BLON 2026 programme

February 1939. Overwhelmed by the flood of Republicans fleeing Franco's dictatorship in Spain, the French government confines them to camps. Two men separated by barbed wire will forge a friendship. One is a gendarme, the other an artist. From Barcelona to New York, the true story of Josep Bartolí, anti-Franco fighter and exceptional artist.

Join us for a free screening on 9 September at „Herkus Kantas“.

How are today's animated films, visual effects, and video games created? The Department of Graphic Systems at VILNIUS TECH invites you to explore the technologies shaping today's creative industries. During the exhibition, you will have the opportunity to see and try industry-standard virtual reality (VR), augmented reality (AR), and motion capture technologies. You can also learn more about VILNIUS TECH's Master's programme in 3D Animation and meet the programme's lecturers and students, who will be happy to share their experiences, answer your questions, and talk about studying animation and working in the creative industries. Exhibition is open September 10-13th, 10:00-16:00, at Klaipeda Culture Factory.

We are continuing a games programme entitled the ‘Aware Game Awards’ (AGA). This programme is dedicated to celebrating those games that strive to raise awareness about a range of topics, from personal experiences to global or social issues – games that focus on immersion and empathy, helping us to better understand each other and the world around us. We aim to show our audiences a completely different and unexpected side of gaming, while also inspiring and involving local creative communities.

A heartwarming programme of dialogue-free animated short films for young audiences. Through gentle adventures and unforgettable characters, these five stories celebrate friendship, compassion and caring for one another. They remind us that even the smallest act of kindness can create a magical connection between people, animals and the world around us.

Discover a world of magic and wonder in which the boundaries of time, space and human emotions blur, offering an immersive and unique journey like no other. Experience thought-provoking narratives and immerse yourself in an emotive visual world that captivates your senses and fuels your creativity.

Once you have made your reservation (valid only with accreditation), you will be guaranteed a seat at a time convenient to you. This way you won't have to waste time queuing. More info here.

During this session, we will use fun and playful exercises to create our own character, invent and illustrate their story, and make a small comic book.

This programme is made especially for our youngest festival-goers. Selected from around the world, these films will be judged by a special young jury of Klaipėda school students. This lively selection invites kids to dive into stories about friendship, nature, and the diversity of emotions, while discovering the colourful world of animation in many different styles and techniques. From catchy tunes to stories that spark curiosity or just make you laugh out loud — there’s something here for everyone, from kindergarteners to older students. Social story for the screening.

Olivia, 12, her little brother Tim and their mother are forced to leave their apartment and move to a new neighborhood. To shield Tim from this upsetting situation, Olivia has him believe that this is all part of a film in which he's the main character. Through laughter, tears, magic and the solidarity of new friends, they will find out that they are the heroes of their own life.

Animation is a cinematic medium. This means that animation creators can employ a wide range of cinematic techniques to convey ideas, emotions, and meaning, ultimately creating works that resonate with audiences. The aim of this presentation is to present the findings of a literature review and case study analysis that address the following research question: how can stylized cinematic lighting be effectively applied in CGI animation? The presentation will be held in Lithuanian.

This presentation features a case study of the VR 360 animated film “Eglė žalčių karalienė”. Special emphasis goes to the film’s visual stylistics – the decision to adapt the wood carving aesthetic, once widely used in fairy tale illustrations in Lithuania, to VR animation. As well as the creative, production and technological challenges that this choice has introduced. The presentation is intended for creators, students and anyone interested in or planning to create VR 360 animation projects. The presentation will be held in Lithuanian.

As always at BLON, we are announcing a competition programme of Lithuanian animated films! From the most memorable works by students to virtuoso short films, the entries will be judged by a panel of international experts, and audiences will be able to discover for themselves the diversity of Lithuanian animation!

This presentation will present the findings of a practice-based research project addressing the following question: how can the rotoscoping technique be applied effectively in animation? This question is particularly relevant today because, although rotoscoping has been used successfully in animation production for more than a century, it continues to have a controversial reputation within the international animation community and is often met with criticism. The presentation will discuss the key findings of the study, offering practical insights into how rotoscoping can be used effectively while avoiding the most common pitfalls associated with the technique. It is intended for both emerging animators and experienced animation professionals who are considering incorporating rotoscoping into their creative practice. The presentation will be held in Lithuanian.

Each animation technique has its own distinct strengths and challenges. This presentation will therefore explore not only which production challenges can be overcome by combining traditional and digital 2D animation techniques, but also how the production pipelines of these different approaches can be most effectively integrated. In addition, the presentation will examine a range of case studies from both animated television and feature film productions. The presentation will be held in Lithuanian.

Travel across the world with this carefully curated programme of animated short films. Expect a bold and playful mix of styles and techniques — from sharp comedies to emotional dramas and thought-provoking documentaries, that explore life’s most complex experiences. Diverse, surprising, and poignant, this line-up is sure to leave a lasting impression.

The aim of this presentation is to examine the ongoing developments surrounding generative artificial intelligence in the global animation industry and to explore how these changes may affect the European animation community. It is important to emphasize that the presentation will not focus on how to use specific AI models in the animation production process. Instead, it will discuss how the opportunities offered by this technology can be adopted ethically and responsibly while avoiding its major risks. Finally, the presentation will examine the ongoing legal developments in the United States and Europe and discuss how they may shape the future of the animation industry. The presentation will be held in Lithuanian.

The purpose of this presentation is to introduce and review the challenges and insights gained while preparing young technical artists over the past 15 years of Vilnius Tech Multimedia and Computer Design study program, while managing to remain one of the most popular study programs in Lithuania. The presentation will discuss not only important challenges such as changing industry priorities, technological needs and constantly changing student and employer expectations, but will also invite participants to discuss how to remove boundaries between university and industry. The presentation will be held in Lithuanian.

Discover the fresh spirit of the Northern animation! Dive into a vibrant mix of award-winning shorts from Finland, Sweden, Norway, Denmark, Estonia, Latvia, Poland, Germany and Lithuania. From stop-motion to experimental animation, these films explore heartfelt stories of life challenges, relationships and variety choices. It’s a perfect pick for animation fans and curious cinema lovers alike — come laugh, reflect, and discover fresh voices from the Baltic Sea and Nordic region!

Set in a futuristic world where humans and mermaids coexist, the anime feature film ChaO follows Stephan, a mild-mannered office worker at a shipbuilding company whose life is turned upside down when Chao, a princess from the mermaid kingdom, suddenly proposes to him. Before he can make sense of it all, Stephan finds himself living with the unpredictable yet sincere Chao. As her genuine affection begins to break down his emotional barriers, an unexpected and touching romance unfolds.

A musical performance that is somewhere between a concert, a philosophical rant, a stream of consciousness, and a story about finding your own inner creative voice through the religious practice of retardmaxxing.

Start your morning with a cosy, informal chat featuring filmmakers from the competition programme. Hear about their work, creative process, and the stories behind their work, while gaining insight into the world of animation. Come meet the artists, ask questions, and leave inspired.
The event will be held in English, without translation.

During this session, we will use fun and playful exercises to create our own character, invent and illustrate their story, and make a small comic book.

How are today's animated films, visual effects, and video games created? The Department of Graphic Systems at VILNIUS TECH invites you to explore the technologies shaping today's creative industries. During the exhibition, you will have the opportunity to see and try industry-standard virtual reality (VR), augmented reality (AR), and motion capture technologies. You can also learn more about VILNIUS TECH's Master's programme in 3D Animation and meet the programme's lecturers and students, who will be happy to share their experiences, answer your questions, and talk about studying animation and working in the creative industries. Exhibition is open September 10-13th, 10:00-16:00, at Klaipeda Culture Factory.

We are continuing a games programme entitled the ‘Aware Game Awards’ (AGA). This programme is dedicated to celebrating those games that strive to raise awareness about a range of topics, from personal experiences to global or social issues – games that focus on immersion and empathy, helping us to better understand each other and the world around us. We aim to show our audiences a completely different and unexpected side of gaming, while also inspiring and involving local creative communities.

Discover a world of magic and wonder in which the boundaries of time, space and human emotions blur, offering an immersive and unique journey like no other. Experience thought-provoking narratives and immerse yourself in an emotive visual world that captivates your senses and fuels your creativity.

Once you have made your reservation (valid only with accreditation), you will be guaranteed a seat at a time convenient to you. This way you won't have to waste time queuing. More info here.

The presentation will provide a brief overview of the current state of the Lithuanian animation industry, based on surveys of Lithuanian animation producers and animation professionals conducted in 2026. Drawing on the collected data, it will examine how industry stakeholders assess the current state of the sector, career opportunities, the quality of professional training, and the major challenges facing the Lithuanian animation industry today.

The presentation will be held in Lithuanian.

The research is financed by the Swedish Institute.

When Tom, Susan, and Derek visit their grandfather after the loss of their beloved grandmother, they find the house quiet and their grandfather distant. Inspired by her grandmother, Susan becomes a storyteller, creating magical tales of a helpful cat, creature from a magic garden, and a daring flying man. Through imagination and shared stories, the family reconnects and discovers lessons about courage, kindness, and finding light in difficult times.

Collaborative NPC Design to Build Immersive Playable Worlds. This hands-on workshop explores collaborative world-building through NPC (Non-Player Character) design. Using stickers, crayons, templates, and cards, participants collectively create character appearances and personalities, regardless of technical skill. A custom local algorithm digitizes each NPC into a Godot Packed Scene, allowing the group to assemble them into a shared playable game world.

BLON Animation and Games Festival invites you to a stop-motion puppet animation exhibition at Klaipėda Puppet Theatre!

Stop-motion puppet animation is a filmmaking technique in which physical puppets or figures are photographed after each small movement, creating the illusion that they move on their own.

The exhibition features original characters and sets used in the production of four animated films: Tales from the Magic Garden (producer Martin Vandas), Please (producer Johan Edström), INVASIVE! (director Sonata Vilkė), and Penguin & Pigeon (director Gertrūda Nemčauskaitė). We invite you to visit the exhibition and meet the filmmakers!

Exhibition opening hours during BLON Festival:
September 11, 12:00–18:30
September 12, 14:00–19:00
September 12, 14:00 – Meet the filmmakers (in English, with Lithuanian interpretation).

The exhibition is open to all visitors with a ticket to any BLON Festival event or with a symbolic donation in support of the festival.

As always at BLON, we are announcing a competition programme of Lithuanian animated films! From the most memorable works by students to virtuoso short films, the entries will be judged by a panel of international experts, and audiences will be able to discover for themselves the diversity of Lithuanian animation!

Discover the fresh spirit of the Northern animation! Dive into a vibrant mix of award-winning shorts from Finland, Sweden, Norway, Denmark, Estonia, Latvia, Poland, Germany and Lithuania. From stop-motion to experimental animation, these films explore heartfelt stories of life challenges, relationships and variety choices. It’s a perfect pick for animation fans and curious cinema lovers alike — come laugh, reflect, and discover fresh voices from the Baltic Sea and Nordic region!

For more than a century, television and cinema have been the natural home of animation. Bored Panda Group challenged this model by creating Spike – a character conceived, developed, and launched exclusively on YouTube. In just three years, Spike has generated more than one billion views and reached audiences worldwide. This talk explores how Bored Panda Group combined storytelling, over a decade of YouTube-first experience, and audience data to build a global animation franchise – proving that YouTube can be more than a distribution channel: it can be the home of original animated storytelling.

Atuel is an award-winning surrealist documentary videogame about a river that flows across Argentina's Cuyo Desert and how the global climate crisis is threatening its historical ecosystem. It was made in collaboration with documentarians and features real-world interviews with experts. Come listen to one of its creators speak about the game's production process, its approach to the documentary genre, and the art and design philosophies that made such a hyperlocal Latin American story stand out globally.

In support of Ukraine, we invite you to come and discover the Ukrainian animation industry and its creators! For this year’s festival, we have selected the most interesting short animated films by Ukrainian creators and put together a competition programme, with the winner being selected by an international jury.

We created a tool that enabled game designers to take ownership of game logic implementation, allowing programmers to step away from this part of the development process.

Travel across the world with this carefully curated programme of animated short films. Expect a bold and playful mix of styles and techniques — from sharp comedies to emotional dramas and thought-provoking documentaries, that explore life’s most complex experiences. Diverse, surprising, and poignant, this line-up is sure to leave a lasting impression.

Lithuanian American artist, cartoonist and writer, Kaz Prapuolenis, shares his creative journey from studying comics in art school with Art Spiegelman (Maus) to writing and drawing comics (Raw Magazine, The New Yorker, Spin) to creating his weekly alternative comic strip (Underworld) to storyboarding for animated television series (Nickelodeon’s SpongeBob SquarePants, Cartoon Network’s Camp Lazlo, Disney’s Phineas and Ferb) and finally writing for feature animation (Saving Bikini Bottom, The Plankton Movie, and Search for SquarePants). “You don’t have to be crazy to make cartoons – but it helps!” - Kaz.

Based on Marjane Satrapi’s autobiographical graphic novel, Persepolis chronicles the life of a young girl growing up during the Iranian Revolution. Through stark black-and-white animation, the film explores themes of identity, freedom, and resilience as Marjane navigates political upheaval, exile, and the search for her place in the world. This touching animated film is a beautiful lesson about the Middle East for both children and adults.

Come, chill, chat & train your brain with an informal quiz featuring animation and game-related questions.

Oscar the Carelian channels big emotions and raw power in a form of quirky synth pop designed for dancing. The Helsinki based performer is known for high energy performances and sincere approach to groove.

Start your morning with a cosy, informal chat featuring filmmakers from the competition programme. Hear about their work, creative process, and the stories behind their work, while gaining insight into the world of animation. Come meet the artists, ask questions, and leave inspired.
The event will be held in English, without translation.

During the workshop, we'll explore and recreate the visual styles of several renowned comics artists - creators who tell complex stories through deceptively simple illustrations.

How are today's animated films, visual effects, and video games created? The Department of Graphic Systems at VILNIUS TECH invites you to explore the technologies shaping today's creative industries. During the exhibition, you will have the opportunity to see and try industry-standard virtual reality (VR), augmented reality (AR), and motion capture technologies. You can also learn more about VILNIUS TECH's Master's programme in 3D Animation and meet the programme's lecturers and students, who will be happy to share their experiences, answer your questions, and talk about studying animation and working in the creative industries. Exhibition is open September 10-13th, 10:00-16:00, at Klaipeda Culture Factory.

Visual novels are a unique genre of video games that blend storytelling with interactivity, occupying a space between literature, comics, and games. But how do they differ from traditional comics? What themes do they explore, and what kinds of players are drawn to them? Are visual novels a natural evolution of comics as a medium, or are they a response to changing reading habits and shorter attention spans? I will present some of my favorite examples and invite the audience to join the discussion.

We are continuing a games programme entitled the ‘Aware Game Awards’ (AGA). This programme is dedicated to celebrating those games that strive to raise awareness about a range of topics, from personal experiences to global or social issues – games that focus on immersion and empathy, helping us to better understand each other and the world around us. We aim to show our audiences a completely different and unexpected side of gaming, while also inspiring and involving local creative communities.

Discover a world of magic and wonder in which the boundaries of time, space and human emotions blur, offering an immersive and unique journey like no other. Experience thought-provoking narratives and immerse yourself in an emotive visual world that captivates your senses and fuels your creativity.

Once you have made your reservation (valid only with accreditation), you will be guaranteed a seat at a time convenient to you. This way you won't have to waste time queuing. More info here.

In support of Ukraine, we invite you to come and discover the Ukrainian animation industry and its creators! For this year’s festival, we have selected the most interesting short animated films by Ukrainian creators and put together a competition programme, with the winner being selected by an international jury.

I would like to present our latest feature-length animated film, Tales From the Magic Garden, tracing its ten-year development process and highlighting the various aspects of this broad and unconventional European co-production.

ISM students present the strategy board game “Memel Gambit”, based on the events that unfolded in the Klaipėda Region in 1923. Two teams take opposing sides: one leads the Lithuanian insurgents seeking to take control of the region, while the other commands the French forces trying to hold it. Victory depends not only on controlling territory, but also on gaining the support of the public and the international community. Come and try the game created by ISM students and discover the history of the Klaipėda Region through play!

Number of players: 2–6.

Registration: labas@blon.lt.

You are welcome to join the game session with a ticket to any BLON Festival event or with a symbolic donation in support of the festival.

Lithuanian American artist, cartoonist and writer Kaz Prapuolenis (Nickelodeon’s SpongeBob SquarePants, Cartoon Network’s Camp Lazlo, and Disney’s Phineas and Ferb), takes you through the process of writing a SpongeBob episode from the springboard pitch, through the outline, script, and animatic process. He will also go over early aspects of show creation as far as the 3-act structure in short-form cartoon storytelling and how one assembles a dynamic cast of characters. And finally, he’ll cover the difference between storyboard-driven shows and script-driven shows in commercial television (and touch on feature animation writing as well).

When Tom, Susan, and Derek visit their grandfather after the loss of their beloved grandmother, they find the house quiet and their grandfather distant. Inspired by her grandmother, Susan becomes a storyteller, creating magical tales of a helpful cat, creature from a magic garden, and a daring flying man. Through imagination and shared stories, the family reconnects and discovers lessons about courage, kindness, and finding light in difficult times.

Whether you're curious about accelerator programs, passionate about building indie communities, or eager to know what the Italian game dev scene is like, this session is for you. Come hang out, ask questions, and connect with a game developer from abroad!

Robertas Nevecka is a film director, animator, and occasional illustrator from Klaipėda, Lithuania. His drawings of the people working on film sets have spread around the world in unexpected ways - from playing cards to tattoos in South America. In this lecture, he'll talk about observing everyday life, drawing without knowing how to draw, and unconventional ways of sharing illustrations with the world.

Discover the fresh spirit of the Northern animation! Dive into a vibrant mix of award-winning shorts from Finland, Sweden, Norway, Denmark, Estonia, Latvia, Poland, Germany and Lithuania. From stop-motion to experimental animation, these films explore heartfelt stories of life challenges, relationships and variety choices. It’s a perfect pick for animation fans and curious cinema lovers alike — come laugh, reflect, and discover fresh voices from the Baltic Sea and Nordic region!

BLON Animation and Games Festival invites you to a stop-motion puppet animation exhibition at Klaipėda Puppet Theatre!

Stop-motion puppet animation is a filmmaking technique in which physical puppets or figures are photographed after each small movement, creating the illusion that they move on their own.

The exhibition features original characters and sets used in the production of four animated films: Tales from the Magic Garden (producer Martin Vandas), Please (producer Johan Edström), INVASIVE! (director Sonata Vilkė), and Penguin & Pigeon (director Gertrūda Nemčauskaitė). We invite you to visit the exhibition and meet the filmmakers!

Exhibition opening hours during BLON Festival:
September 11, 12:00–18:30
September 12, 14:00–19:00
September 12, 14:00 – Meet the filmmakers (in English, with Lithuanian interpretation).

The exhibition is open to all visitors with a ticket to any BLON Festival event or with a symbolic donation in support of the festival.

BLON Animation and Games Festival invites you to a stop-motion puppet animation exhibition at Klaipėda Puppet Theatre!

Stop-motion puppet animation is a filmmaking technique in which physical puppets or figures are photographed after each small movement, creating the illusion that they move on their own.

The exhibition features original characters and sets used in the production of four animated films: Tales from the Magic Garden (producer Martin Vandas), Please (producer Johan Edström), INVASIVE! (director Sonata Vilkė), and Penguin & Pigeon (director Gertrūda Nemčauskaitė). We invite you to visit the exhibition and meet the filmmakers!

Exhibition opening hours during BLON Festival:
September 11, 12:00–18:30
September 12, 14:00–19:00
September 12, 14:00 – Meet the filmmakers (in English, with Lithuanian interpretation).

The exhibition is open to all visitors with a ticket to any BLON Festival event or with a symbolic donation in support of the festival.

I will tell you how I sank from illustrating newspapers and magazines and writing books to creating countless drawings for social media.

The presentation will be held in Lithuanian.

In the presentation Menghui Huang will explore how abstract visual language can be used to create immersive environments, emotional narratives, and new forms of worldbuilding in virtual reality.

Travel across the world with this carefully curated programme of animated short films. Expect a bold and playful mix of styles and techniques — from sharp comedies to emotional dramas and thought-provoking documentaries, that explore life’s most complex experiences. Diverse, surprising, and poignant, this line-up is sure to leave a lasting impression.

"Machinima" blends "machine," "cinema," and "animation" — films made from video game captures. Artist Isabelle Arvers presents this underrecognized medium reshaping animated cinema.
With Futurs Ancestraux, she develops Benin game-films weaving 3D scans of sacred sites, Vodún artifacts, and documentary footage into ancestral-digital hybrid spaces.
With Lívia Diniz, she leads Beyond Green Games immersions, co-creating films from recordings of the living world.

A talk about how experimental comics can act as a space where different languages, media, and narrative forms meet, opening the door to projects that move across diverse creative territories. It is also a personal journey through key milestones and projects, both solo and as a member of the Shaman Garage studio.

Based on Marjane Satrapi’s autobiographical graphic novel, Persepolis chronicles the life of a young girl growing up during the Iranian Revolution. Through stark black-and-white animation, the film explores themes of identity, freedom, and resilience as Marjane navigates political upheaval, exile, and the search for her place in the world. This touching animated film is a beautiful lesson about the Middle East for both children and adults.

Inspiring stories from the FAN Animation Network — a vibrant collaboration of five Southern European animation festivals from Portugal, Cyprus, Greece, Italy and Spain. From bold new voices to masterful auteurs, this programme brings you some of the best short films travelling through FAN’s creative circuit. Come celebrate the art of animation with us — discover, connect, and be inspired!

Start your morning with a cosy, informal chat featuring game creators from the AWARE Games Programme. Come meet the artists, ask questions, and leave inspired.
The event will be held in English, without translation.

How are today's animated films, visual effects, and video games created? The Department of Graphic Systems at VILNIUS TECH invites you to explore the technologies shaping today's creative industries. During the exhibition, you will have the opportunity to see and try industry-standard virtual reality (VR), augmented reality (AR), and motion capture technologies. You can also learn more about VILNIUS TECH's Master's programme in 3D Animation and meet the programme's lecturers and students, who will be happy to share their experiences, answer your questions, and talk about studying animation and working in the creative industries. Exhibition is open September 10-13th, 10:00-16:00, at Klaipeda Culture Factory.

We are continuing a games programme entitled the ‘Aware Game Awards’ (AGA). This programme is dedicated to celebrating those games that strive to raise awareness about a range of topics, from personal experiences to global or social issues – games that focus on immersion and empathy, helping us to better understand each other and the world around us. We aim to show our audiences a completely different and unexpected side of gaming, while also inspiring and involving local creative communities.

Discover a world of magic and wonder in which the boundaries of time, space and human emotions blur, offering an immersive and unique journey like no other. Experience thought-provoking narratives and immerse yourself in an emotive visual world that captivates your senses and fuels your creativity.

Once you have made your reservation (valid only with accreditation), you will be guaranteed a seat at a time convenient to you. This way you won't have to waste time queuing. More info here.

In this talk, we're going to discuss all the ins-and-outs about running a gaming accelerator from someone who was accelerated and now is helping to accelerate others. We'll be talking about what exactly is an accelerator, how the Quickload was established, why should someone take part in an acceleration program, the success stories of the various studios who took part in it and how the local community and gaming scene was empowered and grew thanks to it.

A heartwarming programme of dialogue-free animated short films for young audiences. Through gentle adventures and unforgettable characters, these five stories celebrate friendship, compassion and caring for one another. They remind us that even the smallest act of kindness can create a magical connection between people, animals and the world around us.

What started as a casual game idea while chatting by the campfire turned into leaving a job, founding a game studio, forming a team, and working on a game. It sounds like a dream, but it’s also an easy horror story - well, a cozy one. So it’s fitting that our game is also a cozy horror.

A short talk exploring the creative and emotional process behind turning a concept into the living world of Vale’s Echo.

This programme is made especially for our youngest festival-goers. Selected from around the world, these films will be judged by a special young jury of Klaipėda school students. This lively selection invites kids to dive into stories about friendship, nature, and the diversity of emotions, while discovering the colourful world of animation in many different styles and techniques. From catchy tunes to stories that spark curiosity or just make you laugh out loud — there’s something here for everyone, from kindergarteners to older students. Social story for the screening.

Olivia, 12, her little brother Tim and their mother are forced to leave their apartment and move to a new neighborhood. To shield Tim from this upsetting situation, Olivia has him believe that this is all part of a film in which he's the main character. Through laughter, tears, magic and the solidarity of new friends, they will find out that they are the heroes of their own life.

As always at BLON, we are announcing a competition programme of Lithuanian animated films! From the most memorable works by students to virtuoso short films, the entries will be judged by a panel of international experts, and audiences will be able to discover for themselves the diversity of Lithuanian animation!

In support of Ukraine, we invite you to come and discover the Ukrainian animation industry and its creators! For this year’s festival, we have selected the most interesting short animated films by Ukrainian creators and put together a competition programme, with the winner being selected by an international jury.

Set in a futuristic world where humans and mermaids coexist, the anime feature film ChaO follows Stephan, a mild-mannered office worker at a shipbuilding company whose life is turned upside down when Chao, a princess from the mermaid kingdom, suddenly proposes to him. Before he can make sense of it all, Stephan finds himself living with the unpredictable yet sincere Chao. As her genuine affection begins to break down his emotional barriers, an unexpected and touching romance unfolds.