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.

In MIAF-Land – in fact, in Animation-Land – where would we be without the National Film Board of Canada. The NFB is truly one of the most consummate wellsprings of authentic animated art ever! We loved everything they sent us this year so we nabbed them as soon as they turned up and, for no particular reason, we’re running them in this program. Alex Boya, who gave us the sublimely whacky Turbine in 2018, is back with a sublimelier whackier BREAD WILL WALK, a film that all but defies viable description. Cordell Barker, the maker behind the ageless classic The Cat Came Back is back with GOOD LUCK TO YOU, and Martine Frossard’s HYPERSENSITIVE reminds us that there is plenty of appetite for experimentation in the NFB. The program closes with the film everybody’s talking about though, THE GIRL WHO CRIED PEARLS by Chris Lavis and Maciek Szczerbowski, who gave us Madam Tuttli-Putli back in 2007.

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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