By decision of the Festival Council of the World Festival of Animated Film - Animafest Zagreb, the winner of this year's Lifetime Achievement Award is Czech animation artist Michaela Pavlátová.

After studying in her hometown of Prague, Pavlátová began creating auteurial animation and, by the early 1990s, had already become an internationally significant artistic voice, earning acclaim and awards for her short animated films such as 'Words, Words, Words' (1991), with which she made her debut at Animafest and won one of the official awards, 'Repete' (1995), 'Carnival of Animals' (2006), and 'Tram' (2012).

In her feature film 'My Sunny Maad' (2021), which won the Grand Prix - Best Feature Film Award at Animafest Zagreb 2022, Pavlátová portrays a fascinating love and family life of a Czech woman and an Afghan man, while also depicting societal, familial, and ideological shifts in the period before the Taliban’s return to power.

Read More: Our Review of 'My Sunny Maad'

She is often described as a master of experimental animation, who does not need a narrative to depict the world, and as a feminist artist who expands the possibilities of creation and, through her visually rich work, explores the world of imagination and captures the deepest human experiences, enriching contemporary animation's relationship with the body, sexuality, and intimacy. Yet by expanding her palette to include everyday situations and intimate moments, she has also skillfully addressed political events and numerous aspects of intercultural encounters.

Pavlátová directs live-action films, has worked successfully in new media and theatre, while also teaching animation and film at the most prestigious universities in Czechia and United States. Throughout her distinguished career, she won numerous awards for her animated films across Europe, Asia, North and South America – from São Paulo, Hollywood, and Montreal, to Annecy, Berlin, Tokyo, and Hiroshima.

Tram

By successfully combining her individual artistic signature with depictions of universal human aspirations, as well as with sharp social commentary, this creative and influential artist has become one of the most important names in global animation in the 21st century.

The Lifetime Achievement Award will be presented to Pavlátová on June 7th at the Awards Ceremony of the World Festival of Animated Film - Animafest Zagreb 2025.

(press release)

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