''Cyclists'' is a 2018 Croatian-French animated short film by
Veljko Popović Veljko ( Cyrillic script: Вељко) is a masculine given name of Slavic origin. It may refer to:
* FK Hajduk Veljko, Serbian football club based in Negotin, Serbia
*Hajduk Veljko Petrović (1780–1813), Vojvoda of the First Serbian Uprising rebe ...
, internationally co-produced and distributed by
Bonobostudio
Bonobostudio is an animation production and Distribution (marketing), distribution company headquartered in Zagreb, Croatia.
History
It was founded by Vanja Andrijević in 2008, who previously worked at the now defunct Kenges Animation/VFX studio ...
.
Synopsis
The short is described as a comedy set in a small Mediterranean town, having unique aesthetics with vivid colors of summer as inspired by the art of
Vasko Lipovac
Vasko Lipovac (14 June 1931 – 4 July 2006) was a Yugoslavian and Croatian painter, sculptor, printmaker, designer, illustrator and scenographer and one of the most prominent artists of the region. He is best known for his minimalist figurati ...
. The idea derived from a notable
installation of 60 cyclists by the artist. The cycling season is nearing its grand finale. During the final race, the two men in the lead are competing for more than the Grand Trophy; they are fighting for the affection of a lady and fulfilment of their erotic fantasies. It is described as "In a small town next to the sea in Croatia, the cycling season is at its peak. During the final race the two leaders are not just battling for the grand prize, but also for the affection of a lady and fulfillment of their erotic fantasy."
Development
Veljko Popović closely studied Vasko Lipovac's art and variously experimented with
CGI and 3D animation, trying to create character poses not seen in his art.
[
]
Reception
The short premiered at Animafest
World Festival of Animated Film Zagreb ( hr, Svjetski festival animiranog filma), also known as Animafest Zagreb, is a film festival entirely dedicated to animated film held annually in Zagreb, Croatia. Initiated by the International Animated Fi ...
in June 2018, where it won the award for ''Best Croatian Film''. It won further awards at Hiroshima International Animation Festival
The International Animation Festival Hiroshima is a biennial animation festival hosted in Hiroshima, Japan. The festival was founded in 1985 by ''Association International du Film d'Animation'' or ''ASIFA'' as ''International Animation Festival f ...
, Betina Film Festival, Linoleum Festival
Linoleum, sometimes shortened to lino, is a floor covering made from materials such as solidified linseed oil (linoxyn), pine resin, ground cork dust, sawdust, and mineral fillers such as calcium carbonate, most commonly on a burlap or canv ...
and Croatian Film Days as well as getting a Jury Award at Annecy
Annecy ( , ; frp, Èneci or ) is the prefecture and largest city of the Haute-Savoie department in the Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes region of Southeastern France. It lies on the northern tip of Lake Annecy, south of Geneva, Switzerland. Nicknamed ...
.[ In 2023 the short was selected for the international competition of the 17th ]International Cycling Film Festival
The International Cycling Film Festival ( pl, Międzynarodowy Festiwal Filmów Rowerowych, german: Internationales Festival des Fahrrad-Films) is an independent, not-for-profit film festival held annually in Germany, in Poland, in Kosovo and in t ...
.
Awards
*Annecy (jury distinction for short film, 2018)
*Hiroshima (special prize, 2018)
*Animafest Zagreb (best Croatian film, 2018)
*Krok (grand prix, 2018).
References
External links
* Watc
Cyclists
at Vimeo
* {{IMDb title, 8119856
2018 films
2018 animated short films
Croatian animated short films