Over the past decade, acclaimed Polish animator and musician Tomek Popakul has established himself as one of the most original voices in contemporary animation. His mesmerizing films, influenced by Japanese woodcuts, Russian fairy tales, ’60s psychedelia, and his own village upbringing, explore the lives of marginalized characters as they navigate family, sex, drugs, and freedom in rural communities and decaying industrial towns. Popakul presents three of his award-winning films—Ziegenort (2013), Acid Rain (2019), and Zima (2023)—and delves into the ideas and inspirations behind his innovative practice.

2013–24, Poland, Digital video
In Polish with English subtitles
66 minutes followed by a conversation with the artist

PROGRAM

Ziegenort
2013, Poland, 20 minutes

Principal Prize, 2013 International Short Film Festival Oberhausen

In this surreal tale of teenage angst, a fish-boy struggles with his father’s expectations and the constant rejection of his peers. He is just as trapped as the fish his father catches, gasping for air.

Acid Rain
2019, Poland, 26 minutes

Grand Prix, 2019 Animafest Zagreb—World Festival of Animated Film
Grand Prix, 2019 Stuttgart International Festival of Animation
Grand Prix, 2019 Animateka—International Animated Film Festival Slovenia

A teenage drifter sets off on a hallucinogenic road trip after encountering a wild new friend. But when she uncovers her companion’s dark side, the journey takes a sudden, harrowing turn. Infused with a dance floor soundtrack and a visual style inspired by early ’90s rave culture and the Eastern European landscape, Acid Rain vividly captures the essence of freedom, heartbreak, and escape.

Zima
2023, co-directed with Kasumi Ozeki, Poland, 26 minutes

Best Narrative Short, 2023 Ottawa International Animation Festival

Set against the snow-covered landscape of a rural Polish fishing village, Zima weaves together stories of village customs, youth rebellion, and a mysterious animal folktale come to life. Co-directed with Japanese animator Kasumi Ozeki, the film draws upon Japanese calligraphy, minimal graphic design, punk rock, and the conventions of magical realism to contemplate community, traditions, and change.

ABOUT THE ARTIST

Tomek Popakul is an animator, musician, graphic designer, and music video director. His acclaimed films have garnered international recognition, screening at prestigious festivals such as the International Film Festival Rotterdam, the Sundance Film Festival, and the Ottawa International Animation Festival. Notably, his 2019 film Acid Rain earned an Annie Award nomination, and both Acid Rain and his 2023 film Zima were longlisted for the Academy Awards. In 2020, Popakul was invited by HBO to contribute to the streaming platform’s pandemic anthology AT HOME. As a musician, he performs under the alias ASTMA and is the founder of the label Wysokie Pokrzywy. He holds degrees in animation and special effects from the Lodz Film School in Poland.

ACCESSIBILITY

Conversations at the Edge events have live captions (CART). The Gene Siskel Film Center is fully ADA accessible and its theaters are equipped with hearing loops. For other accessibility requests, please visit saic.edu/access or write cate@saic.edu

TICKETS

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$13 General public
$8 Students & seniors
$6.50 Film Center members
$5 SAIC staff & faculty & AIC staff
FREE for SAIC students with a valid ID

All CATE programs are free for SAIC students. Unless otherwise noted, SAIC student tickets are released five days prior to showtime. Tickets must be picked up in person from the Gene Siskel Film Center box office. A student ID is required.

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Tags: An Evening with Tomek Popakul, CATE, Chicago, Conversations At The Edge, Gene Siskel Film Center, Loop, Tomek Popakul