Baku, Azerbaijan – October 4, 2024:
The inaugural International Animation Festival of the Turkic World (ATA Festival) concluded successfully in Baku on October 4, 2024, marking a significant milestone in the world of animation. Organized by the Association of Turkic Animation (ATA) and TURKSOY, with support from the Ministry of Culture of the Republic of Azerbaijan, the Cinema Agency of the Republic of Azerbaijan, “YARADICI” (the Center for the Development of Cultural and Creative Industries) and held within the framework of the Baku Cinema Breeze (BCB) Festival, the event brought together creative talents and industry professionals from across Turkic-speaking countries.
The ATA Festival, held over three dynamic days, featured masterclasses, screenings, and industry discussions aimed at fostering collaboration, innovation, and cultural exchange through the art of animation.
The Omarket (Orient Countries Cinema Market) was organized as part of the BCB Festival, providing a unique platform for industry professionals to explore co-production, distribution, and networking opportunities. ATA participated in the market with a booth presenting the works of animation studios from Turkic countries. Additionally, a photo exhibition, "Turkic World: Animated Images," was presented at the market. The exhibition featured storyboards, character sketches, and background art from classic Turkic animated films. Curated by Ivan Ardashov, the exhibition was a visual celebration of the rich legacy of Turkic animation.
Several of the festival's events were organized in collaboration with the 7th ANIMAFILM International Animation Festival, highlighting the strength of partnerships in the animation industry.
On October 2, the festival kicked off at YARADICI with a masterclass by Dmitry Vysotsky (Finland/Israel) and ATA head Oktai Iusibov on creating animated series for the international market, followed by presentations and networking sessions. The event was attended by foreign guests of ATA Festival, ANIMAFILM Festival and members of Azerbaijan Animation Association.
The festival continued at the Heydar Aliyev Center with a panel session presenting the strategy and goals of the ATA, with participation from Oktai Iusibov, Chief Advisor of TURKSOY Kairat Mukanov, and ATA members Rashid Aghamaliyev (Azerbaijan), Tolkun Daiyrbekova (Kyrgyzstan), Pavel Kim (Uzbekistan), Aibek Daiyrbekov (Kyrgyzstan), and Anita Chernykh (Kazakhstan).
The festival's opening ceremony, held at the Heydar Aliyev Center, included a special award presentation recognizing significant contributions to Turkic animation. The awarded animation authors were:
· Masud Panahi (Azerbaijan)
· Elchin Akhundov (Azerbaijan)
· Mavzur Mahmudov (Uzbekistan)
· Salimgali Myrzashev (Kazakhstan)
· Kanybek Omurbekov (Kyrgyzstan)
· Mojek Charyyev (Turkmenistan)
· Berat Ilk (Turkey)
On October 3, the ATA Festival featured the official opening of OMArket and a roundtable discussion on the animation industry in Turkic countries. The discussion covered various topics such as the animation industry in TURKSOY countries, government influence on the development of creative sectors, policies related to co-productions, Kyrgyzstan's experience in creating a Creative Industrial Park, the establishment of a Center for Creative Industries and Digital Development in Azerbaijan, and state support, tax incentives, subsidies, and copyright issues.
The second day of the festival concluded with a special screening at the Azerbaijan Cinema titled "ATA: Best of Turkic Animation," in collaboration with the ANIMAFILM International Animation Festival.
On October 4, the festival concluded with industry sessions on co-production and distribution, followed by a special screening of the Canadian film “Red Iron Road”, presented by Iouri Stepanov, Matthew Lyon, Pavel Dubar, and Oktai Iusibov. Both events were held in collaboration with the ANIMAFILM Festival.
Special Guests:
The ATA Festival attracted renowned animation professionals from across the globe, including:
· Oktai Iusibov (Azerbaijan/Finland) – Head of ATA, Co-owner of Alove Animation Studio (Azerbaijan), Plastilin Studio (Finland)
· Kairat Mukanov (Kazakhstan) – Chief Advisor to the Secretary General of TURKSOY
· Rashid Aghamaliyev (Azerbaijan/Czech Republic) – Chairman of the Azerbaijan Animation Association, Director of ANIMAFILM International Animation Festival, CEO of ANIMAFILM Studio
· Gurban Masimov (Azerbaijan) – Director, Actor, Honored Artist of the Republic of Azerbaijan
· Anita Chernykh (Kazakhstan) – Art Director of Tartaria Animation, Director of Almaty Animation Festival, CEO of ReAnmation Studio
· Salimgali Mirzashev (Kazakhstan) – Director, Honored Worker of Culture of Kazakhstan
· Tolkun Daiyrbekova (Kyrgyzstan) – Producer
· Aibek Daiyrbekov (Kyrgyzstan) – Producer, Director
· Pavel Kim (Uzbekistan) – CEO of DIP Animation
· Maira Karsakbayeva (Kazakhstan) – TURKSOY Representative
· Berat Ilk (Turkey) – Producer, Director, Head of Canlandıranlar Festival, Head of ASIFA-Türkiye
· Iouri Stepanov (Canada) – CEO of Lakeside Animation Studio
· Pavel Dubar (Canada) – Technical Director, Lakeside Animation Studio
· Konstantin Bronzit (Russia) – Director
· Dmitri Vysotski (Finland/Israel) – Screenwriter, Director
· Mikhail Shmelyov (Finland) – CEO of AR-Go Lab
· Michael Averbach (USA)
Looking Forward:
The International Animation Festival of the Turkic World was not just a celebration of animation but a vital industry platform for collaboration, dialogue, and the exchange of ideas. It promises to grow in influence and continue promoting Turkic animation on the world stage. The next ATA Festival is planned for 2025 and will be held in one of TURKSOY member states.
For more information about the festival and upcoming events, visit:
TURKSOY: www.turksoy.org
Association of Turkic Animation (ATA): www.atanimation.org
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