Animasyros 2021, the largest Animation Festival in Greece returns for its 14th edition. This year the main theme of the festival is Freedom, inspired by the 200th anniversary of the Greek Revolution, while for the first time it includes MEDAnima, a tribute to artists and animated films from the wider Mediterranean region.
 
Open call for submissions of animated films until June 30 here.
 
 
 
Animasyros 2021International Animation Festival returns for the 14th edition in Syros island,  on September 22-26, 2021. The largest Animation Festival in Greece and one of the top 20 in the world, this year, on the occasion of the 200th Anniversary of the Greek Revolution, draws inspiration from the words of the emblematic Greek Revolution hero, Theodoros Kolokotronis, “Just like rain, the desire for freedom fell upon us […], and we started the revolution.”, hence dedicating its main theme to Freedom andRevolution.
 
 
The Festival                                                                                                
 
This year's Festival includes a thematic tribute with screenings of animated short and feature films from around the world, with reference to personal & social freedom & revolution. At the same time, Animasyros 2021 will host MEDAnima, a tribute to creators and animated films from the wider Mediterranean region, such as North Africa, Israel, France, Italy, Malta and selected Balkan countries. The rich program of Animasyros will be presented in a hybrid, "phygital" format, including physical screenings on the island of Syros, as well as through a special digital screening platform.
 
The competitive artistic programme of Animasyros is enriched with two new competition sections added to the existing ones (these being, the International Competition Section, the Student Competition Section, the Feature Film Competition running for the Audience Prize, the Prize for the Best Greek-speaking film, the TV & Commissioned Film Competition section). Thus, two new prizes are added for the K.ID.S category, which includes films for young audiences and Animapride, the section, which includes LGBTQI+ animation film. The artistic programme of Animasyros 2021 also features, the International Panorama a non-competitive section with animation gems from all around the world.
 
Alongside the artistic programme, theAgora is the Market section of the festival, which is addressed to animation professionals and includes the Pitching Forum, as well as presentations and masterclasses. On the occasion of the MEDAnima tribute, the Market this year will place special emphasis on the countries of the wider Mediterranean region. Submissions of projects for the Pitching Forum will be announced soon.
 
Finally,Animasyros 2021 media literacy programmes aim to familiarize children, adolescents, young professionals, persons with disabilities, as well as the elderlywith the basic principles of animation and to cultivate their free artistic expression. On the occasion of this year’s theme, the educational workshops of Animasyros 2021 are built around Greek & International artistic works, which were inspired by the Revolution of 1821, such as Lord Byron's work and others.
 

Call for entries
 
Applicationsfor the competition sections of Animasyros 2021 are submitted exclusively through the Animasyros page hosted on the Film Freeway platform:
https://filmfreeway.com/AnimaSyrosInternationalAnimationFestivalAgora-949575.
The applications deadline is June 30, 2021.
 

Visual identity
 
The visual identity of Animasyros 2021 was designed by the Italian visual artist, illustrator and animator Luca de Salvia (lucadesalvia.com). He started his professional journey as a Gucci employee under the artistic direction of Tom Form, where he worked on advertising campaigns for YSL & Gucci, and creating Bottega Veneta brand’s image with Thomas Meir, before deciding to set off on a freelance journey. Luca’s work is the result of his passions and loves: painting, film, graphic design and sound. He has created numerous award-winning animations, as well as films for brands such as Ferrari and the BBC. He is a contributor illustrator for Zeit magazine, La Repubblica newspaper and other titles.
 
Regarding the visual identity of Animasyros 2021, Luca says:"My design for the 2021 edition of Animasyros is an ode to the thrill and the exhilaration of newly found freedom. It is an illustration created by using quick brush stroked with a paired down color palette."
 
The trailer of the new visual identity was created by the leading Cypriot studio Zedem Media (www.zedemanimations.com).
 
Watch the trailer of the new visual identity here 
 
 
 
Animasyros’ Production “Hellenic Places: Hermoupolis”
 
The animated documentary “Hellenic Places: Hermoupolis” based on the original idea of animating the history of Hermoupolis, emerging from the waters of the Aegean Sea on Syros, in the middle of the Cyclades island complex, is the first short film production of Animasyros. The director of the film is the Cypriot, Charalambos Margaritis, the original drawings and storyboard are created by the illustrators Vasilis Evdokias and Lefteris Phaedas, while the script was supervised by the historian Maria Sampatakaki and was narrated by the actor Simos Patieridis. The film is funded by the emergency support programme due to the Covid-19 implications, for the production of animation films initiated by the Greek Ministry of Culture in cooperation with the Greek Film Center. The film is expected to be completed within the first half of 2021.

Watch the kick-off trailer of the film here
 
 
Information about the artistic program of Animasyros: programme@animasyros.gr
Application period: Monday 15 February 2021 to 30 June 2021
Website: www.animasyros.gr
Social Media: Animasyros @ facebook, twitter, instagram, vimeo, youtube
hashtag: #Animasyros 2021
 
See the making of Animasyros 13 here: https://vimeo.com/animasyros