For several days in September, the Bulgarian Black Sea city of Varna will be hosting a festival which was once a young and ambitious contender to become a key event in the world of animated movies.

Dozens of pieces will vie to become best feature films, short films, student films, children's films, or TV series for 2015. Though most of them are European (Russia and Belarus included), some come from countries such as Israel, Australia, Japan, South Korea, and Chile.

Screening will take place between September 9 and 13 at the Festival and Congress Center in downtown Varna. This year's edition will be the fifth year in a row since a small group of organizers first decided to revive a once promising event.

Starting in 1979, the festival initially managed to draw a host of renowned filmmakers from all around the world. Back then, and until 1989, it was held on a biennial basis and worked under the patronage of the International Animated Film Society (ASIFA)

It worked in tight cooperation with partner festivals at Annecy, Zagreb, Ottawa and Hiroshima.

After cultural funding was considerably slashed amid political and economic changes, it was abandoned to be brought back to life only years later.

The full selection of films is available here.

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