From Inside by John Bergin, USA 2008, Animation
Based on the epic graphic novel of the same title written by John Bergin himself,
From Inside is the story of Cee, a young pregnant woman who finds herself on a damaged train slowly transcribing its way across a bleak post apocalyptic landscape. Flood, war, starvation and a plague of death threaten the train’s passengers. Cee struggles through these dangers while coping with the memory of her lost husband and with the imminent birth of her child.
Idiots and Angels by Bill Plympton, USA 2008, Animation
Angel is a selfish, abusive, morally bankrupt man who hangs out at his local bar, berating the other patrons. One day, Angel mysteriously wakes up with a pair of wings on his back. The wings make him do good deeds, contrary to his nature. He desperately tries to rid himself of the good wings, but eventually finds himself fighting those who see his wings as their ticket to fame and fortune.
Igor by Toni Leondis, USA – France 2008, Animation
A hilarious twist on the classic monster movie, Igor tells the story of one Igor who’s sick of being a lowly lab assistant and dreams of becoming a scientist. When his cruel master kicks the bucket, Igor and his band of monstrous misfits uncover an evil plot that threatens their world.
Martin Fierro – The Movie by Liliana Romero and Norman Ruiz, Argentina 2007, Animation
In the late 19th century, landowners hiked southbound the Argentine Pampa in search of more territory for their cattle, pushing out the tenacious Indians. In need of reinforcements, the Gauchos are carried away from their fields to join the army: Martín Fierro is one of them, but he decides to fight injustice aiming to recover his freedom.
Paco and the Magical Pictures Book by Tetsuya Nakashima, Japan 2008, Live-action
Once upon a time, there was a hospital, where not only the patients but also the doctors and the nurses were all locked up. In particular Onuki, one of the elderly patients. One day he meets a girl called Paco who cannot remember anything for more than one day. Onuki decides to help Paco and comes up with a brilliant idea. But things will take a different turn…
Painted Skin by Gordon Chan, China 2008, Live-action
Leading his force of knights home from battle, General Wang saves a beautiful girl, Mei-ling from a team of bandits. They bring her back to their hometown of JiangDu, and despite the onset of mysterious and brutal murders that accompany her arrival, nobody suspects her as the killer. The killer is in fact a Lizard Legend named Yi, but it is Mei-ling he commits these acts for. To solve this situation arrives Er-long, an exorcist and Mei Ling former lover, who will expel Mei-ling, letting the fight between human and legends begin.
Sita Sings the Blues by Nina Paley, USA 2008, Animation
Sita, the hindu goddess, follows her husband Rama into exile to a forest. Here she is kidnapped by an evil king from Sri Lanka. Despite remaining faithful to her husband, Sita is put through many temptations. Nina (the filmmaker Nina Paley) is an artist going through a series of events that parallels Sita’s life when her husband – in India on a work project – decides to break up their marriage via email. Three hilarious Indonesian shadow puppets narrate both the ancient tragedy and the modern comedy, mixing multiple narrative and visual styles.
Storm Rider: Clash of the Evils by Dante Lam, China 2008, Animation
The Sword Worship Villa, home to the best swords ever made, is attacked by the Emperor who was under the false impression that they were planning a rebellion. The only survivor of the clan, Jue, flees and hides out of sight. Jue dreams of avenging the massacre of the Sword Worship Villa. In order to revenge, he needs to free the invincible weapon of the Ao family – the Jue Sword.
Sword of the Stranger by Masahiro Ando, Japan 2007, Animation
This is a historical action animation set in Japan five hundred years ago, around the story of an elixir of eternal life. And it is also a story of the friendship between two people with tragic pasts, a fiercely powerful warrior “No Name” who has vowed to give up his sword, and a boy who has lost his parents.
20th Century Boys by Yukihiko Tsutsumi, Japan 2008, Live-action
When Kenji was child, he used to play with his friends and he used to have fun writing in the Book of Prophecy. Years later in 1997, Kenji is the manager of a convenience store. His boring life is turned upside down one day when a strange chain of events begins, which exactly duplicate the events described in the Book of Prophecy. Time passes and now it’s December 31, 2000. This is the day described in the Book of Prophecy as the day of mankind’s demise. Will we survive to see the 21st Century?
