Opening film

It is with great pleasure that we announce the opening film for the 44th edition of the Anima Festival. Drum roll... On February 28, 2025, the festival will kick off in style with the fabulous Memoir of a Snail by Oscar-winning director Adam Elliot!

Adam Elliot is an Australian filmmaker and animator known for his unique world, blending dark humor and raw emotion through his stop-motion films. Born in Melbourne, he gained recognition with his first feature film Harvie Krumpet (2003), which earned him an Oscar for Best Animated Short Film. His distinctive style, marked by clay characters and deeply human stories, allowed him to build a remarkable career in the world of animated cinema.

In 2009, he created one of his masterpieces, Mary & Max, a touching story of an epistolary friendship between an 8-year-old Australian girl and a 44-year-old New Yorker. The film received a triumphant reception and won the prestigious Cristal for Best Feature Film at the Annecy Festival. Fifteen years later, Elliot returns to the international stage with Memoir of a Snail, a project that earns him the same honor, winning the Cristal once again at Annecy.

With Memoir of a Snail, Adam Elliot continues to explore the complexities of the human condition through the story of an snailcollector. The voices of Jacki Weaver, Sarah Snook, and Nick Cave enrich the narrative, adding a unique touch  to the characters. The film promises to be a new gem in his filmography, blending tenderness, humor, and reflections on solitude, grief and self-discovery. A work that once again confirms Elliot's for blending the absurd with pure emotion.

Synopsis

Grace Pudel, a snail collector with a passion for reading, sees her life turned upside down when she is separated from her twin brother, Gilbert. Amidst misfortune and loneliness, she finds hope through Pinky, an eccentric octogenarian who helps her come out of her shell.

IN CINEMAS MARCH 12