Multidisciplinary artist Caroline Leaf, who has gained a special place among the world’s animators, will receive this year’s Dragon of Dragons at the 2019 Krakow Film Festival, for “a unique contribution to the development of the animated film worldwide.”
The official Dragon of Dragons award ceremony will take place on May 27, 2019, during the 59th Krakow Film Festival in Krakow. Many unforgettable Leaf’s films will be included in the festival program in the retrospective section, among them: “Metamorphosis of Mr. Samsa”, Oscar nominated “The Street”, animated film “Two Sisters” which was awarded in Annecy and a lovely animation made using sand technique, which was well received at international festivals and brought Caroline Leaf a BAFTA nomination – “The Owl who Married a Goose”. To continue the festival tradition, the Dragon of Dragons award winner will also hold a master class.
“I am honored and moved by this nomination from the Krakow Film Festival. For many years I have been feeling a deep connection with the festival in which I had a chance to participate on the number of occasions. It is also a great distinction to be included in such an excellent group of filmmakers who previously received the Dragon of Dragons Award” – Leaf said, filled with emotions.
Caroline Leaf (born 1946) is an American citizen, who from ’70s to ’90s was working on animation mostly in Canada, and then, after moving to London, for many years has been teaching film. Caroline Leaf’s animated feature films are famous for their emotional content and characteristic graphic style, based on the original animation techniques. She received numerous prestigious awards including an Academy Awards nomination and Grand Prix at Ottawa International Animation Festival for “The Street”, as well as Grand Prix at the 4th Los Angeles International Animation Celebration for “Two Sisters”, which won another Grand Prix at Ottawa International Animation Festival. In 2017 she received in Hollywood the Annie Life Achievement Award. Currently Leaf leaves in London making oil and watercolor paintings.
Caroline Leaf won awards at the Krakow Film Festival twice. In 1977 she received the Silver Dragon for “The Street”. One year later she won the Golden Dragon for her film “The Metamorphosis of Mr. Samsa”. The film was among 20 productions included in the prestigious list of the best films in the history of the Festival, which was compiled to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the Festival’s beginnings. In 1979 Leaf came to Krakow as an international competition jury member.