Athens Animation Agora (3A)

The Onassis Foundation supports Animasyros for yet another year, as it focuses on the current scene in animation and aims for unexpected encounters that will free up artists’ creative impulses. The Animasyros International Festival + Animation Agora, one of the top 20 animation festivals worldwide, expands its dynamic Agora section, opening the first Athens Animation Agora (3Α) which provides the main meeting point for members of the Greek, European and international animation community.

In the space of three days, participants follow stimulating discussions, presentations and educational workshops suitable for both professionals and students, which aim to offer fascinating new opportunities for work, collaborations, Greek and foreign productions, funding and exchange of ideas. With the help of specialised representatives from the animation industry, who will be coming from abroad to share their views and experiences with their Greek colleagues, the Athens Animation Agora (3Α) contributes towards an all-round, deeper recognition of animation in all its forms.

At the end of each day, Athens Animation Agora (3Α) will come to a close with a screening of selected animation films, including the Oscar-nominated Breadwinner by Nora Twomey of Cartoon Saloon studios, produced by Angelina Jolie, with technical director Mark Mullery attending the screening, and Harvie andthe Magic Museum by Martin Kotík & Inna Evlannikova.

Athens Animation Agora (3Α) will also feature the special tribute Onasseas – The Salty Stories, in collaboration with Onassis Culture. Inspired by the power the sea has to spawn real-life or fictional stories—its salty waters also marking the starting point of the Onassis Foundation, since Aristotle Onassis became synonymous, more than anyone else, with life at sea and Greek shipping—this tribute focuses on the role played by the sea during important moments in our lives, through 11 quite special short films.

To cap it all off, the three-day event waves us goodbye by announcing the programme of the Animasyros 11festival, with the Animasyros pre-festival event, which follows straight on, taking place on the island of Syros.