Who’s Afraid of 13?
What The 13th Canlandıranlar International Film Festival is About to Begin
The 13th Canlandıranlar International Film Festival is fast approaching. Taking place in
Istanbul from October 20–26, the festival will once again bring together animation enthusiasts
and artists from around the world. This year’s screenings and events will be held at Institut
français (Taksim), İstanbul Metropolitan Municipality’s Beyoğlu Cinema (Main Hall and
Small Pera Hall), the BlackBox Hall located on the entrance floor of the İşbank Museum of
Painting and Sculpture, Müze Gazhane in Kadıköy, and the Istanbul Museum of Painting and
Sculpture.
The festival’s 13th edition offers a rich and diverse program, featuring short and featurelength films, masterclasses, talks, workshops, a panel discussion, and the now-classic “Tribute
Section”.
Competition and Awards
The jury of the 13th Canlandıranlar International Film Festival features distinguished figures
from the world of animation: Florence Miailhe, Tomàs Welss, and Sine Özbilge. Members of
the SİYAD (Turkish Film Critics Association) jury include Assoc. Prof. Dr. Gül Yaşartürk,
Elif Tunca, and Tuba Büdüş.
In the festival’s International Competition section, awards will be presented for Best Film,
Best Director, Best Screenplay, Best First Film, Best Student Film, and Best Sound Design. In
the National Competition section, honors will be given for Best Turkish Film, Best
Screenplay, Best Sound Design, and Best First Film. Additionally, a SİYAD Award and an
Audience Award, determined by audience votes, will also be presented.
Guest of Honor: Florence Miailhe
Florence Miailhe is one of the rare artists in the world of animation. Trained as a painter, she
brings her films to life through painted imagery and moving sand, creating a powerful and
poetic universe. The artist, who won the César Award for Best Short Film in 2002 and the
Honorary Cristal at the Annecy Festival in 2015, received wide acclaim for her first feature
film, The Crossing (La Traversée), released in 2021. With her sensitive and richly imaginative
perspective, she continues to inspire animation enthusiasts and will be a guest of
Canlandıranlar in Istanbul. Festival audiences will have the chance to watch two short film
selections by Florence Miailhe, featuring 13 films produced between 1991 and 2024.
Additionally, the director has curated two short film selections titled The Inspiration Dose,
composed of works that have inspired her — these, too, will be screened during the festival.
On Saturday, October 25 at 5:00 p.m., Florence Miailhe will share her experiences in a
masterclass at Institut français.
Competition and Non-Competition Short Films
A total of 63 short animated films are being screened at the festival, 45 of which are included
in the International Competition. The competition films were selected by a pre-selection jury
consisting of Evrim Kavcar, interdisciplinary artist and Head of the Animation and Cartoon
Department at Mimar Sinan Fine Arts University; Nesli Özalp, founder and director of the
Bornova International Short Film Days; and Çağla Aslan, competition director of the
International Animation Film Festival