Animal (2023 Greek film)

Animal
Theatrical release poster
Directed bySofia Exarchou
Written bySofia Exarchou
Produced by
  • Maria Drandaki
  • Maria Kontogianni
Starring
  • Dimitra Vlagkopoulou
  • Voodoo Jürgens
  • Flomaria Papadaki
  • Ahilleas Hariskos
CinematographyMonika Lenczewska
Edited byDragos Apetri
Music byWolfgang Frisch
Production
companies
  • Homemade Films
  • Nabis Filmgroup
  • Digital Cube
  • Felony
  • Ars OOD
  • ERT S.A.
Distributed byWeird Wave
Release dates
  • 3 August 2023 (2023-08-03) (Locarno)
  • 8 February 2024 (2024-02-08) (Greece)
Running time
116 minutes
Countries
  • Greece
  • Austria
  • Romania
  • Cyprus
  • Bulgaria
Languages
  • Greek
  • English
  • German

Animal is a 2023 drama film written and directed by Sofia Exarchou. The film premiered on 3 August 2023 at the 76th Locarno Film Festival, where it competed for the Golden Leopard.

Plot

The entertainers on an all-inclusive Greek island are preparing for high season. Kalia is the leader of the group and always has to keep the colorful program alive. As the work becomes increasingly harder and more intense, things get out of hand. But the show must go on.

Cast

  • Dimitra Vlagkopoulou as Kalia
  • Voodoo Jürgens as Jonas
  • Flomaria Papadaki as Eva
  • Ahilleas Hariskos as Simos
  • Chronis Barbarian as Thomas
  • Ilias Hatzigeorgiou as Vladimir
  • Danai Petropoulea as Mary
  • Elpida Orfanidou as Fani
  • Joanna Toumpakari as Jo
  • Fay Tzouma as Sonia
  • Nontas Damopoulos as Dimos
  • Kristof as Sergey
  • Vagelis Evangelinos as Argyris

Production

Animal is a production of the Athens-based company Homemade Films, with co-production handled by Nabis Filmgroup (Austria), Digital Cube (Romania), Felony (Cyprus), Ars OOD (Bulgaria) and ERT S.A. (Greece).[1]

The film music was composed by the Austrian Wolfgang Frisch. The soundtrack album with a total of 17 pieces of music was released as a download by the Plaza Mayor Company in mid-January 2024.[2]

Release

The film premiered on 3 August 2023 at the 76th Locarno Film Festival, where Animal competed for the Golden Leopard.[3][4] In October 2023, the film was shown at the Vienna International Film Festival.[5] From mid-November 2023 it was presented at the International Filmfestival Mannheim-Heidelberg.[6] Weird Wave theatrically released the film in Greece from 8 February 2024.[7] Filmgarten distributed the film in Austria beginning on 26 March 2024 in Innsbruck before expanding nationwide on 29 March 2024.[8]

Awards

Animal was shortlisted for the 2023 European Film Awards.[9]  Below are further nominations and awards.

Cork International Film Festival 2023

  • Awarded the Spirit of the Festival Award[10]

Gothenburg Film Festival 2024

  • Nomination in the international competition[11]

International Filmfestival Mannheim-Heidelberg 2023

  • Awarded the FIPRESCI Prize
  • Nomination in the international competition "On the Rise"[12][13]

Thessaloniki International Film Festival 2023

  • Awarded the Golden Alexander in the International Competition
  • Best Actress Award ( Dimitra Vlagopoulou )
  • Awarded the Crew United Award (Sofia Exarchou)[14][15]

Les Arcs Film Festival 2023

  • Crystal Arrow nomination in the main competition
  • Awarded the Prix d'interprétation (Dimitra Vlagopoulou)[16][17]

Locarno Film Festival 2023

São Paulo International Film Festival 2023

  • Nomination in the New Directors Competition (Sofia Exarchou)[19]

68th Valladolid International Film Festival 2023

  • Honorable mention in the Meeting Point Section[20]

Vancouver International Film Festival 2023

  • Awarded the Vanguard Award[21]

References

  1. ^ "ANIMAL / Homemade Films". Homemade Films - Athens. Retrieved 22 March 2024.
  2. ^ "Soundtrack Album for Sofia Exarchou's 'Animal' Released | Film Music Reporter". Retrieved 23 January 2024.
  3. ^ Vourlias, Christopher (1 August 2023). "Greek Resort Drama 'Animal' Scores First Sales, Drops Wild Teaser Ahead of Locarno Competition Premiere (EXCLUSIVE)". Variety. Retrieved 22 March 2024.
  4. ^ a b "Animal". Locarno Film Festival. Retrieved 23 January 2024.
  5. ^ Blickpunkt:Film, Barbara Schuster. "Viennale benennt erste Programmpunkte". www.blickpunktfilm.de (in German). Retrieved 23 January 2024.
  6. ^ "Animal". Animal (in German). Retrieved 23 January 2024.
  7. ^ "Animal". www.weirdwave.gr (in Greek). Retrieved 22 March 2024.
  8. ^ "Animal". www.filmgarten.at (in Austrian German). Retrieved 22 March 2024.
  9. ^ "Feature Film Selection 2023 – Part 2". europeanfilmawards.eu. Retrieved 23 January 2024.
  10. ^ "Sofia Exarchou's Animal snags the Spirit of the Festival Award at the Cork International Film Festival". Cineuropa - the best of european cinema. 28 November 2023. Retrieved 23 January 2024.
  11. ^ Ntim, Zac (9 January 2024). "Göteborg Film Festival Unveils Competition Titles Including Daniel Espinosa's 'Madame Luna' & Honorary Dragon Award For 'Borgen' Actress Sidse Babett Knudsen". Deadline. Retrieved 23 January 2024.
  12. ^ Blickpunkt:Film, Jochen Müller. ""In Flames" erhält Hauptpreis beim Internationalen Filmfestival Mannheim-Heidelberg". www.blickpunktfilm.de (in German). Retrieved 23 January 2024.
  13. ^ "ON THE RISE". ON THE RISE (in German). Retrieved 23 January 2024.
  14. ^ Vourlias, Christopher (12 November 2023). "Sofia Exarchou's Locarno Prize Winner 'Animal' Takes Top Award, Acting Honors at Thessaloniki Film Festival". Variety. Retrieved 23 January 2024.
  15. ^ "Animal scoops Thessaloniki's Golden Alexander". Cineuropa - the best of european cinema. 13 November 2023. Retrieved 23 January 2024.
  16. ^ "Diamonds of European cinema make their way to Les Arcs Film Festival". Cineuropa - the best of european cinema. 9 November 2023. Retrieved 23 January 2024.
  17. ^ Dreyfus, Jules (25 December 2023). "Les Arcs Film Festival livre son palmarès - Boxoffice Pro". www.boxofficepro.fr (in French). Retrieved 23 January 2024.
  18. ^ "Iranischer Film gewinnt beim Filmfestival Locarno". www.fr.de (in German). 16 August 2023. Retrieved 23 January 2024.
  19. ^ "47ª Mostra Internacional de Cinema em São Paulo". 47ª Mostra Internacional de Cinema em São Paulo. Retrieved 23 January 2024.
  20. ^ "Laura Ferrés wins Seminci's Golden Spike with The Permanent Picture". Cineuropa - the best of european cinema. 30 October 2023. Retrieved 23 January 2024.
  21. ^ "Awards". Vancouver International Film Festival. Retrieved 23 January 2024.