Two Iranian animated films are featured in Poland’s 13th International Animated Film Festival Animocje, currently taking place in Bydgoszcz. The festival, which runs from April 14 to April 20, showcases cutting-edge works in animation, emphasizing innovative techniques and diverse storytelling approaches.

Representing Iran are “Being 10,” directed by Fatemeh Jafari, and “Our Uniform,” created by Yeganeh Moqaddam. Both shorts have received international recognition for their distinctive narratives and artistic styles.

“Being 10,” produced by the Institute for Intellectual Development of Children and Young Adults, tells the story of a father and his ten-year-old son living in isolation within a dense forest. The father, a hunter, brings home one of his captured animals as a gift, which ultimately alters the boy's life. The 18-minute film recently earned third place at the 11th Constantine’s Gold Coin International Festival in Serbia. Jafari, who holds a master’s degree in animation from Tarbiat Modares University, has been active as an animator, scriptwriter, and director since 2005.

The seven-minute “Our Uniform” offers a reflective glimpse into childhood memories through the lens of an Iranian girl recalling her school days by focusing on the fabric of her old uniform. Notably, the animation was crafted by painting directly onto cloth rather than using traditional materials like paper or digital media. This mixed-media approach combines various techniques to deliver a visually rich narrative that explores the symbolic significance of school uniforms in shaping identity and social presentation. The film was nominated in the Best Animated Short category at the 2024 Oscars and has garnered several accolades, including the Grand Jury Prize at Spain’s Animayo Festival and Best Short Animation at France’s Annecy International Animation Film Festival. Moqaddam, an animator and illustrator with a keen interest in nature and culture, often seeks to amplify the voices of overlooked or marginalized subjects in her work.

Animocje Festival is dedicated to presenting bold and inventive animated cinema that challenges traditional forms and evokes a wide range of emotional responses. Alongside screenings, the event offers workshops and artist meetings, fostering deeper engagement with the art form beyond the conventional viewing experience.