Two standout animated features — one Czech and one international — took home the top honors at the 2025 Anifilm International Festival of Animated Films, which concluded this weekend in Liberec. Living Large, directed by Czech filmmaker Kristina Dufková, won Best Feature Film for Children and Young Audiences, while Sanatorium Under the Sign of the Hourglass, the latest film from American-born surrealist auteurs Stephen and Timothy Quay, was awarded Best Feature Film for Adults.
The festival’s jury praised Living Large (Život k sežrání) for its visual imagination and emotional depth, calling it “a celebration of self-acceptance and resilience.” Told through intricately crafted stop-motion animation, the film follows a witty and artistic teenager confronting first love, bullying, and body image in a world that pressures him to conform. The jury added: “From the very first frame, this film captivated us… It is not only a delight to watch, but an important reminder that the journey to embracing oneself is one worth taking.”
Dufková’s win marks a strong showing for Czech animation at this year’s festival, which featured 10 feature films, 34 shorts, and additional selections in student, non-narrative, music video, and VR categories.
In the adult feature competition, the Quay Brothers’ Sanatorium Under the Sign of the Hourglass impressed with its signature blend of puppetry, live action, and surrealist imagery. Based loosely on the writing of Polish author Bruno Schulz, the film was described by jurors as “a haunting meditation on grief, memory, and the passage of time,” creating “a universe that is both unsettling and mesmerizing.” The jury commended the film’s “deeply atmospheric tone” and its ability to “draw us into its corridors of mystery.”
Elsewhere at the festival, Gianluigi Toccafondo’s The Voice of the Sirens, a Franco-Italian co-production, won Best Short Film for its ghostly imagery and painterly animation. UK student film Bunnyhood by Mansi Maheshwari was awarded Best Student Film, praised for its wild aesthetic and emotionally charged storytelling.
In the abstract and non-narrative category, Deluge by Meejin Hong was recognized for its decade-long creative process and hand-drawn execution. The Best Music Video award went to Jesica Bianchi of Argentina for her work on Siamés’ My Way. Boris Labbé won Best VR Film for Ito Meikyū, described as a contemplative emotional labyrinth.
Anifilm’s game competition also announced winners, including Snufkin: Melody of Moominvalley as Best Game for Children and Indika by Odd Meter for Best Visual Art. The Liberec Region Audience Award went to Hurikán by Czech director Jan Saska.
This year also marked the debut of a student game competition. A total of 12 student games joined the 15 professional titles vying for recognition in Anifilm’s growing interactive section.
The 2025 jury featured animation experts from around the globe, including Argentine director and designer Diego Polieri (Love, Death & Robots), French historian Xavier Kawa-Topor, US director Josh Shaffner, Polish filmmaker Tomek Popakul, and Czech director Diana Cam Van Nguyen.
Now in its 14th year, Anifilm has become one of Central Europe’s leading festivals dedicated to animation in all its forms. Held annually in the northern Czech city of Liberec, the weeklong event showcases a wide range of international works across feature films, shorts, experimental animation, VR, and video games.
In addition to screenings, Anifilm offers industry panels, workshops, and networking opportunities, drawing filmmakers, students, and fans from around the world. Its growing reputation reflects the increasing global visibility of Czech animation and the festival’s commitment to celebrating innovation and artistry across media.
