SPACE PIRATE CAPTAIN HARLOCK Heads Spectacular Animation Selection at Sitges 2013
sitgesfilmfestival.com Animated movies will be one of the main focuses at the upcoming Sitges – International Fantastic Film Festival of Catalonia (Barcelona, Spain), to be held from October 11 to 20. SPACE PIRATE CAPTAIN HARLOCK (??????????, Kyaputen Haarokku, 2013), by Shinji Arakami, a spectacular version of Leiji Matsumoto’s famous manga, produced by Toei Animation and the biggest production to come out of this legendary studio -- with a budget of over 30 million dollars -- will be one of the animated films competing in the Official Fantàstic Selection. The movie is the result of the most modern animation techniques, captured in one of the very best uses of 3D in recent years. The Festival’s Official Selection will also be screening 009 RE: CYBORG (??????? ???????, Zero-Zero-Nine Re: Cyborg, 2012), by Kenji Kamiyama, the director responsible for the famous anime series GHOST IN THE SHELL: STAND ALONE COMPLEX (????? STAND ALONE COMPLEX, Kookaku Kidootai Sutando Aroon Konpurekkusu, 2002-2003) and who adapts Shotaro Ishinomori’s classic science fiction manga here with incredible 3D and Production I.G.’s customary quality. The film in charge of opening Anima’t will be the Korean production THE FAKE (???, Saibi, 2013) by Yeon Sang-ho, who was also present in Sitges last year with THE KING OF PIGS (??? ?; RR: Dae gi eui wang, 2011). It is an excellent example of the new wave in animated movies produced in South Korea, characterized by their realism and native personality, and that avoids imitating Japanese anime. Other outstanding feature length films in the Anima’t section are the Brazilian production RIO 2096: A STORY OF LOVE AND FURY by Luiz Bolognesi, the brilliant winner at the Annecy Animation Festival; the episodic film ANIME MIRAI (??????), a debut for new animation talents at Production I.G.; CHEATIN`, the new feature film from a Sitges classic, Bill Plympton; and the eagerly awaited EVANGELION: 3.0 YOU CAN (NOT) REDO (?????????????Q, Evangerion Shin Gekijooban: Kyuu, 2012), a new installment of the legendary Japanese saga. The program will be completed with productions dedicated to the entire family (under the Sitges Family label), the traditional short film competition and other feature length films to be announced over the upcoming weeks. Anima’T Coinciding with the Festival, the animation world’s first professional summit will also be taking place, born with the goal of becoming a meeting point for both national and international sector professionals. The event, promoted by the Catalan Animation Association, ANIMATS; the Sitges – International Fantastic Film Festival of Catalonia; Televisió de Catalunya; Catalan Films & TV - PROA and the Catalan Generalitat’s Department of Culture, will include project pitching sessions and master classes.
Lineup Includes THE FAKE, 009 RE:CYBORG and the Eagerly Awaited EVANGELION: 3.0 YOU CAN (NOT) REDO Source: Sitges – International Fantastic Film Festival of Catalonia press release Official Site: