This black comedy with philosophical overtones takes place on a dubious boat in the middle of the ocean. But lives are at stake! With them also romance, dignity and the ability to be human in all circumstances and despite hardships. Using a simple and expressive artistic style, Belgian director Levi Stoops explores what it means to face such challenges.

Guys working on a construction site have a problem – their shovel got stuck in the sand. A student from the Plzeň Studio of Animation, known to Anifilm audiences from previous festival editions, has once again chosen a provocative topic and form. Can the guys solve their problem by lunchtime? And if not, will something happen?

This poetic and charmingly animated music video with an environmental message was created by a Croatian director based in Estonia. It talks about contradictory relationships between humans and nature. Climate change, overpopulation and loss of species diversity are concerns that affect and speak to all of us.

This visually remarkable abstract music video for the duo Gnaw combines multiple animation techniques. The director uses lines, shapes and various photographs. The experimental sound is created by traditional Persian and Finnish instruments with synthesisers and creates an atmosphere of mystery and pleasant thrills.

This semi-abstract atmospheric film animates engravings by Andriy Sokolenko, an artist from the Ukrainian city of Dnipro. Animated in fast-paced sequences with appropriate sounds, they form urban scenes which alternate with ‘abstract’ rain. Thanks to detailed shots, we distinctly feel individual scratches – the bumps hitting the ground.

This film, commissioned by the Hussite Museum in Tábor, commemorates the 600th anniversary of the death of Jan Žižka. Using a humorous and detached perspective, it follows the life of the famed military leader and introduces the origins and puts the whole Hussite movement into context. Director Jan Míka presents historical facts in an entertaining way, helping children to understand them without any difficulties.

Diver and drummer Franky from the punk band Totální nasazení strums the guitar for the first time and from that moment on there is nothing that could make him let it go. Not for lack of trying, though, as two tramps and a herd of biting cows try and fail. On the contrary! The cows even prove to be unexpectedly musical beings! This cheery music video spiced up by grotesque situations is guaranteed to entertain also young audiences.

Get off your bum and dance! That’s the message of this brightly coloured music video for DVA’s melodic song made by experienced animator Jaromír Plachý (who makes more than just music videos). This music video containing more than a few bums definitely boosts the energy of the song and you will most likely feel the urge to dance.

Two thieves are reluctant to steal but their evil boss doesn’t want to hear it. So the two clumsy burglars, who would much rather go dancing somewhere, have to break into an abandoned house. Once inside, they stumble across a gramophone and release a bunch of ghosts from it. This musical slapstick was made by three students of the Tomáš Baťa University in Zlín as their graduate film.