You’re the artistic director of Kaboom Animation Festival. What are the main goals of this event and how does an artistic director contribute to these objectives?

The main goals are bringing the community together, celebrating bold, innovative, fresh animation voices, with the emphasis on the voices that don’t have a podium to be presented. It shall be an event that has a societal significance, an impact on the society. Our goal is also to resent the animation medium in all its richness inside and outside of the screen. The Artistic Director is a storyteller that creates the story of the festival and each edition, by bringing the people, installations, masterclasses, workshops, films, that contribute to that story. 

How do you see animation as a tool of education? Could you tell a bit about the workshops you organize?

Animation as music might become a language that is understood on every corner of the world. Without dialogues it can be used as a tool for education from the basics graphic motion works, infoanimations: explaining people the nature of fake news, mathematics, physics etc. Kaboom is a talent development platform for people of all ages. We have screenings teaching children about bullying, global warming, ecology, celebrating different voices and all the colorful diversity of society. We have education screenings for young adults about dealing with climate depression, the urge to be perfect on social media platforms, the refugee crisis, and the cruelty of the meat industry. And we developed an innovative workshop called Kaboom+, where we are playing with animation professionals and students with one of the new mediums. We had an edition with AR, VR Chat, AI, and at the end of the festival they present the results of their explorations. 

Kaboom Animation Festival / photo: Jaime Korbee

There’s a growing tendency of animated documentaries. How do you see this and what’s your opinion on this genre?

I am very fascinated with animation documentaries. In our AD competition, we often add films that in my opinion show all new possibilities in this direction. Films that are at the edge of video arts, fiction etc. Success of Flee showcased how popular it can become with the general audience. I personally also love mocumentaries. This is a new level of playful storytelling. 

Is there a specific element (visual accomplishments, acting, editing, etc.) you’re going to pay attention to as a jury member in Friss Hús or is the overall experience the most important for you in a film?

I’m always looking for films that touch your heart and head with the same intensity. Ideally combining the quality of visual mastery with the storytelling or in case of non narrative films: rhythm, light, composition. 

What do you expect from the International competition programme of Friss Hús?

A lot of surprises in the best possible sense. 

What is your favorite short film? Why?

WOW. That’s a tough cookie to answer after watching 1500 short films a year.  I would still say How the sausage dog works dir. Julian Antonisz. For its absolute beauty, rawness and dry sense of humor.