Notice BIAF2025 9 Feature Competition 2025-09-09 11:29
The 27th Bucheon International Animation Festival (BIAF2025, October 24–28, 2025) has unveiled the 9 animated features selected for this year’s Feature Competition. The festival also announced that ChaO, directed by Yasuhiro Aoki, will open the festival as the Opening Film.
1. Little Amélie or the Character of Rain, Mailys VALLADE, Liane-Cho HAN, France, 2025
Amélie, once self-centered, learns empathy through her grandmother and housekeeper. With hazy tones, cherry blossoms, and festive scenes, the film evokes childhood innocence and the warmth of growth through compassion. (Cannes Special Screening)
2. A Story about Fire, LI Wenyu, China, 2025
Based on Chiang folklore, the film follows the life of the monkey Lanbiwa on his quest for the Fire Stone. Traditional ink painting blends with layered textures to create a vivid sensory narrative. Featuring the voice of Zhou Xun. (Berlinale Official Selection)
3. Death Does Not Exist, Félix DUFOUR-LAPERRIÉRE, Canada/France, 2025
Ellen, a failed revolutionary, wanders a hallucinatory forest with ghostly comrades. Fragmented memories and guilt unravel in surreal colors, experimental soundscapes, and bold 2D visuals. (Cannes Directors’ Fortnight)
4. Pilgrims, HEO Pyoungkang, South Korea, 2025
Grown children embark on a pilgrimage, but not all return. Through Daisy’s curiosity and Sophie’s memory of her, the film questions humanity, remembrance, and the value of difference. Based on a novel by Kim Cho-yeop. Voices Actor: Park Ji-hu, Kim Hyang-gi, Lee Joo-young (World Premiere)
5. Maya, Give Me a Title, Michel GONDRY, France
Michel Gondry’s new work visualizes Maya’s imagination through the fragile world of paper. Folding and crumpling textures merge cutout animation with live action, weaving a whimsical yet poignant aesthetic of reality and emotion. (Berlinale Crystal Bear)
6. Dandelion’s Odyssey, SETO Momoko, France/Belgium, 2025
The journey of a dandelion seed expands into a cosmic odyssey. Across 260 days of timelapse and a blend of 3D with live action, the film delicately captures unseen life and reflects on survival and resilience as universal values. (Cannes FIPRESI Prize)
7. Chao, AOKI Yasuhiro, Japan, 2025
In a world where humans and mermaids coexist, Stefan and mermaid princess Chao live a bizarre married life. Amid lavish visuals and playful twists, secrets of the past resurface—can their story end in true happiness? (Annecy Jury Award)
8. Allah Is Not Obliged, Zaven NAJJAR, Belgium/Canda/France/Luxembourg, 2025
After losing his mother, a boy becomes a child soldier in war-torn Liberia. The brutality of conflict is juxtaposed with the rhythms of African music, leaving a haunting reflection on innocence and violence. (Annecy Feature Competition)
9. Zombie Land Saga : Yumeginga Paradise, Chief Director: UDA Konosuke Director: SATO Takeru, ISHIDA Takafumi, Japan, 2025
The fate of Saga rests with the zombie idol group Franchouchou. In 2025, as the Earth ignites with the excitement of the Saga World Expo, the group prepares for their ultimate stage—while a mysterious force threatening humanity draws near. (Japan release: October 24 – Latest Feature)
1. Little Amélie or the Character of Rain, Mailys VALLADE, Liane-Cho HAN, France, 2025
Amélie, once self-centered, learns empathy through her grandmother and housekeeper. With hazy tones, cherry blossoms, and festive scenes, the film evokes childhood innocence and the warmth of growth through compassion. (Cannes Special Screening)
2. A Story about Fire, LI Wenyu, China, 2025
Based on Chiang folklore, the film follows the life of the monkey Lanbiwa on his quest for the Fire Stone. Traditional ink painting blends with layered textures to create a vivid sensory narrative. Featuring the voice of Zhou Xun. (Berlinale Official Selection)
3. Death Does Not Exist, Félix DUFOUR-LAPERRIÉRE, Canada/France, 2025
Ellen, a failed revolutionary, wanders a hallucinatory forest with ghostly comrades. Fragmented memories and guilt unravel in surreal colors, experimental soundscapes, and bold 2D visuals. (Cannes Directors’ Fortnight)
4. Pilgrims, HEO Pyoungkang, South Korea, 2025
Grown children embark on a pilgrimage, but not all return. Through Daisy’s curiosity and Sophie’s memory of her, the film questions humanity, remembrance, and the value of difference. Based on a novel by Kim Cho-yeop. Voices Actor: Park Ji-hu, Kim Hyang-gi, Lee Joo-young (World Premiere)
5. Maya, Give Me a Title, Michel GONDRY, France
Michel Gondry’s new work visualizes Maya’s imagination through the fragile world of paper. Folding and crumpling textures merge cutout animation with live action, weaving a whimsical yet poignant aesthetic of reality and emotion. (Berlinale Crystal Bear)
6. Dandelion’s Odyssey, SETO Momoko, France/Belgium, 2025
The journey of a dandelion seed expands into a cosmic odyssey. Across 260 days of timelapse and a blend of 3D with live action, the film delicately captures unseen life and reflects on survival and resilience as universal values. (Cannes FIPRESI Prize)
7. Chao, AOKI Yasuhiro, Japan, 2025
In a world where humans and mermaids coexist, Stefan and mermaid princess Chao live a bizarre married life. Amid lavish visuals and playful twists, secrets of the past resurface—can their story end in true happiness? (Annecy Jury Award)
8. Allah Is Not Obliged, Zaven NAJJAR, Belgium/Canda/France/Luxembourg, 2025
After losing his mother, a boy becomes a child soldier in war-torn Liberia. The brutality of conflict is juxtaposed with the rhythms of African music, leaving a haunting reflection on innocence and violence. (Annecy Feature Competition)
9. Zombie Land Saga : Yumeginga Paradise, Chief Director: UDA Konosuke Director: SATO Takeru, ISHIDA Takafumi, Japan, 2025
The fate of Saga rests with the zombie idol group Franchouchou. In 2025, as the Earth ignites with the excitement of the Saga World Expo, the group prepares for their ultimate stage—while a mysterious force threatening humanity draws near. (Japan release: October 24 – Latest Feature)