JERZY KUCIA RECEIVED ASIFA PRIZE
On November 14th during the closing ceremont of the 39th edition of Portuguese festival Cinanima Jerzy Kucia received the prestigious ASIFA Prize. ASIFA – the International Animated Film Society gives its prizes every year to the outstading personalities of animated film.
Since 1985 ASIFA gives a prize for the outstanding achievements in the art of animation. The ASIFA Prize is awarded annually to individual(s) or organisation(s) which have made a significant and innovative contribution towards the promotion and preservation of the art of animation. This internationally recognised prize plays an important role in the animation community. This is the second ASIFA Prize that goes to the Polish filmmaker. In 1990 during the festival in Zagreb the prize was colleted by Daniel Szczechura.
Jerzy Kucia is a scriptwriter, artistic director, animated film director, artist, producer and university teacher. He was born on 14 January in Sołtysy near Wieluń. He earned his degree from the Painting and Graphic Arts Department of Krakow Academy of Fine Arts (1967). He was a student of the same Animated Film Studio that he began to run in 1981. Jerzy Kucia has taught at a number of film schools including those in Vancouver, London and Mumbai. He is also a graphic artist. Since 1970 he has been associated with the Animated Film Studio and in 1992 he started to produce his own films. Professor Kucia co-organizes and runs the International Animated Film Workshops in Krakow. In 1994 - 1997 he was the Vice-president of Association Internationale du Film d’Animation (ASIFA). Jerzy Kucia has won many awards, which include the First Prize of the Wiosna Opolska Festival (1970), the Award of the City of Krakow (1982), the First Degree Award of the Minister of Culture and Arts in Animation (1985), Krakow’s Governor Award for artistic achievement in animation and educational activity (1993), MTV Bronze Award (1994), the Prize of the Holland Animation Film Festival in Utrecht (1996), the Award of the City of Krakow for achievement in culture promotion (1996), the Special Golden Dinosaur for the ability to combine artistic and pedagogical activity awarded at the Etiuda International Film Festival in Krakow (2003) and numerous festival prizes. His latest film "Fugue for cello, trumpet and ladscape" made 13 years after "Tuninig the instruments" is one of the most popular films of this year.
Cinanima is the largest and the longest running Portuguese festival dedicated exclusively to animation. This years' 39th edition was hed between 9th and 15th November.
More on the festival can be found here
Photo: Courtesy of Cinanima (Joana Rodrigues)