Best of Conscious Cartoon fest arrives

The animation festival is the first of its kind solely focused on works addressing social issues

A “best of” program from the 2018 Conscious Cartoons International Animation Festival will be screened at 7 and 9 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 14, at Vashon Theatre.

Conscious Cartoons, which drew big audiences in its first edition last year at Vashon Theatre, is a competitive international animation festival and the first of its kind solely focused on short works addressing social issues. In addition to film fans, animators from the U.S. and abroad also attended the festival. It was founded and directed by islander Bill Jarcho. The festival’s traveling program is currently crisscrossing the country, being seen everywhere from art house theaters to museum settings and other venues.

The show has a running time of 85 minutes and includes 11 award-winning films from nine different countries.

These include the colorful and humorous “Birdlime,” from Canada, which takes on the black market exotic bird trade, and “Fish Curry,” from India, about a young man’s decision to come out to his parents over a specially-prepared meal. Another film from the Czech Republic, “Fruits of Clouds,” tells the story of a shy forest creature who finds the courage to lead his community out of darkness to a better place. The film, by Katerina Karhánková, has garnered multiple awards on the international film festival circuit. “Beebox,” from the United States, is a colorful, abstract tale of agricultural and eco-culture, as told by a bee in its box.

Tickets to the show, on sale at vashontheatre.com, are $10 for adults and $8 for teens and seniors. The show is appropriate for teenaged to adult audiences. For more information visit conciouscartoons.org.