256 films from 49 countries are shown in the course of the festival. However, the selection committee pleads for greater creative variety. Increasing criticism is directed at the "self-nomination principle" in particular. Until that time the selection committee had little influence on the nomination of socialist films, which often arrived in Leipzig at too short notice: The film packages were sent in a finished state from the countries concerned - however, it did prove possible to influence the programme placement of the contributions. It was therefore possible to "conceal" the "worst offenders" somewhat.
The retrospective "ANIMA 78 - Animation films from socialist countries" not only has 172 films on display, many of the original props and puppets can also be viewed. [in: Festival-Chronik Teil 3]
A total of 36,000 visitors attend the festival, of which 707 from various other countries [Richard Ritterbusch]
Golden Doves
YAUM AL ARD (DER TAG DES BODENS, PLO, Ghalib Shaat)
NICARAGUE - SEPTEMBER 1978 (Netherlands, Frank Diamond)
Silver Doves
DOLORES EN BILBAO (DOLORES IN BILBAO, Spain, Andrés Lineares)
INTRODUCCION A CAMILO (Colombia, Carlos Alvarez)
TIČYE AMERIKANZI (DIE STILLEN AMERIKANER, USSR, Leonid Machnač)
CONTROLING INTEREST (USA, Larry Aldeman)
DAS SIND DIE WAFFEN (Mosambic, Instituto Nacionalde Cinema Mapute)
55 HERMANOS (55 BRÜDER, Cuba, Jesus, Diaz)
ZE ZIVOTA DETI (AUS DEM LEBEN DER KINDER, Animated Film, CSSR, Milos Mačourek, Doubravá and Adolf Born)
UL LAKOK (NEUE HAUSBEWOHNER, Animated Film, Hungary, Liviusz Gyalai)
Special prize of the International Jury
IN NAAM VAN DE FÜHRER (IM NAMEN DES FÜHRERS, Belgium, Lydia Chagoll)