Paula Valenzuela Gallegillos, an MA Animation student at London College of Communication (LCC), was selected to take part in the 2025 Annecy International Animation Film Festival — the world’s leading event dedicated to animation.
Held annually in Annecy, France, the festival brings together emerging talent and industry leaders to celebrate the best in animated storytelling.
Paula’s project, ‘Una mujer que no llame la atención’, was one of just eight selected for presentation at MIFA, the festival’s professional arm, as part of the inaugural Student Pitch — spotlighting rising talent from international animation schools.
Alongside her live pitch, Paula received professional feedback, networked with industry professionals, and took part in the festival’s broader programme of talks, conferences, and screenings.
Paula’s project, ‘Una mujer que no llame la atención’ — ‘A woman who won’t draw attention to herself’ — is an animated music video based on a 1986 song by Chilean musician Jorge González. Using a raw 2019 cover by feminist punk band Sin Lencería, the film contrasts the song’s portrayal of female submissiveness with powerful images of politically active women, inspired by both past and present feminist movements.
We caught up with Paula to learn more about their film and what it was like to participate in Annecy Festival.
It was a huge surprise, especially since LCC applies on your behalf and the process was quite quick. At first, I was honoured just to be selected among my classmates — they’re all so talented and have such powerful stories to tell. Then to be chosen by Annecy felt even more incredible.
For the longest time, the festival had seemed completely out of reach — an internationally renowned animation festival on the other side of the globe? I would’ve felt lucky just to attend as an audience member, let alone be there with a project of my own.
‘Una mujer que no llame la atención’ — ‘A woman who won’t draw attention to herself’ — is an animated music video inspired by the lyrics of the song written by Chilean musician Jorge González in 1986. He was a member of the band Los Prisioneros, a rebellious group that spoke out explicitly against the Augusto Pinochet dictatorship at a time when doing so was unthinkable. The lyrics are written from the perspective of a possessive husband who lists all the ways in which his wife should behave and be treated.
For the animation, I used a 2019 cover by the feminist punk band Sin Lencería, who have given the music new life with its punk rhythm, and the female vocals really emphasise the satire and criticism of the original song. I wanted to create a contrast between the idea of the submissive wife and the sea of politically active women that appear in the film.
For me, the film was really about expressing what it feels like to live with the weight of Chile’s history and its current social climate — all through a feminist lens. Growing up in Chile, the lingering trauma of the Pinochet dictatorship is still very present. That period was marked by widespread human rights violations — torture, enforced disappearances, censorship, and the persecution of political opponents. Thousands of people were detained, exiled or killed for speaking out against the regime. Beyond the brutality, the dictatorship also reshaped society by dismantling democratic institutions and imposing neoliberal economic reforms.
At the same time, the feminist movement in Chile has been a powerful force in reclaiming space and memory and challenging those systems of violence and patriarchy. The protests that erupted in recent years felt like a breaking point where personal and political pain spilled into the streets. In 2018, university students across the country stood up against sexual harassment, institutional violence and the deeply entrenched patriarchy that permeates academia and wider society. Then, in 2019, Chile experienced a social uprising — what began as a protest against a metro fare increase, quickly escalated into a broader movement against inequality, state violence and decades of systemic injustice. Feminist voices were central to this, actively shaping the movement's narrative through chants and performances such as ‘Un violador en tu camino’ (A rapist in your path) by the feminist collective LASTESIS.
My biggest challenge while making the film was finding the right balance — telling a story with deep political and historical roots but shaping it in a way that works for the style and rhythm of a music video. I wanted it to feel allegorical but still carry that weight and urgency.
The festival was incredible — so vibrant and full of energy. There was so much going on that I wish I had more time to take it all in. I really enjoyed the talks and conferences; they were truly inspiring. The screenings were great too – I just wish I could’ve watched even more films!
At MIFA, I got to meet quite a few people from the industry, which was great. I made a point to connect with the Chilean delegation, to build relationships I can hopefully strengthen when I go back home.
The Student Pitch was definitely one of the biggest challenges. Presenting in front of industry professionals was daunting, especially since I’m still quite early in my animation career, but I got through it! The audience response was encouraging — several people came up to me afterwards to say they liked my project, which really boosted my confidence.
Some of the feedback was mixed, which reminded me how important it is to stay true to the stories I want to tell and to understand who I’m talking to. I guess a feminist experimental short might not be everyone’s cup of tea, especially in more commercial circles.
What I really valued, though, was hearing from other students and seeing such a wide range of styles and stories being explored. More than anything, what stayed with me was the sense of connection with the other participants and attendees. It made a real difference when a few people reached out to say that my film had resonated with them.
Studying at LCC has been the first step towards making a career out of being an animator. It has given me the opportunity to gain a better understanding of the industry and broaden my horizons. I want to thank UAL for trusting me and supporting me to take part in opportunities like Annecy. I’m also really grateful to my lecturers and classmates — they’ve been a huge part of this journey.
I’m interested in exploring a few different paths. One is returning to the academic pathway I was following back in Chile, continuing to teach and share knowledge — especially to help bridge the gap graphic design and animation. I’m also keen on doing more academic writing, and I’m considering pursuing a PhD in aesthetics. But above all, I want to keep growing as an animator, experimenting with new techniques and building a portfolio that stays true to myself.
The main thing I took away was the importance of really knowing your audience, especially the judges who will be taking part in events. Knowing who you’re presenting to can be key to achieving a good result. Also, if you get the chance to participate in any festivals, try to get to know your peers - they will be a great source of inspiration and motivation!
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