^{Credit: Paradaïz (National Film Board of Canada)}

Born in Sarajevo, director Matea Radic fled her home country in 1992 and eventually settled in Winnipeg, Canada. Radic reflects on her roots in Paradaïz, which has qualified for Oscar consideration through its wins at the International Leipzig Festival for Documentary and Animated Film and the Warsaw International Film Festival. In this video interview, Cartoon Contender spoke with Radic about tomatoes, cigarettes, snails, and other imagery that defines Paradaïz, which the National Film Board of Canada has picked up. 

Watch our interview below: 

The short itself is also available to watch on YouTube now:

Nick Spake is the Author of Bright & Shiny: A History of Animation at Award Shows Volumes 1, 2, and 3. Available Now!