LUCIJA MRZLJAK

Born 26 November in Zagreb.

Lucija is a Croatian animation film director and illustrator. She studied animation in Zagreb, Krakow, Prague and Tallinn. After graduating from Estonian Academy of Arts she decided to stay in Tallinn and work in Eesti Joonisfilm studio.

Besides animated films Lucija has made illustrations for children’s books and caricatures for political magazines.

Filmography:

2016 A HUSBAND AND A WIFE. A VOITAN STORY (artist and animator / 4’42”/ Eesti Joonisfilm)

2016 SHUMA (director / 5’06”/ Estonian Academy of Arts)

Special festival director’s award at Etiuda&Anima Film Festival, Krakow, Poland 2017
Best student film, Tofuzi Animation Film Festival, Georgia 2017
Best student film, Imaginaria Animation Festival, Italy 2017

2016 CORNER (director / 2’05”/ Estonian Academy of Arts)

Special festival director’s award at Etiuda&Anima Film Festival, Krakow, Poland 2017
Selected as Višegrad Animation Forum New Talents 2017

2018 A DEMONSTRATION OF BRILLIANCE IN FOUR ACTS (director / co-director Morten Tšinakov / 15’03” / Eesti Joonisfilm, Adriatic Animation)

Special Mention in the International Animated Film Festival ReAnima, Norway 2018
Special Mention in the International Animated Film Festival Animatou, Switzerland 2018
Primasound Special Mention from The Primanima World Festival of First Animations, Hungary 2018
Special Mention in the International Competition of the Sommets du cinéma d’animation in Montreal, Canada 2018
Grand Prix – Golden Jabberwocky prize from International Film Festival Etiuda&Anima, Poland 2018
Special Jury Mention for The Poetry And Choreography of the Absurd in the International Festival of Animation Arts “Multivision”, Russia 2018
The 2×2 Channel Prize (non-jury award) from Insomnia International Animation Film Festival, Russia 2019
Special Mention in competition of short animated films from Supertoon International Animation Festival, Croatia 2019
Best Animation of 2019 award from Toko Film Festival, Italy 2019
The best film in the Croatian Film Competition, Croatia 2019

2020 THE STORK (director / co-director Lucija Mrzljak / 15’51” / Eesti Joonisfilm)

2nd Place from Jury to Professional Short Animation from Ionian Contemporary Animation Festival ICONA, Greece 2020
Special Mention by the jury of the Croatian Film Competition from the World Festival of Animated Film Animafest Zagreb, Croatia 2021
Audience Award Mr. M for the film from the Grand Competition Short Film from the World Festival of Animated Film Animafest Zagreb, Croatia 2021
Best “On The Road” Animation Award from MEDIAWAVE International Film and Music Gathering, Hungary 2021
Jury Special Mention from the Supertoon – International Animation and Comics Festival, Croatia 2021
Best animation film award from the Estonian Film and TV Awards, Estonia 2021
Best professional film award from the special event for the International Animation Day organized by ASIFA Croatia, Croatia 2021
The Best Film for Adults at international animated film festival TOFUZI, Georgia 2021
The Bronze Jabberwocky Award from the International Film Festival Etiuda&Anima, Poland 2021
Jury Special Mention from the Flipbook Film Festival, North Macedonia 2022
Jury Special Mention from the International Animation Film Festival Tindirindis, Lithuania 2022

2022 EEVA (director / co-director Morten Tšinakov / 15’58” / Eesti Joonisfilm, Adriatic Animation)

Jury Special Mention for the Best Animation Short Film category from the Saguenay International Short Film Festival REGARD, Canada 2023
Special mention from the 27th Riga International Short Film Festival 2ANNAS, Latvia 2023
Best Animation award from the International Short Film Festival ClujShorts, Romania 2023
The best film of the Croatian Film Competition from the World Festival of Animated Film Animafest Zagreb, Croatia 2023
Alexeïeff – Parker Award from the Annecy International Animation Film Festival, France 2023
A Special Mention in the Best Animated Short competition at the 29th edition of the Palm Springs International ShortFest, USA 2023
Jury Special Mention from the Tabor Film Festival, Croatia 2023
The winner of the International Competition Anibar at the International Animation Festival, Kosova 2023
Best Animated Internation Film award from the Animaphix International Animated Film Festival, Italy 2023
Jury Special Mention from the 22nd Countryside Animafest, Cyprus 2023
Jury Special Prize from the International Animation Festival Animist Tallinn, Estonia 2023
Best Short Film Award from the Mexico International Short Film Festival Shorts Mexico, Mexico 2023
Winner of the International Competition program from BLON Animation and Video Game Festival, Lithuania 2023
Special Distinction by Ana Nedeljković from the International Animation Festival Animanima, Serbia 2023
Best Sound Design award from the Ottawa International Animation Festival, Canada 2023
Anima East Award for Best Animation Film from the BEAST International Film Festival, Portugal 2023
Best Animated Short Award from the Nashville Film Festival, USA 2023
Outstanding Work in the Short Films Competition from the Taichung International Animation Festival, Taiwan 2023
Grand Prix Pont d’or from the festival CinéOpen, France 2023
ASIFA Croatia Award for the best professional film at the International Day of Animation 2023 in Zagreb, Croatia 2023
Jury’s Special Nomination for Short Film Competition from the animation festival Feinaki Beijing Animation Week, China 2023
The 2nd Special Mention from the Piccolo Festival Animazione, Italy 2023
The Best Director award from the International Festival of Animated Films TOFUZI, Georgia 2023
Berlin-Brandenburg Short Award for the Best film from the INTERFILM 39 International Short Film Festival Berlin, Germany 2023
Special Mention from the Animateka International Animated Film Festival, Slovenia 2023
The Zagreb School Award for Best Animation from the St Andrews Film Festival, UK 2023