussions, please remember to respect people’s privacy and address intimate subjects with consideration. You can read our principles of spacer from Accessibility and Safety page.

From the page you will also find information about our content warnings for the films. The content warnings will be updated to the site by Monday August 21st.

16.08.2023

Here are our speakers of TAFF Pro’s Friday!

 

On Friday, the focus shifts to the future perspectives and technologies of animation and games. Speeches are given by Regional Artist for Games as Art, Jaakko Kemppainen and Game Designer Jussi Kemppainen and later in the day they will join Sonja Yrjölä for a panel discussion moderated by Mika Koskinen from Finnish Animation Guild. TAFF Pro Friday closes with games-themed animation screening. The Games X Animation screening is open to the entire festival audience.

Jaakko Kemppainen is a game design veteran, with over 20 years of experience on making games. He is an explorer, curiously going to unknown areas of games – be it new technologies, audiences or ways of mixing games and other art forms. He has done interactive TV, location aware games, virtual and augmented reality, playable light art and other experimental games, along with traditional video-, mobile- and board games. Currently he is finishing his 5 year period as the regional artist of games at Arts Promotion Centre Finland.

Forest of Forking Paths – Possible Futures of Digital Games

Digital games are a constantly evolving ooze of opportunities and potentials. New technologies and business models emerge every now and then, affecting the imagination of game developers. Sometimes evolution of games is cyclic, sometimes disrupting. This lecture tries to predict potential ways the digital games will evolve in the near and distant future. The emphasis is on the artistic side and gameplay, but the technology, business and society can’t be ignored either.

Based on over 40 years as a gamer and 20 years as professional game developer, regional artist of games, Jaakko Kemppainen derives, extrapolates and exaggerates the futures of games, based on where they are now and how they ended up here.

Jussi Kemppainen is an award winning VFX artist / 3D modeler / game designer / director with 24 years of industry experience in companies like Ubisoft Redlynx, Rovio, Supercell and Remedy. His background is in mobile-, AAA- and indie games as well as movies, music videos and TV series – both animated and live action. He is currently employed at Mainframe Industries as the VFX Lead.

Echoes Of Art: Exploring AI tools for game production

What does AI mean for professionals?

A detailed research project into how current generative AI tools could slot into traditional game production pipeline and the compromises that need to be done in order to accommodate these tools.

The prototype project in this research is a 2.5D point and click adventure game, with AI generated locations and AI designed 3d characters.

Sonja Yrjölä is an 32-year-old animation artist, currently residing in the capital region. She graduated as an animation director from Turku University of Applied Sciences’ Academy of Fine Arts in 2018, and since then, she has been engaged in various animation projects within the industry. Whenever time permits, she is working on her own hand-drawn animated art game project.

Participating in the panel as a lifelong lover of games, Sonja brings a unique interest in the enigmatic blend of art and games.

16.08.2023

Here are TAFF Pro Forum’s speakers

On Thursday’s TAFF Pro Forum, gaming and animation professionals and experts can present their projects and connect with each other and exhibitors. The day will be filled with inspiring talks and interesting exhibitions. TAFF Pro’s coffee corner will offer a relaxed environment for connecting among professionals.

You can find the schedule for TAFF Pro from our timetable and tickets -page.

Exhibitors of TAFF Pro Forum:

Game Hub – Hive
IGDA
Turku Game Lab
Turku Scene / WFFC

Antti Laakso is a director, animator, animation teacher, and game creator who graduated from Turku Arts Academy’s animation line. His latest project is the computer game ‘Dreams in the Witch House,’ which was released in early 2023. It is based on the novella by American horror writer H.P. Lovecraft and combines elements from point-and-click adventure games and role-playing games.

Antti has also designed the visual identity for this year’s TAFF, drawing inspiration from the pixel art and fantasy imagery of 90s video games.

In his presentation Antti Laakso talks about developing his first released computer game, the horror adventure Dreams in the Witch House. How did the transition go from animation and film to games, and what kind of surprises there were on the long way to the finished product?
Curated by Tatu Pohjavirta.

Tiina Räsänen is an animator who employs storytelling as a versatile tool, not only in crafting visual content but also in UI/UX design and manual testing. Her engagement with the realm of games extends beyond mere playing, for she has also participated in Game Jams and contributed to the development of serious games.

In her presentation “Perspectives on Films and Games,” she delves into the use of animation in video games from the vantage point of the animation industry, exploring its connection with the motion observed in animated films.

Ville Korpela is a game-animator who has over a decade of experience in the game industry. Originally he studied traditional forms of animation such as drawn- and stop motion-animation in Turku Arts Academy and out of sheer love for gaming and games turned his skills and knowledge towards making game characters move. He has worked on several game development projects with companies mostly from Finland making mobile games, indie game projects to double A-games for all platforms, mainly working with Unity and Blender.

“Game animation is problem solving” is Ville’s take on what it is like to be a professional game animator centering on and detailing what a 3d character animators work is like and the different stages of the process. The presentation goes into how ones work crosses and interacts with other facets of game development such as game design, code and modeling to produce a game that is interesting and engaging. Discussed will also be “the why” game animation is so important to the game experience, storytelling and narrative of the game.

The audience will also hear about the realities of working in game industry – the challenges and triumphs along the way – and Ville’s thoughts on the future of game animation.

Liisa Vähäkylä served as the Executive Director of Finnanimation from 2009 to 2023 and has played a key role in founding both the Animation Europe Federation and the Nordic Animation Network. Additionally, she has extensive experience in organizing various animation industry events both in Finland and abroad. Liisa pursued animation studies in London in the mid-1990s and later ventured into multimedia studies in Helsinki.

With an academic background in Art Education and Journalism, Liisa has worked as a journalist and in the fields of advertising and new media. At TAFF Pro, Liisa will present her latest book, ‘Nordic Animation – Balancing the East and the West.‘

‘Nordic Animation – Balancing the East and the West’ is the first-ever book showcasing Nordic animation. The book was published in April 2023 as part of CRC Press’s Focus on Animation series. The book delves into the history of animation creation and the evolution of the animation industry across all five Nordic countries. While covering a broad spectrum of animation work and industry, the book particularly emphasizes known brands and emerging talents in the field.

 

07.08.2023

Meet our jury for Turku Animated Film Festival 2023!

We’re thrilled to present the esteemed members of our jury for Turku Animated Film Festival 2023! With diverse backgrounds in the animation industry, they bring their experience and knowledge to the table with their critical eye when deciding the fate of our Grand Prix.

You can enjoy our jury’s films in the Jury-screening, on Saturday 2pm. The directors will be present during the screening. You can buy tickets to the screening from our Timetable and tickets -page.

Kaisa Penttilä is an animation screenwriter and director born in Helsinki. She studied animation in Turku, Finland during the 1990s and later completed her Master’s degree at Aalto University. With over three decades of experience as a freelancer in the industry, she co-founded Animaatiokopla in Helsinki and has directed numerous award-winning short films, music videos, and TV series. Currently, she is working on a feature-length animated film in collaboration with Leena Jääskeläinen. Besides animation, Penttilä is passionate about exercise and playing the trumpet.

Thomas Renoldner is an Austrian artist with a focus on experimental film. Music, drawing, painting, installation and performance have been his artistic interests from his youth and many of these artistic approaches can also be found in his films. His career started with self-taught Super-8 films with first investigations of the possibilities of cinema, before going the academic route and studying animation in the Academy of Fine Arts in Vienna. Since then Thomas’s work has explored multiple emotions and techniques, finding ways for cinema to open new perspectives for our perception of time and space.

A retrospective screening celebrating Thomas’ career and films from 1980 to 2020’s is screened after the Jury-screening on Saturday 4pm. You can buy the tickets to the screening from our Timetable and tickets -page. You can read more about Thomas’ films, interests and ideas in his own words from our news HERE.

Aline Höchli is a visual artist known for her animated films. She studied at the Lucerne University of Applied Sciences and Arts and graduated with a bachelor’s degree in film, specializing in 2D animation. In 2016, she founded the animation film studio Tricksfilms – now Koloss.
Her first self-produced short film “Cuckoo” premiered at the Locarno Film Festival and was shown at several film festivals in Europe and abroad. Aline was then artistic director for the film adaptation of her short story “Why Slugs Have No Legs” that won the prize for best animated film at the Warsaw Film Festival.
Aline Höchli is currently working on other short film projects in Bern, Switzerland, including “Caries“, which is scheduled for release in 2024.

07.08.2023

On Saturday, TAFF audience can enjoy the retrospective screening of our guest and member of the 2023 jury, Thomas Renoldner. Here you can read more about Thomas’ work, inspirations and thoughts – in 4 chapters, in his own words.

From „How to do a Trickfilm“ to „DONT KNOW WHAT“

Short films from 1980-2020 in 4 chapters

My primary and vigorously pursued artistic interests in my youth were music, drawing, painting, but also what can be named installation and performance. Many of these artistic approaches can also be found in my films, which follow different interests in different periods.

In a first period (1980-1990) – I call it my ‘naive, but cinema-analytic phase’ – I made selftaught super-8-flms. Some were realised spontaneously without much planning, others were more conceptional: basic investigations of the possibilities and regularities of cinema.

The second period (1989-1994) – my “academy years” – was the time of my studies in the studio for experimental animation at the Academy of Fine Arts in Vienna. At that time I followed two different directions: funny, figurative cartoons and serious, abstract works in the sense of a visual music tradition. The most successful film of this kind was BUNT („Colorful“ – 1991), it was selected for the international competition at the Hiroshima Animation Filmfestival 1992 and thus opened up important life perspectives for me.

In a third period (1994-1998) – let’s name it my „split screen years“ – I explored different experimental techniques, among them the split-screen, executed directly in the 16-mm camera (Arrifex 16ST) by using multiple exposure and hand-cutted masks. The artistic interest behind was to explore, how cinema can open new perspectives for our experiences of time and space. An outstanding film in that sense was SOPHIA’S YEAR (1998), for which a specialised lab transferred 12 super-8-films to a 35mm negative.

After a ten years creative break (during which I produced the films of friends and did one commissioned work for the „Mozart Year 2006“) after 2010 a forth period began, – a phase of “restart, remix and renewal” – SUNNY AFTERNOON (2012) and DONT KNOW WHAT (2019) became my two internationally most successful films. I think that in these works I have successfully implemented all the experiences from earlier phases. And I am working on my next movies.

1 . 1980ies: the naive, but ‘cinema-analytic’ period:

1. How to do a Trickflm

Super-8, 1982, (edited 2023), 06:15

One of my first „test movies“, playfully experimenting with different animation methods. Usually I don’t show this film in public, but for this ‚retrospective’ of my work it is a nice way to demonstrate, how I started. I will give live comments to the silent movie.

2. Warten Sie auf etwas Besonderes ? (Are you waiting for somethings special ?)

Super-8, 1983, 04:22

The first part is a direct film: painting and scratching on live action sequences: partly leftovers of other films and one sequence particularly made for this film. I basically followed one vague idea about what I felt was typical for „avantgarde film“: to destroy the film material. As a contrast to the physically intense overstimulation of the senses I wanted to add a very slow second part: myself just staring at the audience, which I felt was quite ‘avantgarde’ too.

3. Die Begrenzungslinien der Projektionsfäche (The borderlines of the projection screen)

Super-8, 1983, 03:13

I ask the question of how cinema relates to reality, and I make the fact visible, that film always means to be fragmentary. We may also call it a ‘performance film“.

2 . 1990ies – part 1: the academy years: animation studies

4. Bunt (Colorful)

16mm, 1990, 04:05

I made this film during the year, when our first daugther Laura was born, with the idea of abstract images in the mind of a child growing up. 20 basic images and transitions consisting of 24 drawings in between them resulted in 500 watercolors, which I recorded using masked multiple exposure to 16mm film, and I completed the film by adding my minimalist music composition.

5. Würfel (Cubes)

16mm, 1990, 02:00

I found this 6 cubes image puzzle on a fea market and simple visually liked it. Then I decided to use them for a music video for the pop band „MARIA“, three friends of mine. Always two of the cubes follow the accents one of the three instruments: guitar, keyboard and drums.

6. Lonely Cowboy in 1992

16mm, 1992, 02:33

This is one of my few „classical cartoon“ movies. I made it on the occasion of the 500-years-anniversary of America’s „discovery by Christopher Columbus“. My commentary to that anniversary was to imagine, what a cowboy would discover in Northern America in the year 1992.

7. Rhythmus 94 (Rhythm 94)

16mm, 1994, 04:10

My diploma flm refers to early visual music (Hans Richter’s Rhythm 21 inspired the title) and evolves from realism (starting with a homage to E. Muybridge) to digital abstraction. Both visual and musical composition follow a strict polyrhytmic structure. Technically it is a quite complexe multiple exposure (via aerial image projection) of image loops of different lengths to 35mm, which After Effects would allow today with much less effort.

2a. commissioned film in between:

8. MTV- Station ID „Cubes“

35mm, 1998, 00:10

I was very lucky to meet Peter Dougherty (art director at MTV) at the Hiroshima Animation Festival and he invited me to contribute one of the hundreds of MTV Station IDs, which in the golden times of MTV could be realised by many lucky artists. For this entirely hand-made commercial based on my former music video „Würfel“ I built three different sets of cubes, and Christof Dienz contributed an outstanding musical composition, performed by the music group „Die Knödel“ (‘The Dumplings’).

3 . 1990ies – part 2: the split sceen years: experiments with time and space

9. Hiroshima.August.92

16mm, 1997, 05:56

During my visit of the Hiroshima Animation Festival 1992 I started my experiments with multiple exposure directly in the 16-mm-camera (Arrifex 16ST) by using hand-cut masks in the shape of horizontal and vertical stripes, which, when combined at the end of the film formed 64 tiny squares. The three chapters of this movie are called „Hotel Room“, „Collecting Houses“ and „Beach / City“.

10. Picnic in the green

16mm, 1996, 03:05

This film was meant as another technical test for a 12-windows split-screen exposure, also executed in the 16mm-camera to one film negative. I found out that when the camera stops, one or more frames can be incorrectly exposed, resulting in flashes of light in shades of red, orange, yellow and white.

But since I then really enjoyed the „experimental look“ of these ‘failures’, I decided to ask my friend Andi Haller to turn it into a ‘music video’. He contributed a great pop song, and in his lyrics he also referred to these destructive light flashes.

11. Sophia’s Year

12 times Super-8 split screen on 35mm, 1998, 10:53

After my mainly self-made split screen experiments, in SOPHIA’S YEAR I further developed the concept of transforming the experience of time and space into new cinematic forms. Each of the 12 windows of this split screen represent one month of the year 1995, when our second daughter Sophia was born. This work is also part of my refection about rules and taboos for certain film genres, when I combine the experimental approach of a strictly planned concept with the kind of random approach of an amateurish family film.

3a. commissioned film in between:

12. Mozart Party ’06

35mm, 2006, 00:10

On the occasion of the „Mozart Year 2006“ (his 275th birthday) it was my big pleasure to contribute with this provocative short film, since I knew, that the film must be short publicly, including two Ausstrahlungen at Austrian Broadcast. Inspired by the famous Austrian Sü.igkeit (literally translated from German language: „Mozart Balls“), I invented some other sweeties referring to other parts of his body as well.

4 . after 2010: restart, remix & renewal

13. Fuck the Cancer ! (short version)

2K digital video, 2016/2020, 05:00

In 2016 I had finished my video about my experience of tongue cancer therapy in the time between april 2014 and august 2015, consisting of self-encouraging selfe videos, stubbornly repeating the sentence „Fuck the Cancer !“. In 2020 I decided to shorten these 12 minutes to a more audience-friendly 5 minutes version.

14. Dont know what

4K digital video, 2019, 08:07

Employing the method of single frame editing the realistic film image transforms into a surreal, structuralist and even abstract film. It also creates a musical composition while experimenting with the human voice and transforming language into sound and music. But the main reason to make this flm was to enjoy myself and to celebrate, that I can talk and move my body.

4a. commissioned flm, for reasons of actuality

No more war („Kinospot gegen Gewalt“)

35mm, 1995, 00:15

In 1995 a group of antimilitarist activists asked me to produce this short flm on 35mm, so it could also be shown in Austrian cinemas. I decided to combine found footage with documentary photography. The photo at the end shoes a woman shot dead in Balkan wars and certainly reminds us all the many victims, – civilians and soldiers – which all the unerträglichen wars in mankinds history have and will cause.

Thomas Renoldner’s retrospective is screened in TAFF’s Saturday, starting at 4pm. You can buy the tickets for the screening from here.

02.08.2023

TAFF 2023 program is out!

Exciting news, animation friends and lovers! The moment we’ve all been waiting for is here – Turku Animated Film Festival’s program is finally out!

On August 23 to 27th Manilla Factory will be filled with the freshest animationshorts from around the globe, inspiring discussions and celebration of summer, life and animation!

Our program consists of competition-, panorama- and themed screenings, including screenings suitable for Juniors of different ages. On Thursday and Friday we have program for professionals of animation and games. Throughout the week we have workshops and screenings with a free entry on Taiteen talo and Kirjakahvila at Old Town of Turku.

You can find the festival timetable and ticketshop here.
Besides individual screening tickets, you can also buy the festival pass with access to unlimited screenings or a 6-ticket screening card.

Professionals and students of animation or games can apply for accreditation to the festival on our Professionals -page.

20.07.2023

TAFF Early Bird ticket shop is open!

Until August 1st, we are offering two ticket options for early birds and our biggest fans:

  1. 6+2 Screening Card 40€: Enjoy the flexibility of attending 8 screenings of your choice or bring your friends, lovers and cousins with you! Early birds get 2 extra tickets with our 6-ticket Screening Card.
  2. Festival Pass 42,50€ (reg. price 53€): Get the ultimate festival experience with unlimited access to all screenings and get discounts from our local partners during the festival!

Early Bird prices will be available for only two weeks, so don’t miss out! On August 2nd we will announce the festival program and open the complete ticket shop for festival passes, screen cards as well as individual tickets.

Until then, visit our ticket shop to secure your early bird tickets and be a part of the wonderful festival celebration!

17.07.2023

TAFF Official Selection is here!

Besides our thrilling competition series, TAFF presents a captivating exploration of animation with our Panorama Series. Our Panorama Series offers a comprehensive view of the newest animation from around the globe with a diverse range of animated films, music videos, and documentaries that will leave you inspired and mesmerized.

Our Panorama screening showcases different styles, techniques, and storytelling approaches as animators push the boundaries of the medium. For music lovers Playlist offers a unique audiovisual experience that will keep one captivated from a tune to another. Our Documentaries screening explores thought-provoking stories, intimate portraits, and social commentaries brought to life through the art of animation.

 

Panorama

Amok | Balázs Turai | 2022 | Hungary

Chimborazo | Keila Cepeda | 2022 | Spain

Deep breath | Leonor Pacheco | 2022 | Portugal

My Mother the Sea | Aspasia Kazeli | 2022 | Estonia

Sandwich Cat | David Fidalgo | 2022 | Spain

Shadow of the Butterflies | Sofia El Khyari | 2022 | France

The Garden of Heart | Olivér Hegyi | 2022 | Hungary

The Wind and the Trees | Todd Allan Stewart | 2022 | Canada

Trace | Asparuh Petrov | 2022 | Bulgaria

 

Documentaries

Armat | Elodie Dermange | 2022 | Switzerland

Hardly Working | Total Refusal | 2022 | Austria

Make or Break | Mike Plitt, Falk Schuster | 2022 | Germany

Sunset Singers | Jessica Poon | 2022 | Germany

The Best Grandfather in the World | Nina Bisyarina | 2022 | Russian Federation

The Harbourmaster | Mia Ludvigsen Henriksen, Konrad Hjemli | 2022 | Norway

The scent of beetroot and the people who live forever | Petra Stipetić, Maren Wiese | 2023 | Germany

 

Playlist

A humble lying song | Chiara Mazzoni, Daniel Damm | 2023 | Sweden

Be Gone | Sijia Luo | 2022 | China

Babe of the Moon | Rufus Dye-Montefiore, Luke Dye-Montefiore | 2023 | United Kingdom

Beautiful Figures | Soetkin Verstegen | 2022 | Belgium

Do Good And Bad Will Come To You | Karina Torres | 2022 | Costa Rica

Glitter Electron | Chihiro Sato, Takaaki Numa, E | 2022 | Japan

Hungry Ghost | Guido Devadder, Kaitlin McSweeney | 2022 | Belgium

Miles Davis – What’s Love Got to Do With It | Irina Rubina | 2022 | United States

Monsters | Iulia Voitova | 2022 | France

Muscle Hearts | Juho Maurinen, Santeri Laasanen | 2022 | Finland

Ocean | Polina Chuykova | 2022 | Russian Federation

The Chats – 6L GTR | marco Imov | 2022 | Denmark

Water Lullaby | Piotr Kaźmierczak | 2022 | Poland

Zen for TV | Aga Jarząb, Maciek Bączyk | 2022 | Poland

TAFF official selection laurel on a black and white photo of an exited audience

14.07.2023

TAFF Official Selection is here!

This year, the international competition features 42 films from 23 countries, selected from a total of 2222 films submitted to the festival.

A large number of this year’s directors are newcomers for TAFF, bringing new perspectives and fresh narrative styles for the experienced audience of the festival as well. The competition consists of the most interesting works by accomplished professionals as well as fresh promising talents.

Prominent themes in the competition series include intimate portrayals of family relationships, love, and sexuality, but the films also address larger societal questions.

“Animators have become deeply serious. Among the films, you can still find funny and imaginative stories, but the films convey climate anxiety, war, and the years of the pandemic,” describes Joni Männistö, the festival’s artistic director.

Even in the face of a heavy global situation, animation’s strength lies in its ability to present possibilities and alternatives that emerge from the filmmakers’ inner world.

“Animation is suited for absurd expression, enlivening and exaggerating life. One can get swept away by imaginative storytelling, and beautifully animated films with their rich colours delight the eye. Animation is a particularly good medium to visualize dreams, imagination, and the inner thought processes. Many animated films are very poetic and employ a lot of metaphor and symbolism in their storytelling.

“In the world of animation, everything is possible,” Männistö continues.

In addition to the Grand Prix and the best Finnish film, the festival will award the audience favourite and the best student film. The TAFF Junior Award will be given to the film that charms our Junior Jury composed of schoolchildren.

 

Official selection of TAFF 2023:

International competition

27 | Flóra Anna Buda | 2023 | France

Above the clouds | Vivien Hárshegyi | 2022 | Hungary

Anticipation of inevitable | Anna Kanaicheva | 2022 | Russian Federation

Carlos Montaña | Ita Romero | 2022 | Argentina

Doubt | Adela Križovenská | 2023 | Czech Republic

Drijf | Levi Stoops | 2023 | Belgium

Fox Tossing | Zénó Mira | 2023 | Hungary

Frozen Frog | Yiyang Sun | 2023 | China

Furrie | Lucie Grannec | 2022 | France

Garrano | Vasco Sá, David Doutel | 2022 | Portugal

Ice Merchants | João Gonzalez | 2022 | Portugal

Ikimono-san: Turtle | Atsushi Wada | 2023 | Japan

In his Mercy | Christoph Büttner | 2022 | Germany

Intersextion | Richard Roger Reeves | 2022 | Canada

Juice | Mona Keil | 2022 | Germany

La próxima te acompaño (next time i’ll join you) | Camila Dron | 2023 | Argentina

La saison pourpre | Clémence Bouchereau | 2023 | France

Mask | Matías Bárquez | 2023 | Chile

Maurice’s Bar | Tom Prezman and Tzor Edery | 2023 | France

Oliver the Giant | Júlia Lantos | 2023 | Hungary

Rehousing Technosphere | Wang & Söderström | 2022 | Denmark

Skinned | Joachim Hérissé | 2022 | France

Slow Light | Katarzyna Kijek, Przemysław Adamski | 2022 | Poland

Sewing Love | Xu Yuan | 2023 | Japan

Sunny Side Up | Misha Felix | 2022 | United States

Suruaika | Vlad Ilicevici, Radu C Pop | 2022 | Romania

Supper | Dániel Bárány | 2022 | Hungary

SWIM! | Isabel Santos | 2022 | United States

Sweet Dreams | Maria Zilli, Sara Priorelli | 2022 | Italy

The Eastern Rain | Milly Yencken | 2023 | Estonia

The Garbage Man | Laura Gonçalves | 2022 | Portugal

The Miracle | Nienke Deutz | 2022 | Belgium

The Nighthawk Is Not a Hawk | Wang Junjie | 2023 | China

The Tobos | Tobias Rud | 2023 | Denmark

Tinaboatsadawu | Anne Mirjam Kraav | 2022 | Estonia

Troada | Vitor Hugo Rocha | 2022 | Portugal

Unnamed Road | Songkai Zhou | 2022 | United Kingdom

Wild Housemates | Armelle Mercat-Junot | 2023 | France

Wild Tale | Aline Quertain | 2023 | Belgium

Wormwood-25 | Nadia Goldman | 2023 | Russian Federation

Y | Matea Kovač | 2023 | Croatia

ZUMAN | Honor Price | 2022 | United Kingdom

 

Finnish competition

Blush – An Extraordinary Voyage | Iiti Yli-Harja | 2022 | Finland

Castle Blue | Tapani Tolonen | 2023 | Finland

Golden Headacher | Niina Suominen | 2022 | Finland

Gravitating | Heta Okkonen | 2023 | Finland

Hound | Lauri Ketonen | 2023 | Finland

Hiukset kuin vesiputous | Tomi Malkki | 2023 | Finland

Noli Timere | Antti Tanttu | 2022 | Finland

Nun or Never! | Heta Jäälinoja | 2023 | Finland

Other People | Anni Sairio, Joonatan Turkki | 2023 | Finland

Sweet Like Lemons | Jenny Jokela | 2023 | United Kingdom

 

TAFF Junior competition

Ana Morphose | Joao Rodrigues | 2023 | Portugal

Battery Mommy | Seungbae Jeon | 2023 | Republic of Korea

Beanboy | Emily Hanning | 2022 | Denmark

Birds, by the Way | Alla Vartanyan | 2022 | Russian Federation

Dede is Dead | Philippe Kastner | 2023 | Czech Republic

Fiadh à Fireach (The Hind) | Helen Louise Woolston, John Francis Quirk | 2023 | United Kingdom

Foxwood | David Mathews | 2023 | Austria

From the Top | Rich Farris | 2023 | United Kingdom

Go Away, Alfred! | Célia Tisserant, Arnaud Demuynck | 2023 | France

In the Dance | Katya Mikheeva | 2022 | France

Jackdaw | Anastasiya Lisovets | 2022 | Russian Federation

Kids in Winter | Maing Caochong | 2022 | China

Naissance des Oasis | Marion Jamault | 2022 | France

Shackle | Ainslie Henderson | 2022 | United Kingdom

Somni | Sonja Rohleder | 2021 | Germany

The Hedgehog | Daniela Hýbnerová | 2023 | Czech Republic

The Line | Júlia Ventura Bruguera | 2022 | Italy

The Witch’s Lullaby | Dasha Vyatkina | 2022 | Netherlands

T-Rex | Julia Ocker | 2022 | Germany

To Be Sisters | Anne-Sophie Gousset, Clément Céard | 2022 | France

Trashball | Ida Lepparu, Andrei Bljahhin, Sameliina Paurson | 2022 | Estonia

Under a Shooting Contrail | Rika Nakayama | 2022 | United States

Wait | Jenny Wright | 2023 | United Kingdom

Whatman | Nika Zinoveva | 2023 | Czech Republic

Volunteer putting up decoration for the festival venue.

20.06.2023

Join the TAFF Volunteer Team!

Hey there! TAFF is on the lookout for awesome volunteers like you to join us for our fantastic festival from August 24th to 28th. No need for specific qualifications or previous experience – we’ll give you all the guidance you need. Check out the different roles available below!

As a TAFF volunteer, you’ll be part of an amazing community, enjoy free access to screenings when you’re off-duty, delicious food and beverages, and afterparty to celebrate the festival’s success. Plus, if you want, we’ll be happy to provide you with a reference letter!

Our aim is to create a relaxed, cozy, and safe event for everyone, both our beloved visitors and our incredible volunteers. We kindly ask for your commitment of 3 shifts, totaling approximately 15 hours of your time. Don’t forget to mention in the application if you’d like to be paired up with a friend and double the fun!

Don’t miss out on this fantastic opportunity to be part of the TAFF magic. Apply now and let’s make this year’s festival an unforgettable experience!

If you have any questions, please drop us an email at talkoo@taff.fi .

Fill the volunteer application here!

Please note that with this form TAFF (Turun elokuvatapahtumat ry) gathers information about volunteer applicants. The information is only accessible to festival employees and is kept only for as long as necessary. Information is not given out to third parties.

JOB DESCRIPTIONS:

  • Set up  / close down / cleaning / decorating

Setting up the venue, bringing the festival atmosphere with decorations.

  • Tech

Making sure the films are running smoothly

  • Runner

Runner does whatever is needed at the moment

  • ​​Ticket sales / info

Selling tickets and merchandise, answering questions and providing customer service

  • Screening presenter / door manager

Checking tickets at the door, making sure everything is in order at the venue, presenting the screening

  • Host

Hosting our international guests and helping them during festival. We are looking for people with good English skills, but proficiency in other languages is a plus.

  • Security

Securing the evening events and helping our guests with issues that arise in them. Official licence required.

  • Distribution

Handing out marketing materials around the city before the festival in August.

  • Driver

Driving things and people around the city. B-licence required.

  • Photographer

Taking and editing photographs during the festival. Own equipment required. We hope you’d send a compact portfolio to talkoo@taff.fi .

Fill the volunteer application here!

09.06.2023

Yet another year of most thrilling animation!

Turku Animated Film Festival, known among friends as TAFF, is embarking on its eighth edition from August 23rd to 27th, 2023! Once again, we have over 20 diverse program sections and nearly 200 films lined up, offering unforgettable moments in the realm of animation. In addition to film screenings, we are preparing a professional program, workshops, and other delightful side events. This year animation will meet video games!

At the festival, you will have the opportunity to enjoy carefully selected and captivating animated films from around the world. We offer intriguing stories, fresh perspectives, and delightful visual experiences.

As an appetizer we are presenting a selection of animation gems from the past few years at Ilmiö Festival at the end of July. There will also be a special screening for children. For those who are already hungry for captivating animated stories, we are offering a possibility to indulge in the art of animation on June 15th at Bar Ö, as we present a curated showcase of recent animated works in a relaxed and cozy atmosphere starting at 7 PM.

Leading the 2023 festival is producer Annika Dahlsten, alongside artistic director Joni Männistö. Working by their side are co-producer Anton Perttu and publicist Marja Ahtola. The visual look of the festival is by Antti Laakso whose video game Dreams in the Witch House was released earlier this year.

Annika Dahlsten Annika Dahlsten has graduated from the Turku Academy of Arts as both an animation artist and a visual artist. Her works have been presented both in Finland and abroad, at exhibitions and festivals. Dahlsten starts this year in TAFF’s production, but she has experience in animation projects, e.g. piloting the animation and media art Echo project of the Arts Promotion Center Finland and Central Library Oodi 2018-2023. Dahlsten is the chairman of Turku Anikistit ry.

 

Joni Männistö is an animation artist who graduated from the Turku Arts Academy. His short animations have been screened at numerous festivals around the world. Since its inception in 2016, Männistö has served as the artistic director of TAFF. Additionally, he is part of the animation programming team for the PÖFF Shorts festival in Tallinn. Over the years, Männistö has been invited as a guest and jury member at various international film festivals. Currently, he resides and works in Tallinn.

Final details of the program are currently being fine-tuned. Follow us on Facebook and Instagram for the latest updates on the festival.

10.05.2023

Thank you for your submissions!

We’ve been blown away by an incredible 2222 films you sent for TAFF 2023. Our team is now immersed in the selection process and preparing to bring you an unforgettable festival experience. Stay tuned for updates as we curate a lineup that will showcase the best of animation.

Thank you to all the talented filmmakers who shared their work with us.

06.01.2023

Call for Entries!

The 8th edition of the Turku Animated Film Festival will be held again in Turku, Finland, August 23-27, 2023, presenting dozens of screenings during five days.

Submissions for TAFF 2023 are open until March 31.  Submit your work via the link below.

The competitions for animated shorts will be held again in 2023. For the International Competition, International Student Film Competition, TAFF Junior Competition and National Competition we are looking for original, bold, uncompromising & inventive animated shorts under 30 minutes to compete for Grand Prix, Best Professional Film, Best Student Film, Tough Eye award, TAFF Junior Award, Main Prize in National Competition and Audience award in International Competition. In addition, the festival programme consists of a seductive selection of carefully selected special programme.

The Competition is open for short animated films that have been completed after 1st of January 2022.

TAFF takes place in the hometown of the renowned Turku Arts Academy. Our venue is a beautifully restored old factory milieu by the River Aura in Turku, Finland. TAFF is organized by the non-profit Association Turun elokuvatapahtumat ry.

28.08.2022

THANK YOU FOR THIS FESTIVAL!!

The 7th TAFF ended with Sunday’s Audience Favorites and Best of TAFF screenings.

This year we were able to enjoy a particularly rich coverage of different styles and genres of animation. Even though old craft techniques are still cherished, animation does not stand still, directors are constantly renewing their expression and creating new ways of using well-known techniques.

At the 2022 TAFF nine films were awarded in ten (10) different categories. The main prize was won by Špela Čadež’s Steakhouse, which managed to convey the atmosphere of a home in crisis with its smoke and fog veiled story. Read the list of all winners and the jury’s statements for the choices from here.

After two years of pandemic, we are happy that we were able to enjoy the festival again in a warm atmosphere with both Finnish and international visitors. It is you, our guests and audience, who make our festival come alive!

“Animation often contains many layers of narrative, metaphors and symbolism. After the screenings, many films remain haunting in the mind, and the deepest secrets of the films may only be revealed in the post-screening discussions among friends. Audience have their own ways of interpreting stories and it is interesting to compare views. Thus, you get more out of the viewing experience than you expected.” describes the artistic director of the festival, Joni Männistö.

So thank you to our guests, friends and viewers!

Thank you to our judges, the board of the Turun elokuvatapahtumat Ry, our wonderful volunteers and our employees for their great work!
Thanks to our partners Rajupaja Oy, Scene Turku, Animaatiokilta ry, Institut Français, Turku Book Cafe, Aurinkobaletti, Tehdas Teatteri, Aura of Puppets, Laivahostel S/S Bore and Bagel House and Jalobus.
Thank you to YLE, Avek, Taike, the Finnish Film Foundation, the City of Turku, the Finnish Culture Fund and the Pro Manilla Foundation for supporting the festival!

Thank you, TAFF 2022!

See you again next year!

27.08.2022

The winners of Turku Animated Film Festival 2022 have been awarded!

This year 10 awards were given to very special films that touched the hearts and souls of our juries and audience.


GRAND PRIX –
Steakhouse by Špela Čadež

“Fog and smoke create a suffocating and intense atmosphere. This impressive cinematic experience reflects the emotional reality of verbal abuse.”

BEST NATIONAL FILM –
All My Mom’s Phone Calls by Iiti Yli-Harja

“Rough, tough  and honest. Masterfully paced work in which the form supports the content and vice versa. Finally a realistic portrait of a mother in a kitchen.”

TAFF JUNIOR AWARD –
Black Slide by Uri Lotan

“Layered storytelling, full of emotion.”
BEST PROFESSIONAL FILM –
Sierra by Sander Joon

“A playful story about a father – son relationship that manages to be both entertaining and emotional. The puchy sound design and vibrant art style compliment this colorful story.”

BEST STUDENT FILM
Goodbye Jérôme! by Gabrielle Selnet, Adam Sillard & Chloé Farr

“This whimsical story about a breakup in heaven captivates the viewer with its psychodelic aesthetic and straightforward emotional honesty.”

TOUGH EYE –
Backflip by Nikita Diakur

“Will machines take over the world? Will algorithms master tasks that us humans are too weak and inneficient to perform? Let’s find out in this slapstick comedy about a clumsy avatar learning to do a backflip.”

SPECIAL MENTION –
In my chest of fire there is still place to temple your dagger: a love story by Pablo Ballarín

SPECIAL MENTION: STUDENT –
Zoon by Jonatan Schwenk

SPECIAL MENTION: NATIONAL –
Bad to the Boner by Robert Lönnqvist
AUDIENCE AWARD –
Sierra by Sander Joon

25.08.2022

Here is the jury of our National Competition!

Our National Competition includes 9 films from the last two years. The best domestic film is selected by our jury of experienced artists working with animation in Finland and Estonia.


Lucija Mrzaljak

Lucija Mrzljak is a Croatian animation film director and illustrator based in Tallinn, Estonia. She studied at fine art academies in Zagreb, Krakow, Prague and Tallinn. Since 2016 she co-directed several animated short animated films with the Estonian director Morten Tšinakov in Eesti Joonisfilm studio in Tallinn and Adriatic Animation studio in Zagreb: Demonstration Of Brilliance In Four Acts (2017), The Stork (2020), Eva (2022).

Lucija lives and works in Tallinn as a director, illustrator and as a guest teacher at the Estonian Academy of Fine Arts. You can enjoy Lucija’s animation in our Jury 2 -screening.


Hanneriina Moisseinen

Hanneriina Moisseinen, (b. 1978 in Joensuu) is an awarded comic book artist and a master of arts. Moisseinen has published four comics so far and directed the animated films Birthday (2014) and The Drifter Who Loved Books (2017). Moisseinen lives and works in Helsinki.

Hanneriina’s Masterclass is part of TAFF Pro -program.

Tomi Riionheimo

Geography and biology teacher who drifted into animation productions through comics in the late 90s and stayed there. Self-taught graphic artist and filmmaker, shirt seller and foreign tour manager of the band Eläkeläiset, producer and owner of Indie Films Oy since 2001.

Tomi Riionheimo’s animations are part of TAFF Program in Comics-secreening.

24.08.2022

For five days, Manilla’s Culturefactory will be filled with the latest jewels of animation.

TAFF’s program once again covers the boldest and most insightful films of recent international animation from the past two years. From more than 2,000 short films submitted, 29 animations from different countries were selected for the competition series. In addition to the main competition series, there are competitions for Finnish films as well as films for younger audience.
In addition to the competitions, animated documentaries and music videos also have their own screenings. Thursday and on Saturday the Sarjis show to be seen offers glimpses to those hungry for nostalgia, when in addition to modern cartoon-based animations, you get to admire Jasso-Kissa as well as Rieku and Raiku. Films of competition judges from the period of their career are shown in the jury’s title screenings. The screenings feature animations by Daniel Šuljić, Renata Gąsiorowska, Lucija Mrzljak and Julian Gallese.
This year, the two-day TAFF Pro program, aimed at professionals, focuses on combining animation and comics. Professional section organized on Thursday and Friday will have master classes and panels with award-winning artists who combine comics and animation, as well as a wide range of production professionals. The main language of TAFF Pro is English.
After the audience restrictions of the last few years, the popular TAFF Junior school screenings have returned in full measure to the festival’s program – the first screenings were already fully booked on the day of their release! TAFF Junior school performances can be watched by pre-school and elementary school students in the Turku area. Open to everyone and free for kids under 16, the TAFF Junior screenings start the festival days of the weekend on Saturday and Sunday.
Throughout the festival, Aurinkobaletti’s bar and terrace offer refreshment for the thirsty. Today TAFF and Kirjakahvila will jointly organize an open-air screening, showing the film Aya of Yop City, based on the comic by Marguerite Abouet and Clément Oubrerie.

11.08.2022

Thursday and Friday are for professionals!

The two days of TAFF Pro brings together domestic and foreign animators and others working in animation. TAFF Pro strives to promote the vitality of the animation field and offers new ideas and contacts to industry players and students. This year’s theme is the combination of comics and animation. The pro program consists of master classes and panels, as well as cartoon-themed film screenings.

You can read about TAFF Pro and apply for professional accreditation from our Professionals-page.
In the master classes, you will hear directly from the artists who combine comics and animation about their experiences and processes. In the panel discussions, the convergence of animation and comics will be examined, as well as production and copyright issues. Reflections and experiences about copyrights, working with the production team and where to begin if you want your comics to be an animated film will be discussed. The panel examines the topic from the perspective of artists, production and copyright law.
You can see the TAFF Pro program here.
The primary language of the TAFF Pro program is English. Questions to the panelists can also be asked in Finnish.

08.08.2022

Meet our jury!


Our jury for the International Competition are well established professionals of animation, whose works you get to enjoy first hand in our Jury screenings.

Daniel Šuljić (1971) is an animation film director and a musician, who works Zagreb and Vienna. He has studied painting and animation and has been widely recognized in his work in both teaching as well as directing animation. 

The screening at TAFF showcases the diverse array of films and a music video from Daniel’s career between the years 1993 and 2018.

Read more about Daniel and buy tickets to his screening from here.

Renata Gąsiorowska is an animator and cartoonist from Kraków, Poland. She currently lives and works in Wrocław. She has made five short films, a few animated music videos and several short comics published around the world. Renata’s school film, Pussy, has won multiple awards. Her newest short film Home in a shell was produced for HBO Poland as a part of “At Home” anthology.

Read more about Renata and buy a ticket for her and Lucija Mrzljak’s, from our Finnish competition’s jury, joined screening from here.

Julian Gallese is an artist from San José, Costa Rica. Julian has studied in Vancouver Film School as well as Royal College of Arts in London. Julian has made several independent short films and currently lives and works in London.

Read more about Julian and buy a ticket for his screening from here. 

 

 

08.07.2022

The Official Selection of the 7th Turku Animated Film Festival is here!

 

Once again Turku Animated Film Festival accumulated a record number of films for the international competition. Out of more than 2,000 entries, 44 films from 23 different countries were selected for the main competition series.

 

Spectrum of techniques and styles

 

This year’s TAFF will feature work from well-established professionals as well as rising stars. The International Competition includes Oscar-nominated Hugo Covarrubias from Chile, and Atsushi Wada, who has been awarded at the Berlin Film Festival. Špela Čadež returns to TAFF with her intimate drama Steakhouse. Estonian Sander Joon‘s first professional film Sierra is once again proof of the director’s ability to master new techniques. The representation of student films in this year’s competition is also significant and, as usual, in addition to the Grand Prix, the competition also awards the best student film. The films selected for the competition include works bathing in full colors that are visually polished to the last detail, as well as more minimalist and rough works with punk spirit. Old techniques are still cherished, but fresh digital technologies and artificial intelligence are also seen this year.

 

“One of the strengths of animation is that, at its best, the chosen technique supports the story. It can also be seen in this year’s films. Different techniques are smoothly combined with each other in several films and these decisions are specifically made to serve the story. They make the finished film stronger and more interesting.  

The directors want to create new styles and renew animation, so you always see something new and wonderful.” ponders the artistic director, Joni Männistö.

 

In addition to the main competition, the best films are awarded in the Finnish competition as well as in TAFF Junior category, suitable for the younger audiences.

Official Selection of TAFF 2022:

 

International competition

A Bite of Bone | Honami Yano | 2021 | Japan

A white white day | Vasily Chirkov | 2022 | Russia

Anxious Body | Yoriko Mizushiri | 2021 | France

Backflip | NIkita Diakur | 2022 | Germany

Bewogen Woerde | Fynn van der Ziel | 2021 | Netherlands

Bestia | Hugo Covarrubias | 2021 | Chile

Bird in the Penisula | Atsushi Wada | 2022 | France, Japan

Channidae | Pauline Morel | 2021 | Belgium 

Cucumbers | Leonid Shmelkov | 2021 | Russia, France

Cufufu | Bruno Quast | 2021 | Estonia

Ding (Thing) | Malte Stein | 2021 | Germany

Elephtant in Castle | Florence Yuk Ki Lee | 2021 | Hong Kong

Girl in the Water | Shi-Rou Huang | 2021 | Taiwan

Goodbye Jérôme! | Gabrielle Selnet, Adam Sillard, Chloé Farr | 2021 | France

Good Old Vinyl | Yarin Philipp | 2022 | Russia

Granny’s Sexual Life | Urška Djukić, Émilie Pigeard | 2021 | Slovenia, France 

Graziano and the Giraffe | Fabio Orlando, Tommaso Zerbi | 2022 | Italy

Hold Me Tight | Leoluna Robert-Tourneur | 2021 | Belgium, France

In my chest of fire there is still place to temple your dagger: a love story | Pablo Ballarín | 2021 | Spain

In the Upper Room | Alexander Gratzer | 2022 | Hungary, Austria

I Want To Be Bored | Magda Kreps | 2021 | United Kingdom

Lesser of Two Evils | Máté Horesnyi | 2021 | Hungary

Letter to a Pig | Tal Kantor |2022 | France

Lines | Ivan Stojkovic | 2021 | Serbia

Los Huesos | Cristóbal León, Joaquín Cociña | 2021 | Chile

Oneluv | Varya Yakovleva | 2022 | Russia

Pentola | Leo Černic | 2022 | Italy

Pests | Juliette Laboria | 2021 | France

Please let me in | Peter Millard | 2022 | United Kingdom

Regular | Nata Metlukh | 2022 | United States

Rites of Spring | Yiorgos Tsangaris | 2021 | Cyprus

Sauna | Anna Lena Spring, Lara Perren | 2021 | Switzerland

Sensual Pill | Sam3 | 2021 | Greece

Sierra | Sander Joon | 2022 | Estonia

Steakhouse | Špela Čadež | 2021 | Slovenia, Germany, France

Sweet Nothing | Joana Fischer, Marie Kenov | 2021 | Switzerland

The Debutante | ​​Elizabeth Hobbs | 2022 | United Kingdom

The dog’s leash | Nicolas Piret | 2021 | Belgium

The fourth wall | Mahboobeh Kalaee | 2021 | Iran

The Pattern | ​​Péter Bogyó | 2022 | Hungary

The Seine’s tears | Yanis Belaid, Eliott Benard, Nicolas Mayeur, Etienne Moulin, Hadrien Pinot, Lisa Vicente, Philippine Singer, Alice Letailleur | 2021 | France

The Visit | Mateusz Jarmulski | 2021 | Poland

Two Sisters | Anna Budanova | 2021 | France

Zoon | Jonatan Schwenk | 2021 | Germany

 


National competition

 

All My Mom’s Phone Calls | Iiti Yli-Harja | 2021 | Finland

Bad to the Boner | Robert Lönnqvist | 2021 | Finland

Burning Love | Tomi Niko Krister Malkki | 2022 | Finland

Heinola | Aleksi Mäkelä | 2021 | Finland

Letters to Parkkimäentie | Mika Koskinen | 2022 | Finland

Mona | Sirpa Kristiina Loivarinne | 2022 | Finland

Tales of The Outback | Lauri Ketonen, Konsta Verta | 2021 | Finland

The Paper | Katariina Anna Maria Haukka | 2022 | Finland

You were in my dream | Iida-Sofia Kivistö | 2021 | Finland

 

TAFF Junior

 

Battery Daddy | Seung-bae Jeong | 2021 | Republic of Korea

Black Slide | Uri Lotan | 2021 | Israel

Don’t blow it up | Alžbeta Mačáková Mišejková  | 2022 | Czech Republic

Franzy’s Soup-Kitchen | Ana Chubinidze | 2021 | France

I’m not afraid! | Marita Mayer | 2022 | Norway

Letters From the Edge of the Forest | Jelena Oroz | 2022 | Croatia

Lost Brain | Isabelle Favez | 2022 | Switzerland

Luce and the Rock | Britt Raes | 2022 | Belgium

Marea | Giulia Martinelli | 2022 | Switzerland

META | Antje Heyn | 2022 | Germany

Mom is always right | Marie Urbánková | 2022 | Czech Republic

Patouille and the parachute seeds | Inès Bernard-Espina, Mélody Boulissière, Clémentine Campos | 2021 | France

Reflection | Sanna de Vries | 2021 | Netherlands

Snail’s breakfast | Eugeniy Fadeyev | 2022 | Russian Federation

The Boy and the Elephant | Sonia Gerbeaud | 2022 | France

The Hand and the Egg | Fatemeh Gharavi Manjili | 2021 | Iran

The Turnip | Piret Sigus, Silja Saarepuu | 2022 | Estonia

Trails of the Morning | Maša Avramović | 2021 | France

Talkoolaisia infopöydän ympärillä puuhastelemassa.
Kuva: Paavo Pykäläinen

14.06.2022

TAFF IS LOOKING FOR VOLUNTEERS!

Our volunteer application is now open! We warmly welcome you to be a part of the festival 24.-28.8. You don’t have to have any specific education or previous experience for most of the job, we’ll brief you. Check out the different job descriptions below.

We provide you with an awesome, communal experience, free entrance to the screenings outside your shifts, food & beverages and an afterparty at the end of the festival. You’ll also get a reference letter if you wish so.

Our aim is to have a relaxed, cosy & safe event for everyone, our visitors and our volunteers.  We wish to get your work input for 3 shifts / approximately 15 hours, rest of the time you are free to enjoy the festival atmosphere. You can also let us know in the application form if you’d like to be in the same shift with a friend.

 

THE APPLICATION FORM

Please note that with this form TAFF (Turun elokuvatapahtumat ry) gathers information about volunteer applicants. The information is only accessible to festival employees and is kept only for as long as necessary. Information is not given out to third parties. 

 

If you have any questions, please drop us an email at info@taff.fi .

 

JOB DESCRIPTIONS:

 

  • Set up  / close down / cleaning / decorating:

Setting up the venue, bringing the festival atmosphere with decorations.

  • Tech:

Making sure the films are running smoothly

  • Runner:

Runner does whatever is needed at the moment

  • ​​Ticket sales / info:

Selling tickets and merchandise, answering questions and providing customer service

  • Screening presenter / door manager:

Checking tickets at the door, making sure everything is in order at the venue, presenting the screening

  • Host

Hosting our international guests and helping them during festival. We are looking for people with good English skills, but proficiency in other languages is a plus.

  • Security:

Securing the evening events and helping our guests with issues that arise in them. Official licence required.

  • Distribution:

Handing out marketing materials around the city before the festival in August.

  • Driver:

Driving things and people around the city. B-licence required.

  • Photographer:

Taking and editing photographs during the festival. Own equipment required. We hope you’d send a compact portfolio to info@taff.fi .

09.06.2022

TAFF 2022 is on its way!

 

The most charming international animation film festival in Finland, Turku Animated Film Festival (TAFF), will be held again 24.–28.8.2022!

After two unusual summers, we can finally invite all our international friends, fans and guests to join us in the cultural complex of Manilla to enjoy the most interesting fresh works of animation. As usual TAFF will be a hearty mix of fresh and diverse animation films and side events by the Aura river.

 

Our festival programme is currently taking its final shape, but follow us on Facebook and Instagram for updates on the festival and sneak peeks for this year’s films.

 

See you in August!

 

Producer

Anna Jauhola

anna@taff.fi

 

Creative Director

Joni Männistö

joni@taff.fi

 

Publicist

Marja Ahtola

marja@taff.fi

10.04.2022

 

The call for entries for the 7th edition of Turku Animated Film Festival has closed. In total 2140 films were submitted – a great number that will keep our festival management busy for a while.

Big thanks for all the submissions, which we’re looking forward to going through!

TAFF takes place in the hometown of the renowned Turku Arts Academy. Our venue is a beautifully restored old factory milieu by the River Aura in Turku, Finland. TAFF is organized by the non-profit Association Turun elokuvatapahtumat ry.

See you in Turku in August!

 

06.01.2022

Call for Entries!

The seventh edition of the Turku Animated Film Festival will be held again in Turku, Finland, August 24-28, 2022, presenting dozens of screenings during five days.

Submissions for TAFF 2022 are open until March 31.

The competitions for animated shorts will be held again in 2022. For the International Competition, International Student Film Competition, TAFF Junior Competition and National Competition we are looking for original, bold, uncompromising & inventive animated shorts under 30 minutes to compete for Grand Prix, Best Professional Film, Best Student Film, Tough Eye award, TAFF Junior Award, Main Prize in National Competition and Audience award in International Competition. In addition, the festival programme consists of a seductive selection of carefully selected special programme.

The Competition is open for short animated films that have been completed after 1st of January 2021.

TAFF takes place in the hometown of the renowned Turku Arts Academy. Our venue is a beautifully restored old factory milieu by the River Aura in Turku, Finland. TAFF is organized by the non-profit Association Turun elokuvatapahtumat ry.

Photo: Marja Ahtola

30.08.2021

Thank you for TAFF 2021!

With the traditional ‘Audience favorites’ and ‘Winners’ -screenings, this year’s TAFF, the 5th edition of the festival, came to an end last night. Although organizing TAFF was quite a rollercoaster this year, we managed to create a safe, collective and joyful event in the end!

What we missed in this year’s festive side events, we luckily gained from our extensive and diverse program. This year’s films were exceptionally high quality and we got to enjoy the world-class animation as much with our souls as we did with our eyes. We got to see many touching, charming and amusing films that will tickle our minds even after the festival.Our warmest thank you to all the wonderful animators and filmmakers whose work we were honored to show.

TAFF 2021’s Grand Prix went to Soetkin Verstegen’s stunning Freeze Frame that creates a study of animation, and film, as an artform within it’s freezing narrative. Read more about all the winner films here.

We’d like to thank our judges, the board of Turun elokuvatapahtumat ry, staff and all of our volunteers as well as Rajupaja Oy, Scene – Turku European Film City, Kirjakahvila Turku, AB Dance Company and Finnish Animation Guild for their cooperation.
Thank you Arts Promotion Center Finland, Cultural Committee of Turku, Finnish Cultural Foundation and Pro Manillasäätiö for financial support.
And of course we’d love to thank all of our wonderful festivalgoers, you are what makes TAFF the festival it is!

See you all next year!

Still from Grand Prix -winner "Freeze Frame"

28.08.2021

The winners of TAFF 2021 are awarded!

The best films of Turku Animated Film Festival 2021 have been chosen! Altogether six films were awarded; each affected the viewers and judges in a special way.

Grand Prix

Freeze Frame – Soetkin Verstegen

“A spectacular film about film. Deep and beautiful piece, that illuminates our understanding of the world and the meaning of life frame by frame.” 

National Competition

Plunger (Karhupumppu) – Lauri Ketonen, Konsta Verta

“The film is at the same time of this world and detached from it. It creates a space-like place where inventive animation tells a lot with less and the sound milieu takes the viewer to the core of events. The film tells the story of breaking the routines in an identifiable manner and asks the fundamental question: is my life crap or am I the crap in my life?”

Best professional film

Precious – Paul Mas

“A touching portrayal of a little child’s desire to belong and the realities of life that the child is forced to absorb. Wonderful, functional character design.”

Best student film

Hide ‘n Seek – Barbora Halířová

“Insightful, magnificent animating and clever narration. The film is a wild merriment of metaphors where children’s game of hide and seek is a masquerade of a whole lifetime.”  

Tough Eye Award

Night Bus – Joe Hsieh

“Dramaturgically strong, suspenseful film noir, that powers through all the way to its cathartic end.”

TAFF Junior Award

Gon, the Little Fox – Takeshi Yashiro

“Impressively controlled storytelling in a visually dazzling world, where the masterfully crafted and designed puppets bring the tragic and touching story to life.”

Audience Award

Precious – Paul Mas

 

28.08.2021

Meet the judges!

Today we will announce the winners of Turku Animated Film Festival 2021’s competitions! We had a group of professionals and devoted friends of animation and culture judging the films.

Judges of the International Competition

From the left: Albert Laine, Eija Saarinen & Annika Dahlsten

Albert Laine is an artist, an educator and a producer. He has broad experience in the fields of culture, communication and organizational work. Laine works in the threshold of cinema, media art and fine art. Laine is the chairman of the Finnish Animation Guild, producer of the Animatricks International Animation Festival and a member of the National Arts Council – Board of Audiovisual Art.

Eija Saarinen is the emerita lecturer of animation from the Arts Academy at Turku University of Applied Sciences with vast experience from the field of animation starting from the 1990’s.

Annika Dahlsten is a Turku-based animation and visual artist, whose works are often spatial ensembles that utilize the many forms of animation. At their current position as the regional artist of the Arts Promotion Centre Finland (Taike) they strive to promote animation and form connections between different fields.

 

Judges of the National Competition

From the left: Rose Pietola, Terhi Väänänen & Konsta Weber

Rose Pietola is the executive producer of VAFT (Video Art Festival Turku) and a long time fan of TAFF. Grass root level cultural movement, festivals and events are their thing and they curate art ‘outside the white cube’.

Terhi Väänänen is the founder and CEO of Turku-based Pyjama Films -animation studio and involved in the development of all the studio’s projects. Väänänen has a masters in Media Culture and Arts Management and has previously worked as the executive director of Animatricks-festival.

Konsta Weber is a member of the municipal executive of Turku, member of the council and technology entrepreneur. Of their many merits in promoting Finnish animation film they jokingly highlight their German-speaking voice acting double role as Horse and Doorman in the awarded animation film Wurmloch.

 

Judges of TAFF Junior

The 8- and 9-graders of the Luostarivuori School taking the visual arts optional course taught by teacher Katri Kankkunen.

27.08.2021

Great news, people!

 

As of this Friday The Regional State Administrative Agency for Southwestern Finland (AVI) has announced that the 2 meter safety distance is no longer required. For TAFF this means that we are able to increase our seat capacity and can sell tickets to screenings that were previously sold out.

 

Even though current contact tracing has shown that public events have not been a source of transmissions in Southwestern Finland, we still offer our visitors the option to maintain the longer, 2 meter safety distance at our venues through seating arrangements. We are not selling tickets at full capacity, but we are happy to be able to offer more viewers a place in our screenings! We still require the use of a face mask, good hand hygiene and do enhanced cleaning at the venues.

 

Please read our updated safety instructions prior to arriving at the festival venue.

26.08.2021

Sold-out screenings

Updated Fri 27.8. 10:39

Due to the current COVID-19 situation, the capacity of our audiences is exceptionally small this year. Some of our screenings have been sold out and not everyone willing has been able to buy tickets in-person at our festival location. Please buy tickets (soon!) beforehand from our webshop for screenings that interest you, especially arriving in pairs or in groups, to ensure your place in the audience!

You will see each screening’s status on their page and here we also collect our screenings that have sold out.

 

Currently sold-out screenings:

Friday:

International Competition 6, 17:00

Thursday:

International Competition 3, 16:00

National Competition, 20:00

Wednesday:

International Competition 2, 20:00

Kuvassa jalkakäytävälle on kirjoitettu värikkäin kirjaimin "WELCOME! TERVETULOA". Tekstin ympärillä näkyy ihmisten jalkoja sandaaleissa ja kesäkengissä.
Photo: Paavo Pykäläinen

24.08.2021

TAFF kicks off on Wednesday!

 

Turku Animated Film Festival will be held for the fifth time on August 25-29, 2021 in the beautiful milieu of Manilla. This year the festival will be enjoyed mainly by our local guests and the main focus of our program in the midst of restrictions is in our amazing films! This year’s festival has short animated films from 24 different countries that have been selected from more than 3,900 submitted titles.

 

The number of screenings in the International Competition was increased for this year by two additional screenings, as a result of which 59 competitive films have been divided into seven screenings with different content. Our program also has a National Competition as well as three Junior-screenings of movies suitable for our younger audience.

 

In addition to the competitions, this year’s TAFF will feature music videos at Playlist-screenings as well as animated documentaries at Documentary Panorama. For professionals we have TAFF Pro on Friday afternoon.

 

You can find our complete timetable and buy the tickets for the screenings from here. On Wednesday, the opening day of the festival, an outdoor screening will be held in the Brinkkala courtyard, to which there is free admission.

Noin kymmenen katsojaa katsovat eteenpäin teatterin penkeillä. Sali on pimeä, mutta katsojien kasvoille heijastuu valoa valkokankaalta.
Photo: Paavo Pykäläinen Photography

09.08.2021

How is the festival organization going?

 

Now that new Covid-19 cases are increasing and the region of Southwest Finland has entered the spread phase, we must introduce the most limited festival arrangements so that we can still organize a delightful and safe festival for everyone at the end of the month.

 

“Due to changing constraints and the tediously evolving corona situation, we still have to wait a moment with schedules and the opening of the ticket shop. In the meantime, we hope everyone will take care of themselves and each other and get vaccinated if possible,” says festival director Kimmo Sillanmikko.

 

We have added a Safety-page to our website, where we will update the festival’s safety instructions according to the information provided by the authorities. We hope everyone joining the festival will read them through beforehand. We will also inform those who buy our tickets and our volunteers of the current instructions by e-mail before the start of the event.

 

With the current arrangements, we follow the Southwest Finland Regional State Administrative Agency’s restrictions set on 4.8. Naturally, we will react if the situation still changes. With these restrictions in place, we will only sell a limited number of tickets to the screenings to ensure that safety distance is possible. During the festival, we take special care of the cleanliness of the premises and offer our guests several opportunities to take care of their hand hygiene. We oblige visitors and staff to use a face mask throughout the festival.

 

Let’s stay safe and see you on August 25-29!

Kuvassa rivi palkintoja valaistulla pöydällä. Taka-alalla näkyy katsomo, jossa ihmisiä.
Photo: Paavo Pykäläinen

23.07.2021

The films for the competition series have been selected

 

This year, the festival will be held mainly among domestic guests and participants, but our festivalgoers will still be able to enjoy cinematic experiences created around the world. This year’s series will feature films submitted in 2020 and 2021 and they have been selected from more than 3,900 short animated films. Although the number of titles in the main competition series were increased this year, a lot of great works and master-level creators were left out.

 

“The choices are becoming very challenging. This time around the number of films was also overwhelming,” commented TAFF’s artistic director, Joni Männistö, on the competition selections. “There are more and more great films, and it feels like they’re also longer than before. Students also make a lot of 7-10 minute movies.”

 

Fresh names and Oscar nominees

 

A total of 59 films from 24 countries were selected for the main competition series of the festival. The selections include new films from Bastien Dubois, Uri and Michelle Kranot and Miloš Tomić, who have previously visited TAFF. Animations from Adrien Merigeau and Daria Kashcheeva, both Oscar nominees, will also be seen as part of this year’s competition series. Eating in the dark, directed by Inari Sirola, a graduate of the Royal College of Arts, brings Finnish touch to the international competition.

 

In addition to the main competition series, the competition program also includes two series reserved for Finnish animators as well as for films suited for the younger audience. The domestic series features works from both students and better-known film makers. Familiar names for experienced TAFF visitors include for example Tatu Pohjavirta and Kaisa Penttilä, whose work Maihinnousu is also seen in the TAFF Junior series that’s suitable for children.

International competition:

All Those Sensations in My Belly | Marko Djeska | 2020 | Croatia
And then the bear | Agnès Patron | 2019 | France
Anna, cat-and-mouse | Varya Yakovleva | 2020 | Russian Federation
Arka | Natko Stipaničev | 2020 | Croatia
Awkward | Nata Metlukh | 2020 | United States
Ben and Kat or Kat and Ben Go To Little Lake Fountain | Elizabeth Whitfield & Nicholas Dimas | 2019 | United States
Carrousel | Jasmine Elsen | 2020 | Belgium
Cosmonaut | Kaspar Jancis | 2020 | Estonia
Daughter | Daria Kashcheeva | 2019 | Czech Republic
Displaced | Laura Benavides Ramirez | 2020 | Estonia
Easter Eggs | Nicolas Keppens | 2020 | Belgium
Eating in the Dark | Inari Sirola | 2021 | United Kingdom
Ecorce | Samuel Patthey & Silvain Monney | 2020 | Switzerland
Film Found | Claudia Munksgaard-Palmqvist | 2020 | Denmark
Freeze frame | Soetkin Verstegen | 2019 | Belgium
Genius Loci | Adrien Mérigeau | 2019 | France
Happiness | Andrey Zhidkov | 2020 | Russian Federation
Hide N Seek | Barbora Halířová | Czech Republic
Hit and Run | Hannah Brewerton | 2020 | United Kingdom
Homeless Home | Alberto Vázquez | 2020 | France
I Want A Sun In My Pocket | Laui Laessa | 2019 | Costa Rica
I Wish | Nadia Goldman | 2021 | Russian Federation
Lursaguak. Scenes from life | Izibene Oñederra | 2019 | Spain
Marbles | Natalia Spychala | 2020 | Poland
MATE | Chaerin Im | 2019 | United States
My Exercise | Atsushi Wada | 2020 | Japan
Naked | Kirill Khachaturov | 2020 | Russian Federation
Navozande, the musician | Reza Riahi | 2020 | France
Night Bus | Joe Hsieh | 2020 | Taiwan
Night Shift | Linda Stūre | 2019 | Latvia
Nod. Wink. Horse. | Ollie Magee | 2020 | United Kingdom
Poum Poum! | Damien Tran | 2021 | France
Precious | Paul Mas | 2020 | France
Purpleboy | Alexandre Siqueira | 2019 | Portugal
Push This Button if You Begin to Panic | Gabriel Böhmer | 2020 | United Kingdom
Radiovision – Mihovil Logar Speaking | Miloš Tomić | 2019 | Serbia
Room with a Sea View | Leonid Shmelkov | 2020 | Estonia
Serial Parallels | Max Hattler | 2019 | Hong Kong
Sh_t Happens | Michaela Mihalyi & David Štumpf | 2019 | Czech Republic
Sheep, Wolf and a Cup of Tea… | Marion Lacourt | 2019 | France
Socrates’ Adventures in the Under Ground | Aria Covamonas | 2020 | Mexico
Souvenir Souvenir | Bastien Dubois | 2020 | France
Symbiosis | Nadja Andrasev | 2019 | France
Thank you | Julian Gallese | 2020 | United Kingdom
The Chimney Swift | Frédéric Schuld | 2020 | Germany
The Dream Report | Jack O’Shea | 2019 | Ireland
The Hangman at Home | Michelle & Uri Kranot | 2020 | Denmark
The Man and the Head | Nilas Røpke Driessen | 2019 | Denmark
The piece of tail in the mouth of the snake that bites its own tail | Pablo M. Ballarín | 2019 | Estonia
The Stork | Morten Tšinakov & Lucija Mrzljak | 2020 | Estonia
The Surrogate | Stas Santimov | 2020 | Ukraine
The Zucchini’s Smile | Lucas Ansart | 2020 | France
TIE | Alexandra Ramires ( Xá ) | 2020 | Portugal, France
Vadim on a walk | Sasha Svirsky | 2021 | Russian Federation
Washing Machine | Alexandra Májová | 2020 | Czech Republic
We Have Everything | Francisca Villela | 2020 | Chile
What resonates in silence | Marine Blin | 2020 | France
Why Slugs Have No Legs | Aline Höchli | 2019 | Switzerland
WOULD YOU PLEASE? | Ada Güvenir | 2020 | Belgium

 

TAFF Junior:

A Stone in the Shoe | Eric Montchaud | 2020 | France, Switzerland
Away | Mathilde Pepinster | 2019 | Belgium
Beginning of the Light | Anastasia Melikhova | 2020 | Russian Federation
El Mago Georges | Katalin Egely | 2020 | Argentina
Gon, the Little Fox | Takeshi Yashiro | 2019 |Japan
Kiko and the Animals | Yawen Zheng | 2020 | France
La Bestia | Marlijn van Nuenen & Ram Tamez & Alfredo Gerard Kuttikatt | 2020 | France
Matilda and the Spare Head | Ignas Meilūnas | 2020 | Lithuania
Orgiastic Hyper-Plastic | Paul Bush | 2020 | Denmark, United Kingdom
Pearl Diver | Margrethe Danielsen | 2020 | Norway
Pishto’s Birthday | Sonya Kendel | 2020 | Russian Federation
Sweater | Zilai Feng | 2019 | United States
The Kite | Martin Smatana | 2019 | Czech Republic
The Landing | Kaisa Penttilä | 2021 | Finland
Tide | Joana Rosa Bragança | 2019 | Portugal
TIES | Dina Velikovskaya | 2019 | Germany

 

National competition:

Afterparty | Lauri Pulkkinen & Hertta Lehtovirta & Sanna Liinamaa & Janne Häkkinen & Ulkrika Fredrikson | 2019 | Finland
All tender things | Tatu Pohjavirta | 2020 | Finland
CRAZY | Inari Sirola | 2019 | United Kingdom
Do I know what I’m looking for? | Ylva-Lii Wahlström | 2019 | Finland
Eating in the Dark | Inari Sirola | 2021 | United Kingdom
Hello | Mikko Aumala | 2020 | Finland
Maybe Ur A Star | Aliina Kauranne | 2019 | Finland
Patent Nr. 314805 | Mika Taanila | 2020 | Finland
Plunger | Lauri Ketonen & Konsta Verta | 2019 | Finland
Rinse and Shine | Iiris Korjus & Katariina Haukka | 2021 | Finland
Taiga | Leena Lehti | 2021 | Finland
The Big Day | Joonas Ennala | 2020 | Finland
The Devil Knocks Thrice | Pauli Setälä | 2020 | Finland
The Landing | Kaisa Penttilä | 2021 | Finland
Treasure Hunt | Paula Garcia | 2020 | Finland
UV-Fright | Ylva-Lii Wahlström | 2019 | Finland
What Time Is | Niina Suominen | 2020 | Finland

Photo: Paavo Pykäläinen Photography

22.07.2021

TAFF is looking for volunteers!

Our volunteer application is now open! We warmly welcome you to be a part of the festival 25.-29.8. You don’t have to have any specific education or previous experience, we’ll brief you to all the jobs. Check out the different job descriptions below.

We provide you with an awesome, communal experience, free entrance to the screenings outside your shifts, food & beverages and an afterparty at the end of the festival. You’ll also get a reference letter if you wish so.

Our aim is to have a relaxed, cosy & safe event for everyone, our visitors and our volunteers.  We wish to get your work input for approximately 10-12 hours, rest of the time you are free to enjoy the festival atmosphere. You can also let us know in the application form if you’d like to be in the same shift with a friend.

 

THE APPLICATION FORM

Please note that with this form TAFF (Turun elokuvatapahtumat ry) gathers information about volunteer applicants. The information is only accessible to festival employees and is kept only for as long as necessary. Information is not given out to third parties. 

 

After you have filled in the application form, we’ll be in touch in 3 weekdays. If you have any questions, please drop us an email at info@taff.fi.

 

Job descriptions:

 

  • Set up  / close down / cleaning / decorating:

Setting up the venue, bringing the festival atmosphere with decorations.

 

  • Technique:

Making sure the films are running smoothly

 

  • Runner:

Runner does whatever is needed at the moment

 

  • ​​Ticket sales / info:

Selling tickets and merchandise, answering questions and providing customer service

 

  • Screening presenter / door manager:

Checking tickets at the door, making sure everything is in order at the venue, presenting the screening

 

  • Distribution:

Handing out marketing materials around the city before the festival in August.

 

  • Driver:

Driving things and people around the city. B-licence needed.

Kuvassa näkyy yliopiston seinään heijastettu video, jossa kaksi ihmistä suutelee. Ihmisiä katsoo videota nurmialueella seinän edessä sekä kauemmaksi parkeeratun pakettiauton katolla istuen.
Paavo Pykäläinen Photography

12.07.2021

One week left to apply for Portaali-screening!

 

Are you still hesitant if you can host a Portaali-screening? Did you have questions while filling out the application? Here we try to answer some questions that have come up:

 

Q: How long does the screening last?

A: The screening lasts 70 min and is shown late at night after sunset. This means that at earliest, the show would start between ten and eleven and end around midnight.

 

Q: My friends and I haven’t been to art events before and don’t understand anything about video art or animation, can I still apply to host a screening?

A: Of course! With Portaali-screenings, you can have a cultural experience with the people you enjoy in a familiar environment so it’s perfect for first-timers. The films can be enjoyed (or hated!) without prior knowledge of video art or animation, but we will also be happy to tell you more about them. You can read more about our selected films this week from VAFT and TAFF’s instagram.

 

Q: How many people might come to my backyard if I host a Portaali-screening?

A: The screenings are private, so you can decide how many people and who you want to invite to the event. Only the current restrictions and the size of the screening space should be taken into account in the number of guests.

 

Q: How much information do I need to tell about the screening area? Can the venue be changed later if we find a more fun environment?

A: We need information about the screening environment in the application so we can evaluate how to set up the projection equipment there. This also means that the venue cannot be changed later.

 

Q: Are there any restrictions for the screening venues?

A: The venues should be large enough to accommodate projection equipment and the audience. This area can be around the size of a large garage or more. The venue needs to have an electrical outlet (we will bring extension cords if necessary).

As the screenings are held late in the evening, the screenings must be approved by the housing association if necessary.

 

If you have not yet found the answer to your question, send an e-mail to annu@taff.fi.

Ihmiset katsovat elokuvaa, joka on heijastettu rakennuksen seinään.
Paavo Pykäläinen Photography

05.07.2021

Invite Portaali-screening to you

The Ääriö Association, which organizes the Video Art Festival Turku, and the Turku Film Events Association, which organizes the Turku Animated Film Festival, will join forces in the summer of 2021 with portable Portaali- outdoor screenings. The screenings are free of charge and take place in a backyard, a park or anywhere outdoors in the Turku-area. Through the portal, the viewer can immerse themselves in a whole new world through video and animation art in a safe and communal environment. Portaali is a gateway to new dimensions and the themes of the shows reflect escapism, fantasy and diving into imaginative places.

Anyone can apply for the screening via the form below. The application is open 5.–19. July 2021. We will notify all applicants about the selections by 30.7. The selection emphasizes open, accessible and safe venues that are spread widely throughout Turku. The host of the screening takes care of inviting their close circle to the screening and providing a required number of seats for them. Portaali comes with projection and sound equipment, a screen and the 70-minute programme of video art and animation. Outdoor screenings will take place on 19.–22.8. after sunset and the person ordering the show must have a permit to use the space, for example from a housing association. Current hygiene and safety guidelines must be followed in the event.

Ääriö ry is a non-profit association from Turku aiming to promote the visibility of audiovisual art. The association organizes various contemporary art events, most notably Video Art Festival Turku (VAFT), which is held once a year.

Turku Film Events Association’s Turku Animated Film Festival, more commonly known as TAFF, will be held for the fifth time in the Finnish animation capital Turku at the end of August. TAFF was founded to promote animated film culture both in Finland and internationally.

In 2021, Turku celebrates the tenth anniversary of the city’s year as the European Capital of Culture. Portaali is part of the anniversary program.

 

APPLICATION FORM

Please note that with this form Ääriö ry and Turun elokuvatapahtumat ry gather information about applicants for the Portal-screenings. The information is only accesible to festival (VAFT and TAFF) employees and is kept only for as long as necessary.

Questions?

About applying:

Annu Suvanto, producer (TAFF)

annu@taff.fi

050 364 3683

 

Media inquiries:

Rose Pietola, festival director (VAFT)

videoartfestivalturku@gmail.com

 

Kimmo Sillanmikko, festival director (TAFF)

kimmo@taff.fi

Kuvassa katsojien siluetteja värikästä animaatioelokuvan näkymää vasten TAFF -festivaaleilla
Photo: Paavo Pykäläinen Photography

01.07.2021

Here comes TAFF again!

Finland’s most charming international animation film festival, Turku Animated Film Festival (TAFF), will be held again 25.–29.8.2021!

After an exceptional year and the introduction of TAFF Pro Festival, this summer we’ll be able to enjoy the festival in person with all of our audience. As usual TAFF will be a hearty mix of fresh and diverse animation films and side events in the cultural complex of Manilla.

Our festival programme is currently taking its final shape, but follow us on Facebook and Instagram for updates on the festival and sneak peeks for this year’s films. For a head start to the festival TAFF and Video Art Festival Turku (VAFT) have joined forces to present a portable Portal-screening with selection of animated films and video art pieces. More info on the screenings and application will be coming soon.

See you in August!