THE BEST OF O!PLA'21 - FOCUS ON POLAND is a unique program presenting the winners of the 9th O!PLA Animation Festival (2021). As always, the only Jury at O!PLA was the audience. THE BEST OF O!PLA'21 is an amazing mix of techniques, styles, and emotions showing what in modern Polish animation (O!PLA means „Oh! Polish Animation”, but also: “Oh! People Love Animation”) is the best. Starting off 2013 O!PLA consequently grows in strength, but one thing remains the same - independence and passion, which standing behind the O!PLA.

 

Duration of the program: 68:19

 

01. PSOTNIK IN THE GLASS TRAP (PSOTNIK W SZKLANEJ PUŁAPCE), 02:44

Poland 2020

Direction/Script/Animation/Production: Kamil Wójcik

Technique: 2D Animation + Live Action

 

The enchanted town hides many attractions at night, but not all of them are here to amuse the guests. So beware because once you plunge into madness, there will be no going back.

 

 

02. SKULL (CZASZKA), 01:13

Poland 2020

Direction/Script/Animation: Zuzanna Rogala (Harat)

Production: Academy of Fine Arts in Gdańsk

Technique: Stop Motion

 

Short story about the skull...

 

 

03. BUDDIES (org. KUMPLE), 02:13

Poland 2020

Direction/Script/Animation/Production: Amelia Baj

Technique: Claymation

 

"Buddies" is a grotesque, symbolic film about dynamic interpersonal relations, showing man as a being both funny and destructive.

 

 

04. STORY ABOUT WHY DEVIL LIMPS (AJTIA DLACZEGO DIABEŁ KULEJE), 05:21

Poland 2020

Direction/Script/Animation/Production: Kasia Zimnoch, Paweł Kleszczewski

Technique: Paint-on-glass

 

A long time ago, God grazed His sheep on paradise pastures. The devil grazing a herd of goats nearby wanted to take the animals from God... The plot of the film was based on a folk etiological fairy tale explaining this extremely important fact in the devil's life.

 

 

05. REASON (ROZWIĄZANIE), 07:56

Poland 2020

Direction/Script/Animation: Szymon Ruczyński

Production: Film School in Lodz

Technique: Stop motion

 

In a small town, one of the inhabitants is accused of practicing magic. One woman is openly opposed to the spiral of accusations and camouflaged attacks on that woman, but her personal misfortune puts her position to the test.

 

 

06. PATHOLOGICAL SEAMSTRESS – BAD DAY (PATOLOGICZNA KRAWCOWA – ZŁY DZIEŃ), 01:00

Poland 2020

Direction/Script/Animation: Agata Szwarc

Production: Artistic University in Poznan

Technique: 2D Animation

 

A short story about seamstress...

 

 

07. DELINSKY’S MADNESS, 03:24

Poland 2020

Direction/Script/Animation/Production: Kamil Wójcik

Technique: 2D Animation

 

It is said that when a man shoots, the devil carries bullets. Or is it the other way around? "Projectile Catcher" is a magic trick in which an illusionist catches a bullet fired at him. This is one of the most dangerous tricks. This trick cost the lives of at least 15 illusionists. One of the most drastic cases is the death of the Polish magician Madame DeLinsky, who appeared alongside her husband in 1820 in front of Prince Shwarznberg- Sonderhausen. This animation is loosely inspired by their tragedy.

 

 

08. MY DEAR QUARANTINE, 05:19

Poland 2020

Direction/Script/Production: Ewa Maria Wolska

Technique: Puppet Animation

 

My dear quarantine is a simple story about a pandemic - a poetic portrayal of a time of isolation, loneliness and boredom.

 

 

09. BLUE MONDAY, 01:19

Poland 2020

Direction/Script/Animation: Katarzyna Orłowska

Production: Artistic University in Poznan

Technique: Painting animation

 

A short story about Blue Monday...

 

 

10. HIDDEN – Hidden Beams, 03:10

Poland / Czech Republic 2020

Direction/Script/Animation: Martyna Koleniec

Technique: Puppet Animation + 2D

 

"How'd you find me / I've tried to stay hid? / As that underground kid / In crimson tight fits..." – animated music video.

 

 

11. SUBWAY, 05:00

Poland 2020

Direction/Script/Animation: Robert Kuźniewski

Production: Artistic University in Poznan

Technique: Claymation

 

A grotesque about a typical situation in the subway...

 

 

12. THE WICKED NEVER RESTS LICHO NIE ŚPI), 07:15

Poland 2020

Direction/Script/Production: Nawojka Wierzbowska

Animation: Natalia Krawczuk

Technique: Cutout animation

 

Bartholmus is the mayor of a medieval coastal city. He is not interested in governance, but he is very fond of people applauding him. One day he learns that all mayors from the surrounding towns have bought new clocks for the town hall. Bartholmus only has a small and ugly clock, so he calls the great sculptor Hans and his helper Heel to the city. Together, they create an unusual clock, the beauty of which turns out to be dangerous.

 

 

13. THE ELEPHANT (SŁOŃ), 06:52

Poland 2019

Direction/Script/Animation: Dominika Wilkosz

Production: Pedagogical University in Krakow

Technique: Stop Motion + clay painting on glass

 

How the elephant looks like, everyone sees... And if cannot see? After reading the enigmatic description, the character decides to know for himself what this strange creature actually is. He leaves the familiar, safe space and immerses himself in the hustle and bustle of the street. Finding the way through a busy area is not easy - three colleagues, also blind, join the expedition to support their friend.

 

 

14. THREE JUMPS TO HAPPINESS TRZY SKOKI DO SZCZĘŚCIA), 11:54

Poland 2020

Direction/Script/Animation: Artur Hanaj

Production: Film School in Lodz

Technique: Claymation

 

A black comedy about one evening in the life of several animals. A pair of turtles, a bear, and a monkey - a personal trainer want to find the will to consciously manage their lives.

 

 

15. GREEN TREE, 02:52

Poland 2020

Direction/Script/Animation/Production: Filip Szuksztul

Technique: Claymation

 

Created by the 15-years old artist a journey through the world illustrating the problems faced by modern man - the effects of his own activity.