Optimus Mundus 4. The Best City on Earth

Two cosmonauts arrive on a barren world and begin a clean-up operation. In the course of their duties, they revive the planet’s civilisation and discover the real reason for its devastation- thermonuclear war. Produced after the peak of tensions in the late Cold War, this animated short from Armenfilm reflects a muted optimism that humanity might- just- avoid total destruction. It also demonstrates the strength of animation under the Soviet system, where even the smaller state studios were capable of inventive but technically polished work.

A fisherman catches a talking fish and spares its life. After that, he meets a grotesque, evil monster in a state of constant change.

A clever boy punishes a greedy landlord. Based on the Armenian folk tale by Hovhannes Tumanyan.

Musical fantasy based on Armenian fairy tales.

"...whoever tells me a story and I say, "It's not true, I don't believe it," will receive half the kingdom as a reward." decided the bored king.

An animated adaptation of twelve of Shakespeare's best-known plays. The series was produced by S4C for the BBC, but animated by some of the foremost artists of Soyuzmultfilm, the former Soviet Union's main animation studio. Each 26-minute play is directed by a different animator, in a wide variety of styles: cel animation for Macbeth, stop-motion puppets in Twelfth Night, and paint on glass for Hamlet.

A Soviet Armenian animation from the glasnost era about cosmonauts invading a serene planet where they pay a price for their cruel actions.

He's been called a 'wonderful troublemaker', 'comet man' and 'the last hippy of the pink city'. Robert Sahakyants was a renowned Soviet and Armenian animator. He was a director, writer and artist who created animated films. Robert Sahakyants used his work to express his particular view of the world around him. His animated films feature constant movement, whirls of colour and myriad wonderful characters inspired by Armenia. Robert Sahakyants was a true patriot to his motherland. The love for his people drove Robert Sahakyants to openly criticise everything and everyone he disagreed with. He boldly spoke his mind about anything he found troubling, from political events to ugly sculptures in nearby houses. The film features recollections from Robert Sahakyants's friends and family.

The Norfins are in for a delightful surprise when a charming alien with magical powers drops in for a visit.

Not everybody is endowed with a vivid imagination. One person can imagine paradise, yet the other one can only imagine himself as being the boss.

For Hasan the cobbler, the skins he sewed become a scourge, and one day they even "kill" a person. Baregut Sultan makes a verdict and the skins are hanged in the square.

Three stories about naive and deceitful people, a talkative mouse, and a foolish king.

A young boy spends his entire day working in the fields, enjoying the company of animals, and joyfully singing along with them.

The magical trolls are in for a night full of ghosts and goblins as they enter the "Castle of Doom" on Halloween night.