On 9 November 1917 the premiere of the first Argentinian animation feature took place, which was also the world’s first animation feature: “El Apóstol”, by Quirino Cristiani. The film was lost after a fire destroyed the producer’s studio in 1926. It took one year to make the film, for which Cristiani made 58.000 drawings. The film was a satire, with President Yrigoyen ascending to the heavens to use Jupiter’s thunderbolts to cleanse Buenos Aires of immorality and corruption. The result is a burnt city. The premiere was held at Select Suipacha Cinema and had a stunning success, remaining one entire year in cinemas.
This year we celebrate the 100 years of Argentinian Animation. One hundred years of great films with artistic, technical and thematic diversity, with new formats, multiple media and communication platforms. BIT BANG FEST honors this important event with a program of animated shorts of the last 13 years, including works realised in professional studios and fully independent productions.
Curated by Bárbara Cerro, Director of Bit Bang Fest
Shorts in this screening:
Journey to Mars (Viaje a Marte)
Dir Juan Pablo Zaramella/AR 2004/16 mins
Antonio is a boy who wants to go to Mars, luckily his grandfather knows how to get there.
The Employment (El Empleo)
Dir Santiago Bou Grasso/AR 2008/ 7 mins
A man performs his usual trip to work, immersed in a world where the “use” of people is an everyday thing.
Glüko & Lennon
Dirs Federico Radero, Tomi Dieguez/AR 2010/12 mins
Glüko & Lennon tells the psychedelic adventures of two best friends. Together, they explore the surreal world in which they live. On the way, they will make new friendships with all kinds of unique creatures.
Luminaris
Dir Juan Pablo Zaramella/AR 2011/6 mins
In a world controlled and timed by light, an ordinary man has a plan that could change the natural order of things.
Shave It
Dirs Jorge Tereso, Fernando Maldonado/AR 2012/4 mins
In the wilderness of the forests where giant bulldozers are tearing apart the woods there is a monkey that accidentally finds a shaving machine and decides to use it. Spontaneously disguised as a human being, he moves out to the city and starts a career. After a stunning success in business, he understands the need of gaining political power. Not too long after, he becomes the president. Now he is ready to make a change.
Singing (El Canto)
Dir Inés Sedán/AR 2013/9 mins
A woman is forced by her husband to be shut-up forever. But when she listens to nature´s song, she refinds her own song and the hope of a different life.
Father (Padre)
Dir Santiago Bou Grasso/AR 2013/12 mins
Argentina, 1983. Day by day a woman nurses her bedridden father. The dictatorship comes to an end in the country, but not in this woman’s life.
Disney Mouse (Ratón Disney)
Dir Ayar Blasco/AR 2016/3 mins
Disney Mouse meets the Stop Motion World.
The Adventures of Broken Heart (Aventuras de Corazón Roto)
Dir Ariel Martínez Herrera/AR 2016/3 mins
If the heart could talk, this would be its first television show.