São Paulo – The Anima Mundi, the Brazilian international animation festival, brings to the country two productions by Arab directors. Ostora, from Syria, and L’Mrayet, from Tunisia, will be shown in the two editions of the event, to take place in the two editions of the event, to take place from July 13th to 22nd, in Rio de Janeiro, and from the 25th to 29th of July, in São Paulo. This is the first time that Anima Mundi exhibits productions from these two countries.
Ostora, by director Hani Kichi, tells the story of a mermaid that is captured by a Cyclops and has to face the fury of Poseidon, the sea god. She is then sentenced to death, after having her last wish granted. The mermaid then travels the desert to seek her last chance for salvation, defying Poseidon’s belief that humans cannot accomplish their own dreams.
A work by Nadia Rais, L’Mrayet (The Glasses) tells the story of an imaginary character, Mrayet Boum, who lives in a Tunisia dominated by a medical coup d’état, in which the inhabitants are obliged to wear glasses from birth. When adult, Boum starts working for a company that is in charge of writing the future, so it will not come out of control. However, one day he decides to remove his glasses and to suggest that all the other workers leave their posts, starting a revolution against the system.
The Arab cartoons are in the "Panorama" category of the festival, which brings animations that represent the current tendencies of world production, so they are not competing.
In 2012, Anima Mundi celebrates its 20th anniversary. In a special edition, the festival brings 448 productions, 80 Brazilian and others from countries like France, Germany, Japan, Poland, Portugal, the United States, Switzerland, Denmark and the Czech Republic. Apart from exhibitions, the event will also count on workshops and international guest participation.
Service
Anima Mundi
Rio de Janeiro – from July 13th to 22nd
Sites: Banco do Brasil Cultural Centre, Correios Cultural Centre, Casa França-Brasil, Odeon BR, Oi Futuro and Espaço Itaú de Cinema
São Paulo – from July 25th to 29th
Sites: Memorial da América Latina and Banco do Brasil Cultural Centre
The event programme may be viewed at site www.animamundi.com.br
*Translated by Mark Ament
