The International Competition Programs are the backbone of the entire MIAF mission. Drawn from more than 2,450 submissions they showcase the best, most imaginative animating talent on the planet. For Programs 1 to 5 the only rule is diversity: you'll get a bit of everything! For Programs 6 to 10 we take the opportunity to highlight interesting themes and styles that felt prominent in the year's submissions.

Stop motion animation is as strong as ever it was, and the great stories just keep on coming. This program has a particular focus on especially affecting puppet films that, between them, roll out every tool in the puppet animators’ armoury. TWO BLACK BOYS by UK animator Baz Sells breathes life into a nuanced and touching poem of the same name; PREY by Pax Nelson is but one example of the films coming out of the Aardman academy; we locked in WINTER IN MARCH by Natalia Mirzoyan during a taxi ride with the filmmaker out to Ljubljana airport; and EATING TIME by Mari Kivi is an astounding example of why Estonia sits at the forefront of this artform. The program ends with SILENT CINEMA by Krste Gospodinovski, which blends together the tender DNA of the classic movie Cinema Paradiso with the softest story-telling instincts of Barry Purves in a film that is – at heart – all about the love of cinema as an engaging, even tactile artform.

This session is classified: Unclassified (M) Mature, not recommended for viewers under 15 years.

Please note that Backlot is NOT fully accessible. There are stairs with handrails, but no lift to the second floor where the cinema is located.

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