The highly anticipated short animated film “About a Cow” has been officially selected to compete in the Pardi di domani at the 76th Locarno Film Festival. Directed by Pavla Baštanová and produced by Mária Môťovská from MAUR film (Czech Republic) and Sereina Gabathuler from Dschoint Ventschr Filmproduktion (Switzerland), the film is set to captivate audiences with its imaginative and playful collage of images depicting the life of cows.
“About a Cow” takes viewers on a mosaic journey across the globe, presenting a collection of small stories that reveal both the positive and negative moments experienced by cows. Through visually colorful and stylized animation, the film portrays cows as sensitive creatures deserving of admiration, highlighting their intricate relationship with humans in a globalized world.
With its poetic, playful, and humorous approach, “About a Cow” offers a ray of hope for a better world. It serves as a reminder to reflect on the life of animals, urging audiences to recognize them as complex, living beings rather than mere commodities within our human economic industry.
“This project was born out of a strong need to express the anxiety of civilization resulting from growing and irreversible global problems. I want to make a positive contribution to the current situation and draw attention to the need for compassion towards all creatures, emphasizing the interconnectedness of life,” explains director Pavla Baštanová her motivation behind the film.
Employing 2D animation and collage techniques, Baštanová combines painting, drawing, and paper collage with computer animation to create a visually stunning world. Through the use of depth of field and a semi-abstract visual style, the film seamlessly merges micro and macro perspectives, presenting a universal narrative that resonates with audiences worldwide.
“People are more supportive of cows than one would think. They appreciate the values that cow and this film represent: kindness, humility and simplicity. Our work has been supported by all the funds we have applied for, both locally or internationally. And for the first time, I have experienced what it is like to produce a film without any creative limitations,” adds Mária Môťovská from MAUR film.
The project has received financial support from the Czech Film Fund, Schweizerische Eidgenossenschaft Confederation Suisse Bundesamt für Kultur, Schweizer Radio und Fernsehen, SRG SSR, Zürcher Filmstiftung, and Endowment Fund FILMTALENT ZLIN.
