Animation festival to open next week, offering both light, heavy

Published on 2012/07/08 | Source

A scene from "Wrinkles", by Spanish director Ignacio Ferreras. It will be screened at the Seoul International Cartoon and Animation Festival, which opens next week.

By Kwaak Je-yup

Cartoons and animations hold a special place in every child's heart, and an event next week will give children and young-hearted adults an opportunity to stretch their imaginations through some of the world's finest works.

The 16th Seoul International Cartoon and Animation Festival (SICAF) will screen over 150 animated films from 30 countries at two central Seoul cinemas from July 18 to 22. It will also hold exhibitions and a film market concurrently.

For the general public, the animated film festival will be of most interest, and it takes place at the Seoul Animation Center and the three screens at the CGV Myeong-dong Station, downtown Seoul. But be sure to read through the extensive program carefully and check the ratings before buying tickets as many of the selections revolve around some heavy topics, such as social phenomena and psychological ailments.

Highlights include the opener "Wrinkles", a raw portrait of senior citizens in an aging population by Spanish director Ignacio Ferreras, Czech drama "Alois Nebel" by Tomas Lunak, about a train dispatcher suffering from World War II-related hallucinations and Japanese director Keita Kurosaka's dystopia fantasy "Midori-ko".

Among 16 films representing Korea will be the acclaimed piece on violence and bullying " King of Pigs" by Yeon Sang-ho and Lee Dae-hee's social satire "PADAK".

For those who prefer a faster pace, various short features are also available.

The exhibitions, which include one on the lovable American cat Garfield and another on Korea's cartoon master Kim San ho, can be seen at three different locations in the capital: COEX in Samseong-dong, the Seoul Animation Center in Yejang-don and Mt. Nam Palgak Square. The content market, called the Seoul Promotion Plan, will take place at the conference center in the COEX complex.

Tickets are on sale now. For more information, visit www.sicaf.org