‘Anomalisa’ to open !f Istanbul

ISTANBUL

The anticipated opening film of the 15th !f Istanbul Independent Film Festival has been announced. Co-directed by Charlie Kaufman, the author of many modern classics such as “Being John Malkovich,” “Adaptation” and “Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind,” and Duke Johnson, creator of “Mary Shelley’s Frankenhole,” the most unusual animated series in television history, “Anomalisa” will be shown for the first time in Turkey at !f Istanbul.

Praised as the “Gone with the Wind” of existential puppet movies by the New York Daily News and “a minor miracle” by Variety, and considered by many reviewers to be “the masterpiece of the year,” “Anomalisa” was nominated for best animated feature films at the 2016 Oscars. 

It tells the dark, absurd and surreal journey of Michael Stone, husband, father and respected author of “How May I Help You Help Them?” who is crippled by the mundanity of his life. 

The animation features the vocal cast of David Thewlis as Michael, Jennifer Jason Leigh as Lisa and Tom Noonan as “everyone else.” A stirring score by Carter Burwell, known for his work on “Carol,” “Fargo,” “In Bruges” and “Being John Malkovich,” adds to the film’s power.

“Anomalisa” took three years total to finish, with two years to animate. Winner of the Grand Jury Prize in Venice where it premiered, the film was selected for Best Director in the Austin Fantastic Fest and Best Animated Film by various film critics associations such as San Diego, San Francisco and Indiana. 

The 15th !f Istanbul Independent Film Festival will take place on Feb. 18 and 28 in Istanbul and between March 3 and 6  in Ankara and İzmir. Festival tickets will go on pre-sale via biletix.com on Feb. 5.