More than 3,000 animation fans attended the four-day Animasyros International Animation Festival, held October 2-5 on the island of Syros. American animation professionals Mark Shapiro, Marketing and Brand Manager of the LAIKA Animation Studio, and independent animator Nina Paley participated in the festival with the support of the U.S. Embassy in Athens.
The festival opened with the European premier of the new LAIKA motion picture “The Boxtrolls” in front of a standing-room-only crowd of 500 festival attendees. Later in the festival, Mark Shapiro led a workshop presentation on the making of “The Boxtrolls” for animators and students. American animator Nina Paley presented her film “Sita Sings the Blues” at an open air screening in the town square of Syros’ capital. Paley’s film was part of a special tribute to Women in Animation, under the auspices of the General Secretariat for Gender Equality, which featured animation films focusing on issues such as domestic violence.
This was the fifth year that the U.S. Embassy in Athens has supported the Animasyros International Animation Festival.
