The world we live in today is not perfect – it is full of fear and hatred, and that it’s so far from the ideal affects us deeply. That’s why we’re focusing on utopias at this year’s Fest Anča. It is important in today’s polarized world to allow ourselves to dream of new, often unattainable worlds.

-Jakub Spevák, programme director and focus curator

Image: Fest Anča

Focus on Utopias

As customary, the festival’s theme is interwoven throughout the film and non-film programme. A curated collection of short animated films will look at utopias from the perspective of the climate crisis and capitalism, as well as from the perspective of the queer, and gender equality. The audience will have the opportunity to watch a duel between dystopia and utopia, as well as an attempt to deconstruct them. 

The six screenings with titles such as The Garden of Earthly Delights, Still Waiting for Godot, Somewhere Over the Rainbow and Imagining the Impossible will be complemented by discussions with personalities related to the presented themes. Interviewed will be, among others, activist Roman Samotný, visual and conceptual artist Jozef Pilát, and dancer Monika Prikkelová.

Marta Pajek (Image: Fest Anča)

The Masterclass will be given by Polish animator Marta Pajek, who will also present her recently completed trilogy Impossible Figures and Other Stories. The highly acclaimed and successful three-part work is a complex, layered portrait of a woman in the context of society, family and a romantic relationship, and its focus fits right in with the theme of this year’s festival.

Even though “utopia” literally means “no place”, we hope to create a real sanctuary where everyone feels safe and welcome. A place that is fairer and more inclusive. A place to call home.

-Jakub Spevák

This year’s visual, which has (traditionally) been taken care of by graphic designer Marek Menke, also follows the theme.

Past Utopias

Utopias also mean a certain look back at the past. On its 60th anniversary, the Slovak Film Institute has prepared a series of films called Archaeology of the Future, which explores and largely foreshadows our society’s development. Similarly, the Animation Studio at the Academy of Performing Arts in Bratislava is celebrating its 30th anniversary this year, so as part of the programme of the 16th Fest Anča, you can look forward to student films that have shaped the school into what it is today.

This year’s programme will feature a selection of films from the Polish animation studio Studio Filmów Rysunkowych, which is famous not only for its films for children (such as Bolek and Lolek or Reksio) but also for its original films for adults. The section will also focus on utopias and feature diverse films, such as one about a rocket that can’t fly away or another about a shell that transports you to an idyllic past.

Feature films

The selection of feature films is also curated in the spirit of depicting utopian worlds. Audiences can look forward to two animated science fiction classics. Chronopolis (Piotr Kamler, 1982) is set in a futuristic city inhabited by powerful immortals who are bored with the idea of eternity, and so they start playing with time. Visitors will be able to enjoy this film with a unique musical accompaniment. The Czechoslovakian co-production The Fantastic Planet (René Laloux, 1973) is a story of the distant world of Ygam, inhabited by all-powerful masters and their slaves. The film celebrates its fiftieth anniversary this year. Both films can be screened thanks to the French Institute in Slovakia. 

This year’s selection of feature films also includes the Hungarian-Slovak co-production White Plastic Sky, which was recently screened at the Berlinale Film Festival and tells the story of a dystopian future. In addition, you can look forward to Dozens of Norths, which finds light even in the darkest places. In 2018, Festa Anča was honoured to welcome its director Koji Yamamura as a special guest. Also worth mentioning is the exceptional film Away by the universal Latvian artist Gints Zilbalodis, which can be considered an adventure story for children aged ten and up, but also an existential drama that will be more appreciated by an adult audience. 

The Websters Movie (Image: Fest Anča)

Children and their parents will too be in for a treat, as the festival will offer a Slovak feature film, The Websters Movie, directed by Katarina Kerekesova, as well as the beautiful Yuku and the Himalayan Flower, about a little mouse named Yuku who embarks on an adventurous journey in search of a Himalayan flower capable of bringing eternal light. The day before the festival, on Wednesday 28th June, there will also be a screening of Kvik, a family film about a 9-year-old girl named Babs who receives a little pig as a present from her grandfather.

Official selection and juries

Almost 1400 films were submitted to the 16th Fest Anča International Animation Festival, from which the pre-selection committee selected a generous portion of 230 movies. “We are delighted that they will be evaluated directly at the festival by jurors who are among the leading personalities of contemporary domestic and international animation.

-Ivana Sujová, festival director

The Best Animated Short Film and Best Student Animated Short Film will be selected by Malte Stein, an independent animation filmmaker based in Berlin, who won the main prize at last year’s Fest Anča with his film Thing. He will be accompanied by the Taiwanese director Cheng-hsu Chung, also based in Berlin, whose film An Eternal Vacation of Happiness will be featured in one of this year’s Utopias blocks. The trio of jurors will be completed by director, artist, and animator Joanna Kozuch, who co-created the last year’s visual for Fest Anča.

The Mayor’s Anča Award for the Best Slovak Animated Short Film worth 1000€ will be decided by: the director, musician and artistic director of the World Festival of Animated Film – Animafest Zagreb Daniel Šuljić, a Czech-Vietnamese director, artist and graduate of FAMU in Prague Diana Cam Van Nguyen, and a well-known expert in the field of animation studies, film studies, and cultural theory Olga Bobrowska.

The best-animated music video will be selected by a trio consisting of Luce Grosjean – a distributor of animated films successful at festivals around the world, Marek Menke – a graphic designer and DJ, who is in charge of the visual identity of Fest Anča from 2020, and the aforementioned Marta Pajek.

Accompanying programme 

The 16th Fest Anča will not include only animated films. Visitors will enjoy a quality accompanying programme consisting of concerts, DJ sets and discussions, which will also resonate with the festival’s theme – Utopia. Concerts and parties will take place just like in previous years on the premises of the Žilina-Záriečie Station and the New Synagogue. The festival will include an Industry section conference for local animation professionals at the Rosenfeld Palace.

San Farafina (Image: Fest Anča)

Visitors will be treated to a concert by the unique San Farafina – a Montreal-based Haitian-Canadian DJ, producer and member of the Moonshine crew. San Farafina combines contemporary Afrofuturist sounds of genres such as gqom, batida, and amapiano in an eclectic fusion that draws from her diasporic roots. From Primavera Barcelona straight to Fest Anča! One of the highlights of the musical programme will be the performance of Vanyfox, only 22-year-old DJ and beatmaker originally from Angola, who is currently moving between Lisbon and Paris, both sonically and physically. 

The festival will also offer a concert by one of the most remarkable sound artists to emerge from the Milan scene, Marco Farina, known as Canva6. Farina inventively works with memory as a tool for sonic imagination, finding the perfect balance between complex sensations and naked synth surfaces. The local scene will be represented by Vojtik, a young Roma queer artist from Detva, who has captured the attention of all fans of Slovak alternative music with his single Detviansky sen. 

The festival will feature unique artists such as DJ GÄP, Adela Mede, Kult Masek, elastix, or Dead Janitors presents Stroke.

Olga Bobrowska, a member of this year’s jury, a film scholar working in the field of animation and cultural theory, who is also an activist and a curator, will talk about utopias in animation. Tadeáš Žďárský will give an engaging lecture about degrowth economics. A group of creative storytellers will tell us something about engaging storytelling with Príbehom na stope, with whom we will enter the “princesses arena”. You can also look forward to Martin Smatana‘s exhibition at the New Synagogue, named The Year of Good News 2022. Animation director and illustrator Martin Smatana has done the work and collected positive stories from around the world over the past year, to which he has also created images from second-hand textiles. A Year of Good News has also been published as a beautiful book.

And not to forget the 2nd Student Forum, which will take place on 27 June in the New Synagogue. It is a unique platform for European animation schools, providing space for students and teachers to compare approaches to teaching, distribution of student films or international collaborations, and bring students together with professionals. It is the ambition of the festival organisers to make the Student Forum a permanent part of the festival and to continuously support the development of educational practices, school collaborations and the practical experiences they offer.

Children’s programme

This year, the Fest Anča team has again prepared an exceptionally rich programme for children and their parents, full of remarkable film experiences, engaging theatre performances and moments spent in a creative and stimulating environment. 

In the international competition of short animated films for children we will present up to eight original films created in the last two years. One of the films you should not miss is hilarious T-Rex, created by German director Julie Ocker, about a dinosaur who can’t play basketball. On the other hand, the Swiss short film Pond presents the unknown world of the inhabitants of an (extra)ordinary pond.

Two sections of non-competitive films we could not squeeze into the main competition are also waiting for the kids. In the first one, we will present a humorous movie about a fluffy white cat who wants more than anything to find the most comfortable resting place in the whole universe. In the second non-competitive section of films for children, we’ll take a closer look at the tiny world beneath our feet and introduce children to their new friends – road signs. The Animation Studio of the Academy of Performing Arts in Bratislava has also prepared one particular block of films for children at Fest Anča.

However, the children’s programme at Fest Anča is not only about films. For example, young visitors can also look forward to a reading with no age limit called My Utopia. They can also enjoy a performance by the New Theatre from Nitra called Kocúr v čižmách, about how not all that glitters is silver, but also that karma is free and that goodness does not lose its honour in the end.

Children and their parents will be able to immerse themselves in the Kruhy vody with the aforementioned Príbehom na stope storytelling troupe. Through the readings of exciting stories, they will discover the world of water goblins, water and everything connected with water.

The Biennial Animation Bratislava (BAB) festival will prepare a workshop called Tvory z Utópie during the festival Sunday at the Municipal Theatre Žilina, where curious boys and girls can learn the basics of stop motion animation.

About Fest Anča

The International Animation Festival Fest Anča is the only Slovak multimedia festival focused on animated films primarily for adult audiences, which takes place in the New Synagogue in Žilina, the cultural centre Stanica Žilina-Záriečie, the Municipal Theatre Žilina, the Rosenfeld Palace and the Žilina Artforum. The festival aims to present contemporary progressive animated films together with the best from the genre’s history. The festival seeks to raise awareness of animation as a fully-fledged art form and to educate its audience about the various forms of animation.

Each year, the festival includes an international competition of animated short films and music videos, as well as thematic and specially focused film sections. Fest Anča offers lectures, screenings for children and many other side events during the four days.

The International Animation Festival Fest Anča 2023 is financially supported by the Audiovisual Fund. The festival was financially supported by the LITA Fund. The Fest Anča Student Forum received a grant from Iceland, Liechtenstein and Norway through the EEA and Norway Grants. 

Working together towards a green, competitive and inclusive Europe.

The event is funded by the Student Forum Fest Anča project supported by the EEA and Norway Grants 2014-2021 and the State Budget of the Slovak Republic, with project number CLT02018.

For more info visit festanca.sk and follow them on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram

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Get ready to embark on a captivating journey as Anibar Animation Festival proudly unveils its 14th edition theme: “Love | Dashni.” From July 17th to July 23rd, 2023, we invite you to join us in Peja, Kosova, where love takes center stage and fills the air with its vibrant colors and heartfelt emotions.

In a world often consumed by chaos and division, we seek to remind ourselves and everyone that love knows no boundaries and as such, it cannot be defined!

But fear not, this is not a realm of clichés or saccharine sweetness. We delve into the many dimensions of love, shedding light on its complexities and unveiling its diverse manifestations.

Throughout the seven days of the festival, our artistic program will immerse you in a kaleidoscope of animated wonders, and through this theme we will explore the transformative power of human connections.

Join us as we embrace the multifaceted nature of love, a force that transcends language and speaks to the core of our humanity. Let’s celebrate the myriad ways love influences our lives, ignites our souls, and inspires us to be better, both individually and as a society.

Save the dates and let love in!

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Image ©WIA

Today, at the beginning of Pride month, WIA — the advocacy organization dedicated to advancing people of underrepresented gender identities, including women and gender non-conforming people in the fields of animation, VFX, and gaming — is pleased to announce they are joining forces with GLAAD, the world’s largest LGBTQ+ media advocacy organization, to bring this year’s WIA WORLD SUMMIT to the Annecy International Animation Festival and Mifa 2023. Among this year’s special guests will be ND Stevenson, Vicky Jenson, Ramsey Naito, Anna Ginsburg and Nora Twomey.

WIA is proud to collaborate with GLAAD in service of our shared vision of gender justice in animation. We look forward to gathering so many key thought leaders to discuss this year’s theme, ‘Break the Box: Redefining Gender and Leadership.’ The day will be filled with thought-provoking, robust discussions on the complexity of gender, including all the amazing things that can happen in our industry when people break free from stereotypes and societal expectations.

-Marge Dean, WIA President

I’m so excited to be joining WIA for a day full of impactful conversations on gender and storytelling. As we see an increase in anti-LGBTQ bills here in the U.S., authentic and inclusive storytelling is more impactful than ever in both combatting disinformation and uplifting our voices. The inclusive animated films and series highlighted at Annecy and through WIA’s work will be seen by audiences of all ages across the world and can spark conversations that accelerate acceptance for families of all kinds.

-Megan Townsend, GLAAD’s Senior Director of Entertainment Research and Analysis

Breaking the gender boxes we’ve all been put into at some point in our lives is critical to moving toward gender justice and equity. We must collectively, across gender identities, question how we define a ‘good leader’ or ‘who can do what job in animation’ or ‘how we express ourselves,’ so we can achieve true equity and a better, more prosperous industry for all.

-Julie Ann Crommett, WIA Secretary/DEI Chair and Founder and CEO, Collective Moxie

With the entire Annecy team, we are happy and honored to host the WIA World Summit. Once again, the program for this day will be an opportunity to share ideas around the concerns of our time to build a better world and a better industry. This year, we are doubling our forces since the World Summit will resonate particularly with the theme of Annecy 2023: Animation Pride & Diversity.

-Mickaël Marin, CITIA CEO

The seventh annual WIA WORLD SUMMIT will take place on Monday, June 12th at the Impérial Palace Hotel (Allée de l’Impérial, 74000 Annecy) and will feature a day-long symposium of panels and focused conversations spotlighting key thought leaders filmmakers and executives from around the world discussing gender justice — a system of equity and fairness for people of all genders, gender identities and presentations. As with every summit since the beginning, this year’s event will be live-streamed and available to the general public via the WIA website from 9:30 am -5:30 pm CEST/12:30 am-7:30 am PST, with a lunch break from 12:20-2:30 pm CEST. The Summit will also be recorded and posted subsequently on the WIA website.

The official program for the day will be as follows:

Welcome from WIA and Annecy Festival

WIA President Marge Dean and CITIA CEO Mickaël Marin welcome viewers and attendees.

SESSION 1 – Unpacking: What is Gender?

Description: This educational session led by Megan Townsend, GLAAD Senior Director of Entertainment Research & Analysis, unpacks the language and universal assumptions of gender, the ways we’re all impacted by those assumptions, and how we can move closer to the reality of gender justice in our global industry.

SESSION 2 – Authentic Storytelling

Description: Our experiences, values, and identities are foundational to the stories we tell. This panel, moderated by Tendayi Nyeke and including Paula Boffo, Creative Director at Ojo Raro, cartoonist and writer Molly Knox Ostertag, and writer and animator Leslie Pulsifer, explores the ways in which gender shapes who we are and the stories and art we create as a result.

SESSION 3 – Leading Diverse Creative Teams

Description: Leading creative teams comes with unique rewards and challenges, especially when the stories being told are deeply personal. This panel, moderated by WIA President, Marge Dean, examines how leaders can reject gendered expectations and harness the creative power of a diverse team. Panelists include Emilie Walmsley, Head of Animation for Eddy TV, ND Stevenson, author and illustrator of Nimona and creator/showrunner of She-Ra: Princesses of Power, award-winning filmmaker and director at Strange Beast, Anna Ginsburg, and Noriko Matsumoto, Executive Producer and Brand Director at Dwarf Studio.

SESSION 4 – Redefining Risk as Investment

Description: Risk and failure are integral parts of the creative process. Moderated by Julie Ann Crommett, this panel — featuring Deepa Joshi, co-CEO of Incessant Rain animation studios, Nosipho van den Bragt, President and Founder of Chocolate Tribe, Lou Bones, Creative Talent Director at PSYOP and acclaimed director of Shrek and the upcoming Spellbound, Vicky Jenson — explores the inequitable effects of success as well as failure for creative leaders who are historically underrepresented in our industry. What can we learn when things don’t go as planned? How can we reframe risk and failure to create a more equitable industry?

CLOSING FIRESIDE CHAT – Authentic Leadership

Description: In this fireside chat with Ramsey Naito, President, Paramount Animation and Nickelodeon Animation, and Nora Twomey, Co-Founder & Creative Director of Cartoon Saloon, we examine creative leadership through the lens of gender and explore what is possible when we embrace leadership styles that are authentic. We’ll also explore how leaders who break the box can effectively collaborate to make sustainable change in their organization and in our industry.

For more information or to join WIA, please visit womeninanimation.org

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Image courtesy of Animafest Cyprus

We are thrilled to share the poster of the 22nd edition of Countryside Animafest Cyprus – Views of the World, designed by animation legend Michaël Dudok de Wit. The beautiful village of Salamiou will once again host the festival, from the 9th to the 12th of August.

-Countryside Animafest Cyprus

I was watching the lovely short 2021 documentary about the festival and when I briefly saw a landscape near Salamiou with trees resembling olive trees, my imagination came up with this timeless, romantic image of a young woman, sitting calmly in nature with her attention towards the distance, towards the light.

-Michaël Dudok de Wit

Having begun his career in the early 90s, Dutch animator Michaël Dudok de Wit has become widely respected as a master of animation whose filmography includes the César Award-winning The Monk and the Fish, the Academy Award-winning short Father and Daughter and the Academy Award-nominated Studio Ghibli feature film The Red Turtle.

This year’s official selection will be announced on July 3rd. For more info about the festival visit animafest.com.cy

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Heike Mozer (Image: Film- und Medienfestival gGmbH)

In Heike Mozer, we have found a competent managing director for Film- und Medienfestival gGmbH who, thanks to her expertise and many years of experience, is perfectly familiar with the animation and culture scenes in the region. I am certain that she will fill the motto ‘We are the heart of animation, where public and creators meet’ with life and thus further strengthen the ITFS in the future.

-Dr. Walter Rogg, Chairman of the Supervisory Board of Film- und Medienfestival gGmbH and Managing Director of Wirtschaftsförderung Region Stuttgart GmbH (WRS)

Heike Mozer has a degree in administration and has been working at Filmakademie Baden-Württemberg since 1991, where she took over the commercial management of Animationsinstitut in 2002. At the same time, she contributed to the Stuttgart International Festival of Animated Film in the field of event management from 1991 to 1998 and was project manager of FMX – Film & Media Exchange between 2015 and 2020. She is thus experienced in the realisation of large-scale events and very well-connected in the regional, national, and international animation scenes.

To welcome the world of animated film in all its facets and to create personal encounters between audiences and artists – that is what I am looking forward to. With the competent team at my side, I am also looking forward to further develop the ITFS and guide it into the future.

-Heike Mozer

I am very happy for Heike Mozer and the entire Film- und Medienfestival gGmbH. This is not only great news for the FMF, but also a good basis for stronger cooperation between ITFS, FMX and of course Animationsinstitut, as together we want to further cultivate and expand the culture of animation in the region. The Film- und Medienfestival gGmbH could not be in better hands and I look forward to working with Heike Mozer in the months and years to come. The heart of animation is beating strong in Stuttgart and Ludwigsburg!

-Jan Pinkava, new head of the Animationsinstitut at Filmakademie Baden-Württemberg as of 1 June 2023

Associates of FMF are the State Capital Stuttgart, Wirtschaftsförderung Region Stuttgart GmbH, Filmakademie Baden-Württemberg and the City of Ludwigsburg.

­

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Giants of La Mancha (Studio 100 Film, image courtesy of DP:PR)

Available in Autumn 2023, Giants of La Mancha is a visually stunning and action-packed CGI spectacle set to captivate viewers of all ages. International sales are handled by Studio 100 Film.

Directed by Gonzalo Gutierrez and written by Carlos Kotkin (Rio 2), Giants of La Mancha is an extraordinary and adventurous journey for the whole family, following 11-year-old Alfonso, heir to Don Quixote, and his three imaginary rabbits, which are joined by Pancho and Victoria. With their power of friendship, they save their beloved hometown somewhere in La Mancha from a huge storm. They dream the impossible dream, overcome their fears, and use their imagination to find the real force behind the storm.

This epic adventure, produced by Germany’s Studio 100 Media and M.A.R.K.13 COM with GF Films from Argentina, combines the creative power and visual styles of the best artists from both countries to meet the highest standards. Giants of La Mancha adorns itself with wonderful animation and an impressive, unique visual quality.

Visual development is the part we enjoyed the most about the production process of this film, as we believe that’s where the magic of cinema resides; giving the audience the chance to discover universes that would otherwise be impossible. It’s literally magic.

-Gonzalo Gutierrez, director

Thorsten Wegener, Head of Business Operations, Studio 100 Film, added:

This film was a great challenge for everybody involved. As one of the largest productions for us so far, it’s taken us to a new level in terms of storytelling and production value. We all are extremely proud of the result and can’t wait to see the film on the big screen.

International pre-sales for the film are excelling, with Constantin Film on board for the German-speaking territories. Further sales have been secured for Portugal, Greece, Iceland, Bulgaria, Poland, Croatia, Serbia, Slovenia, Middle East, Israel, and Vietnam.

Studio 100 Film will present 20 minutes of the project at Marche du Film’s market screenings on Wednesday, May 17^th at 11:30 am in Palais H, and Thursday, May 18^th at 1:45 pm in Palais D.

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Meneath:The Mirrors of Ethics (Image courtesy of NFB)

The Tribeca Festival’s “Tribeca Immersive” showcase will present the world premiere of renowned Métis filmmaker and media artist Terril Calder’s National Film Board of Canada (NFB) installation Meneath: The Mirrors of Ethics, from June 7 to 18 in New York.

Meneath: The Mirrors of Ethics charts the challenging journey of a precocious Métis Baby Girl as she contemplates her path to Hell. Using interfering screens in an object reminiscent of a puppet theatre, this stop-motion installation unearths Nokomis, the Wise Grandmother whispering the Sacred Teachings to Baby Girl, in parallel to Jesus shepherding her through seven Deadly Sins.

The installation is adapted from Calder’s award-winning 2021 NFB stop-motion animated short Meneath: The Hidden Island of Ethics, chosen as one of the top ten short films of the year by the Toronto International Film Festival and winner of nine awards.

About the experience

In the middle of Turtle Island, a Métis Baby Girl is born. Her childhood wonder is disrupted when Jesus appears and tells her about the so-called sins of humanity. Convinced she is soiled and destined for Hell, the abuse and racism she endures leave her riddled with self-loathing and fear. To quell her trauma, Nokomis brings light to the Anishinaabe Teachings buried deep within Baby Girl. For every alleged Sin, Baby Girl is given a Teaching that fills her with strength and pride, and affirms a path towards healing.

Through a system of interfering screens, Terril Calder forces our gaze below the surface to witness a dissection of the colonial narrative, physically shifting the dominant Christian perspective. The installation offers an augmented reality-type looking glass into the Indigenous ethical voice that often remains hidden. Indigenous Teachings are reflected from the earth and fused into the story to create a unique viewing experience that’s dependent on where you stand in relation to the interfering screens.

Meneath: The Mirrors of Ethics features the voice of Gail Maurice (Cardinal, Tricksters) and was edited by the late visionary Indigenous filmmaker Jeff Barnaby (Rhymes for Young Ghouls, Blood Quantum).

Meneath: The Mirrors of Ethics was produced by Jelena Popović with Eloi Champagne as technical director, and Jason Ryle as consulting producer. The executive producers are Robert McLaughlin and Michael Fukushima for the NFB English Program Animation & Interactive Studio.

Read more about the work of Terril Calder in our 2022 interview

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The general public as well as professionals and filmmakers made intensive use of the offers. The organizers recorded 7,300 guests in the cinemas and around 32,000 spectators at the Open Air. With the 5,000 guests in the other venues such as VHS TREFFPUNKT Rotebühlplatz, the ITFS reached a total of 44,300 visitors. On the mostly sunny days with pleasant temperatures, the audience enjoyed a happy and peaceful celebration of animated film on the packed Schlossplatz. But the ITFS was not only very popular in Stuttgart, but also internationally: A total of 150 of over 260 invited filmmakers* from abroad visited the ITFS.

A visitor highlight of the ITFS were the events with Disney Legend and animator Andreas Deja. His Master Class “Character Animation” was packed to capacity and his first independent animation film “Mushka”, which celebrated its European premiere at the ITFS, was also screened in a fully booked cinema. The GameZone with its animated games attracted a particularly large crowd of gaming fans: Over four days, well over 1,500 people tested and played the best animated computer games from Germany. Kids were also able to enjoy animated films at this year’s ITFS: all events and workshops at the VHS were fully booked. A special highlight in the cinema: “Bugs Bunny’s Builder & Batwheels” celebrated its preschool premiere in front of 350 children in the fully booked cinema hall Gloria 2.

Uwe Schmitz-Gielsdorf, Managing Director of ITFS, draws up a summary:

We were able to show so many wonderful films. Personally, I remember Tal Kantor’s film “Letter to a Pig” with its complex images.

The competitions are the heart of the Stuttgart International Festival of Animated Film and, as every year, the results were announced on Sunday evening, at the Awards Ceremony on 30 April 2023. Awards included the Grand Prix (State of Baden-Württemberg and the City of Stuttgart Grand Award for Animated Film which also qualifies the winning film directly for the Oscar longlist), the Lotte Reiniger Promotion Award for Animated Film (sponsored by MFG Film Funding Baden-Württemberg), the Young Animation Award (sponsored by the LFK Landesanstalt für Kommunikation Baden-Württemberg and MFG Film Funding Baden-Württemberg), the AniMovie Award, the Trickstar Nature Award (sponsored by Verband Region Stuttgart) and the FANtastic Award (sponsored by the FANtastic Jury). For the SWR Audience Award, which is sponsored by Südwestrundfunk, audiences chose their favourite from all the entries in the International Competition. The winning team of the Crazy Horse Session – 48H Animation Jam in cooperation with The M.A.R.K. 13 Group was already announced on Saturday afternoon at the Open Air.

The winners of the Animated Games Award Germany, German Animation Screenplay Award, Honorary Trickstar and Trickstar Business Award competitions have already been announced at the Trickstar Professional Awards ceremony on April 26 and the Tricks for Kids Awards on April 29.

The WINNERS

International Competition – Grand Prix:

State of Baden-Württemberg and the City of Stuttgart Grand Award for Animated Film with a cash prize of 10,000 €.

Grand Prix: Koerkorter (Dog Apartment) – Priit Tender, Estonia, 2022 (Image via ITFS)

Koerkorter (Dog Apartment)
Priit Tender
Estinia 2022, 14:07 min, Production: Oü Nukufilm

Jury statement:

’Dog Apartment’ by Priit Tender, is a masterpiece of the surrealism. Even if the story takes place in an eastern oppressive regime, we can all relate to it as artists, having fed the capitalist housing market. The film flawlessly pushes the stop motion medium further, and it takes us deep in to a surrealistic world, that feels real and cruel. The transformation of an apartment into a living creature is striking and unforgettable. We will think of it every time when we have to pay rent.

Special Mention:  
Koniunkcja (Misaligned) 
Marta Magnuska
Latvia, Poland, 2022, 6:55 min, Production: Animoon

Jury statement:

The Jury’s Special Mention goes to “Misaligned” by Marta Magnuska for the filmmaker´s artistic ability to describe a dysfunctional relationship from a female point of view.

Jury: Signe Baumane (New York, USA) Chiara Magri (Turin, Italy), Anders Narverud Moen (Oslo, Norway, Izabela Plucińska (Berlin, Germany)

Lotte Reiniger Promotion Award for Animated Film:

Award for the best graduation film with a cash prize of 10,000 €, sponsored by MFG Film Funding Baden-Württemberg

Lotte Reiniger Promotion Award: Zoon, – Jonathan Schwenk, Germany, 2022 (Image via ITFS)

Zoon 
Jonathan Schwenk
Germany, 2022, 4:25 min, School: Hochschule Offenbach
Jury statement:
“Lotte Reiniger was a master of creating her own worlds, and ‘Zoon’ by Jonatan Schwenk is a great example where unique design and perfect timing creates this kind of special world. The jury compliments the filmmaker´s use of different techniques to bring us into a world for both – laughter and contemplation.”

SWR Audience Award: The ITFS Audience Award with a cash prize of 6,000 €, sponsored by SWR (regional broadcasting for southwest Germany)

Pasajero (Passenger)
Juan Pablo Zaramella
Argentinia 2022, 10:00 min

Young Animation Award:

Award for the best student film with a cash prize of 2,500 €, sponsored by the LFK Landesanstalt für Kommunikation Baden-Württemberg and MFG Film Funding Baden-Württemberg

Young Animation Award: Ressources Humaines (Human Resources) – Isaac Wenzek, Titouan Tillier, Trinidad Plass, France, 2022 (Image via ITFS)

Ressources Humaines (Human Resources) 
Isaac Wenzek, Titouan Tillier, Trinidad Plass
France, 2022, 3:30 min, School: EMCA Ecole des Métiers du Cinéma d’Animation)

Jury statement:

We chose ‘Human Resources’ because we felt it created a rich and beautiful world – with stunning attention to detail at every level – from the choice of materials and camera angles to the concise and economical storytelling. With impeccable timing and performances, this film delivers social commentary, wit and humor in a very short amount of time, showcasing that you can create a complete and satisfying narrative in under 4 minutes. Human Resources is a true stand-out film.

Special Mention:
Reprise 
Carine Chrast, Leance Volschenk, Lio Neuenschwander, Saskia Bulletti
Switzerland, 2022. 3:08 min, School: Hochschule Luzern – Design & Kunst)

Jury statement:

’Reprise’ is a subtle and nuanced short that expertly uses silence, timing and framing to suggest- rather than show – leaving audiences to interpret the full meaning of this powerful film.

Jury: Sander Joon (Tallinn, Estonia) Piotr Kardas (Lodz, Poland) Vanessa Pfeiffer (Los Angeles, USA)

AniMovie: Award for the best animated feature film

AniMovie Award: Nayola – José Miguel Ribeiro, Portugal/Belgium/France/Netherlands, 2022 (Image via ITFS)

Nayola 
José Miguel Ribeiro
Portugal, Belgium, France, Netherlands 2022, 83 min, Production: Praça Filmes

Jury statement:

Our unanimous choice for Best Animated Feature is a spectacular example of the power of animated storytelling. From the compelling narrative and bold, vivid use of color, to the unique production design, layout and camera work, and sound design and music, this film tells a story that leaves you reeling from it‘s intensity and emotional honesty. A well crafted tapestry of three generations of women and the choices they made to protect and defend their humanity in the face of the horrors and oppressive consequences of a civil war.

Jury: Mike Buckland (Cape Town, South Africa) Kathrin Rothe (Berlin, Germany) Dan Sarto (Los Angeles, USA)

Trickstar Nature Award:

Award for the best international animated short film that deals with the topics of climate protection, biodiversity, environment and sustainability, with a cash prize of 7,500 €, sponsored by Verband Region Stuttgart

A World in Chaos
David Crisp, Hungary 2023, 9:46 min
Production: Moholy-Nagy University of Art and Design Budapest

Jury statement:

A lot of issues that are very relevant for our times, presented in a way, that an audience can relate to. The jury’s decision was unanimous.

Jury: Carina Borgards (Ludwigsburg, Germany), Nancy Denney-Phelps (Gent, Belgium), Lena von Döhren (Lucerne, Switzerland)

The Fantastic Award:

Award for the best animation talent with a cash prize of 1,000 €, sponsored by the FANtastic Jury, the most faithful fans of ITFS

FANtastic Award: Le Cri de Silence (The Silent Scream) – Camille Anne, Camille Leroy, Elisa Torris, Julie Vandenbergue, Lucas Foutrier, Martin Laurent, France, 2022 (Image via ITFS)

Le Cri de Silence (The Silent Scream)
Camille Anne, Camille Leroy, Elisa Torris, Julie Vandenbergue, Lucas Foutrier, Martin Laurent
France 2022, 7:12 min, School: Pôle 3D

Jury statement:

Where people are not heard, animated film can give them a voice. Where society is not looking, animated film can point a finger. Where hardly any jury has awarded a prize before, we are doing so now. With ‘Le Cri de Silence’ we are honouring a film that conveys a difficult subject in a visually impressive way, while maintaining a balance between compassion and wordless rage. Camille Anne, Camille Leroy, Elisa Torris, Julie Vandenbergue, Lucas Foutrier, Martin Laurent, welcome to the Animation Family!

Special Mention:
Pipes
Jessica Meier, Kilian Feusi, Sujanth Ravichandran
Switzerland 2022, 4:08 min, School: Hochschule Luzern – Design & Kunst

Jury statement:

Our Special Mention goes into unknown territory for many, where there is a lot of pressure on the kettle. This is the place to be when laying pipes – Jessica Meier, Kilian Feusi, Sujanth Ravichandran: thanks for the great fun with ‘Pipes’ in dark times.

Jury: Folke Damminger, Jürgen Frick, Sebastian Heck, Dorothea Kaufmann, Michaela Rehm, Karen Schmitt, Sven Schoengarth, Sabine Willmann

Crazy Horse Session – 48H Animation Jam

What’s Next?
Yohann Abdelnour, Nour Haidar (Libanon)

Jury statement:

As the jury, we fell in love with the metamorphosis of the Trixie and the experimental style of this film. It was like diving into a multiverse of Trixie. Each new scenario gave us a new interpretation of the main character. Even after watching the film multiple times, we discovered new things and perspectives. We wanted to watch it frame by frame to catch every little detail. Amazing work. Thank you for displaying so much passion and talent in your work.
We would also like to give a special mention to the Swiss team, Sarah, Anna-Lena and Lara, and their film “Trixie’s Evolutionary Journey”. This film stood out with its clear message and moving visualisation. Well done.

The next Stuttgart International Festival of Animated Film will take place from April 23 to 28, 2024.

The post Connections that touch and animate: ITFS 2023 Winners appeared first on Skwigly Animation Magazine.

The Tricks for Kids winners of the ITFS 2023 are:

Award for the best children’s animated film with a cash prize of 4,000 €, sponsored by Studio 100 Media.

Elegy of Elefant
Director: Sergio Lu
China 2022, 8.30 min.
Production: Shengying Ai

The leading elephant Nana was rescued by an old man when she was young. Many years after Nana backed to nature, she sensed old man‘s death, which led her back with the herd to mourn for him.

Statement of the children’s story:

It was very difficult for us to make a decision – there were so many great films!  After a long discussion and a lot of voting, we were finally able to decide. It is a story about a special friendship. A relationship between human and animal that lasts beyond the end of life. We all felt for this film and were touched by how the story ended. We think it is great that the film was inspired by real experiences. It also contains an important message: if you help the weak in need, they will not forget it. We really liked the animation of the elephants and their environment too. Also, we find it remarkable that the film is almost completely without dialogue and that the message can be understood all over the world.

Special Mention:

Trudes Tier – Glückshof (Trudes Flatmate – Glückshof)
 Director: Klaus Morschheuser
Germany 2021, 6.40 min.
Production: Studio Soi Filmproduktion GMBH & Co. KG

Trude and the flatmate are going on a picnic trip. The flatmate already pilfers some sausages from the picnic basket. When the two of them get stuck in a traffic jam and halt next to a cattle truck, the flatmate is struck by pity for the porr pigs. And when Trude explains to him, what sausages are made of, the flatmate makes up his mind: He has to do something about this!

Tricks for Kids Audience Award

Award for the audience’s favourite of the ITFS Children’s Film Festival with a cash prize of 1,500 €, sponsored by L-Bank.
Les Astres Immobiles (Immobile Stars)
Directors: Noémi Gruner, Séléna Picque

France 2022, 25:34 min.
Production: Tripode Productions

Chenghua is preparing a school project on space travel with her best friend. She cannot find enough time to do this as she is constantly asked to translate for her parents who do not speak French and are dependent on their child. Chenghua can take no more and tries to break free from her family. Her desire for space and natural enthusiasm will help her take those steps.

More info at itfs.de

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German Animation Screenplay Award

The aim of the two screenplay awards is to promote promising authors, to contribute to the improvement of content quality and the international market potential of animated feature films, as well as to highlight the importance of professional screenwriting and the more attractive films that come with it.

The prize for the best German screenplay for an animated feature film in the amount of € 2,500 sponsored by the Animation Media Cluster Region Stuttgart (AMCRS), goes to:

CLARISSA
Screenplay: John Chambers
Production: XFilme Creative Pool GmbH,
Producer: Uwe Schott

The jury found:

Based on the popular IP and German board game KAKERLAKAK, Clarissa’s journey from hated underdog insect to rising star shows how rewarding it can be to pursue your dreams without fear rather than hiding in the shadows and doing what’s expected of you because it has always been so. The story is also a modern appeal for equality, inclusion, and acceptance of gender diversity, supported by lots of humour, songs, and dance. CLARISSA – The Musical is born.

The prize for the German screenplay with the greatest international market potential in the amount of € 1,500 sponsored by Pink Parrot Media goes to:

PIRATE MO AND THE LEGEND OF THE RED RUBY
Screenplay: Richie Conroy
Production: Ulysses Filmproduktion GmbH
Producer: Emely Christians

From the jury statement:

Pirate Mo is a search for her own identity, armed with a strong sense of justice and lots of wit: Mo is a modern pirate, just like Madame Chen and will be loved by kids and parents alike all over the world Strong and witty characters, an exciting adventure, lots of humour and fun – Pirate Mo and the Legend of the Red Ruby is a fresh and new take on pirate stories – brave, courageous, and funny.

A Special Mention goes to:

RAT KING
Screenplay: Nina Wels, Kristina Yee
Production: Traumhaus Studios
Producer: Michael Luda

With references to ancient fairy tales and medieval past, this exciting and original story is set in our modern times. It contains a powerful message to all who are bullied or oppressed to courageously stand up to those who try to rule with fear, lies and manipulation and to save the world with love and truth. It’s a message that is desperately needed in these times of hate speech, fake news, and alternative truths.

The jury consisted of: Peter Keydel (Producer Mago Production, Barcelona/Düsseldorf), Tania Pinto de Cunha (President and Director of Int. Sales and Acquisitions, Pink Parrot, Media, Madrid), Lilian Klages (CEO & Executive Producer, Zooper Film, Ludwigsburg), Holger Weiss (CEO & Founder, M.A.R.K. 13 Group, Stuttgart), and Silke Wilfinger (Founder, SilkWayFilms, Munich).

Animated Games Award Germany

Prize for the best and most innovative animation-based computer game from Germany in the amount of € 5,000 sponsored by MFG Medien- und Filmgesellschaft Baden-Württemberg:

SIGNALIS
Developer: Barbara Wittmann, rose-engine
Publisher: Humble Games

From the jury statement:

“Signalis” convinced us with a particularly strong visual language that honors the 90s art style, but does not limit itself to it and skillfully mixes genres. Inspired by pop culture it uses familiar elements and through technical innovation, this develops into a modern aesthetic. While playing the game, one can feel the passion for storytelling in an immersive, meticulously crafted game world that captivates not only visually. The reduced but skillful use of sound and music underlines the thrilling atmosphere of this classic survival horror game.

The jury consisted of: Anna Katharina Brinkschulte (Senior Lecturer Interactive Media, Filmakademie Baden-Württemberg – Animationsinstitut, Ludwigsburg), Stephan Jakob (Professor for Game Design and Development, Darmstadt University of Applied Sciences (h_da) & Founder, BiteTheBytes, Darmstadt), and Lea Schönfelder (Co-Founder, Fein Games, Frankfurt am Main).

Trickstar Business Award

Prize for the best innovative and forward-looking business model in the animation sector in the amount of € 7,500 sponsored by Verband Region Stuttgart:

PentoPix Inc.
Founders: Volha Paulovich, Amid Pate
United Kingdom

The Jury found:

Pentopix clear business idea is offering a promising tool to bring ideas faster to live allowing more time to focus on story development. It’s generated AI tool transforms texts into 3D animated storyboards saving film or game studios valuable hours in their pre-production phase. Thus it’s groundbreaking relevant for any professional working within the animation industry from studios, advertising agencies, game developers, to film schools, independent creatives and writers.

A Special Mention goes to:

Those Production Girls (PTY) LTD
Founder: Kaya Kuhn
Mellville/South Africa

A Special Mention, close to an award, is deserved, in the jury’s opinion, by an entrepreneurial initiative that offers animation producers a comprehensive range of qualifications as well as mentoring in production management and project supervision, thus also optimising recruiting. This way, it not only creates important prerequisites for efficient networking among filmmakers, which, as we all know, is an important prerequisite for successful work in the film industry.

The jury consisted of: Jens Gutfleisch (Managing Director, Film Commission Region Stuttgart, Stuttgart), Marc König (Partner, Venue Gate, Stuttgart), Dieter Krauß (Freelance Consultant, Film- und Medienfestival gGmbH, Stuttgart), Viola Gabrielli (Media Consultant, Film Festival & Market Curator, Reutlingen) and Gabriele M. Walther (CEO & Founder, Caligari Film- und Fernsehproduktions GmbH, Munich / Traffix Entertainment GmbH, Stuttgart).

Honorary Trickstar of ITFS 2023

The Honorary Trickstar of the 2023 Stuttgart International Festival of Animated Film goes to Latvian animation artist Signe Baumane. She accepted the award personally at the ceremony. Uwe Schmitz-Gielsdorf, Managing Director of Film- und Medienfestival gGmbH (ITFS), stresses:

In Signe Baumane’s wonderful films, one can experience that philosophy and the art of animation are like siblings: Both of them abstract and thus clarify something that previously had been blurred in the abundance of appearances. Her film My Love Affair with Marriage is a fine example of this.

Signe Baumane studied philosophy in Moscow, then worked for an animation studio in Riga and moved to New York City in 1996, where she first worked for independent director Bill Plympton while continuing to make her own films. In 1998, she founded her own studio and, with irrepressible energy, perseverance, and creativity, tackled the realisation of her feature-length films over many years.

Complementing the Honorary Trickstar Award, the ITFS presents her two feature-length films, the multi-award winning “My Love Affair with Marriage” (Latvia, Luxembourg, USA, 2022) on 27 April, 8 p.m. at Cinema, and “Rocks in my Pockets” (Latvia, 2014) on 28 April, 8:15 p.m. at the Open-Air.

More info at itfs.de

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The Stuttgart International Festival of Animated Film is an absolute stroke of luck for Baden-Württemberg – as a hub for animation, games and VFX that we want to cultivate, maintain and continue to develop with vigour. Together with the FMX and the Animation Production Days, it has enormous charisma in the wide world of animation and strengthens the creative industry in the State. The films at the Festival of Animated Film will again make people laugh and think; or move them to tears. Until Sunday, the State capital will be the worldwide centre of animated film.

-State Secretary Arne Braun

To me, the art of animated film is a wonderful revelation, as serious as it is cheerful. For this, Stuttgart is the place to be!

-Uwe Schmitz-Gielsdorf, Managing Director of ITFS

Special thanks are due to the long-standing Chairman of the Supervisory Board of FMF, Dr Walter Rogg (since 2006), who will retire in August 2023. Uwe Schmitz-Gielsdorf paid tribute to his committed and constructive way of bringing the four associates of FMF together over such a long time and thanked him on the big stage. In a personal statement, Andreas Hykade honoured artist Gil Alkabetz, who died in 2022, as an inspiring friend and teacher of many animation filmmakers.

The audience could watch the first section of the International Competition (IW) on the big screen: Eight animated shorts demonstrated the exuberant diversity of animated film, including “Ice Merchants”, an Oscar-nominated short film by João Gonzalez about a touching father-son relationship, Tal Kantor’s “Letter to a Pig”, telling the story of a Holocaust survivor with her unique technique, and “The Invention of Less” by Noah Erni, which shows in a humorous and entertaining way how the world could perhaps be saved with a little trick. On the podium, the filmmakers of IW 1 met for a round of talks and gave insights into their work. At the subsequent get-together in the festival café Café le Theatre, all guests were given space to network, talk, and celebrate!

For six days – from 25 to 30 April 2023 – one of the world’s largest festivals for animation will present 1002 animated films at the Innenstadtkinos and the Open-Air cinema on Schlossplatz, making Stuttgart the “Heart of Animation” (Andreas Hykade). Disney legend and character animator Andreas Deja will give an illustrated overview of his 30-year career at Disney as one of the greatest animators in the company’s 100-year history, e.g. on the development of famous characters such as Jafar (“Aladdin”), Scar (“The Lion King”) and King Triton (“The Little Mermaid”). He also brings along his short film “Mushka”, which will celebrate its European premiere at the ITFS. (Saturday, 29 April, Cinema, 15:30).

More on ITFS Stuttgart at itfs.de

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New cooperation: 100 years of Disney at the ITFS

But not only the ITFS is celebrating an anniversary – The Walt Disney Company with the world-famous animation studio Disney Animation is celebrating its 100th anniversary in 2023. With short film programmes (Disney+ Cult Night), Film Talks and current animated feature films at the Open-Air Cinema. As a highlight, Disney Legend and character animator Andreas Deja will come to Stuttgart and give an illustrated overview of his 30-year career at Disney as one of the greatest animators in the company’s 100-year history. In the Masterclass “Character Animation” (Saturday, 29 April, Cinema,    1 p.m.) Deja will give background information on the development of famous characters such as Jafar (“Aladdin”), Scar (“The Lion King”) and King Triton (“The Little Mermaid”). In a Film Talk (Thursday 27 April, Gloria 2, 12:30 p.m.), Disney EMEA Creative Directors Shamik Majumdar and Orion Ross will provide exclusive insights into the ten-part Disney+ anthology series “Kizazi Moto: Generation Fire”, which looks at the future from a uniquely African perspective, created by directors from across the continent and in collaboration with African (including Triggerfish) and global studios.

European premiere of Andreas Deja’s “Mushka”

Andreas Deja will not only take a look back, but will also bring his short film “Mushka” to celebrate its European premiere at the ITFS. After the screening, the audience can take a backstage look at the film’s production (Saturday, 29 April, Cinema, 3:30 pm).

The Honorary Trickstar goes to…

She is one of the most important women in the animation industry: The 2023 Honorary Trickstar of the Stuttgart International Festival of Animated Film goes to Latvian animation artist Signe Baumane. She creates animations from a female perspective, and in her later development often from a personal, autobiographical, painfully honest and provocative point of view, and she says: “In animation, you can just walk into a person’s mind and you can show everything going on in there. In animation you’re free to do anything you want.”

Signe Baumane studied philosophy in Moscow, then worked for an animation studio in Riga and moved to New York City in 1996, where she first worked for independent director Bill Plympton while continuing to make her own films. In 1998 she founded her own studio and with irrepressible energy, perseverance and creativity tackled the realisation of her feature-length films over many years. In a short film programme, the ITFS will present primarily her early films, including: “The Witch and the Cow”, (Latvia, USA, 1991), “The Tiny Shoes” (Latvia, USA; 1993), “Gold of the Tigers” (Latvia, 1995), and “Love Story” (Latvia, USA, 1998). As a special highlight, ITFS will show her two feature-length films, the multi-award winning “My Love Affair with Marriage” (Latvia, Luxembourg, USA, 2022) on 27 April at 8 pm at Cinema and “Rocks in my Pockets” (Latvia, 2014) on 28 April, 8:15 pm at the Open-Air. The Honorary Trickstar award will be presented personally to Signe Baumane at the Trickstar Professional Awards ceremony on 26 April.

Stuttgart welcomes the world of animation

More than 70 high-profile filmmakers from the competition programmes alone will attend the festival to present their films and answer questions in Film Talks. Directors will be present at the feature film premieres, such as Tahir Rana at the German premiere of “Charlotte” (Eric Warin, Tahir Rana, Canada 2022), director Kajsa Naess at the German premiere of “Titina” (Kajsa Næss, Norway 2022), and director Rasmus A. Sivertsen will be attending the German premiere of “Three Robbers and a Lion” (Rasmus A. Sivertsen, Norway 2021). Arnaud Demuynck will be present for the screening of “Yuku and the Himalayan Flower” (Arnaud Demuynck, Rémi Durin, Belgium, France 2022) in Stuttgart. For the supporting programmes and juries, the ITFS invites a further 100 animation artists to be on location and network with professionals and audiences.

A delegation of 18 dynamic, innovative creatives with different skills and backgrounds are also invited to actively participate in the festival’s Country Focus South Africa – supported by the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development.

Open Air at the Schlossplatz – A must go with free admission

Against the unique backdrop of Stuttgart’s city centre, the Festival Garden with its Open-Air Cinema gives the ITFS an incomparable atmosphere with lots of animation and a wide-ranging entertainment programme! All around, the Festival Garden offers a gastronomic range for small and large appetites. From Wednesday to Sunday (from noon to 10.30 p.m.), the large LED screen will be showing captivating animated short and feature-length films to amuse and amaze audiences. New this year are themed short film programmes for the whole family in the afternoon and for adults from 6:30 pm. As usual, current animation blockbusters and arthouse gems at 8:15 pm provide each festival day with a finale full of atmosphere. In cooperation with various partners and supporters of the festival, the ITFS offers an exciting daily programme of workshops and activities. Feature-length film highlights for the whole family (Wednesday to Saturday at 3 p.m.).

Audiences can look forward to three Disney blockbusters, including the animated science fiction adventure “Lightyear” (Angus MacLane, USA 2022), the heartwarming classic “Soul” (Pete Docter, USA, 2020) and the adventure film “Strange World” (Don Hall, Qui Nguyen, USA 2022).

In the evenings, the ITFS will show the following arthouse films on the LED wall: “Persepolis” (Vincent Paronnaud, Marjane Satrapi, France 2007), “Rocks in my Pockets” (Signe Baumane, USA, Latvia 2014) and “The Congress” (Ari Folman, Israel, France, Germany, Belgium, Poland, Luxembourg 2013).

Sunday morning is once again dedicated to a very special cooperation: ITFS will show the family opera “Räuber Hotzenplotz” on the big screen free of charge. Composer Sebastian Schwab has recomposed Otfried Preußler’s enchanting story as a singspiel for the ensemble of the Stuttgart State Opera, just in time for Preußler’s 100th birthday.

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The films in the main competition were remarkably crafted not only formally, but also thematically fresh, progressive and, at times, boldly experimental.

“This year we have been enchanted by the very personal stories of filmmakers who are not afraid to courageously talk about complex themes such as identity, love, friendships, or finding the meaning of life in the post-truth world, ” says Jakub Spevák, this year’s programme director and a member of the festival’s pre-selection committee, about this year’s selection.

Students, well-known names, but also Oscars

This year, the committee selected 33 films for the main competition, of which up to one-third are student films. These will compete for the Anča Award for the best student animated short film. “Each year is filled with strong student voices, and we are very pleased to see how young talents are gradually becoming professionals and established names in animation,” adds festival director Ivana Sujová.

This year’s strong student representation is also evident from the Korean film Persona, which won the main prize for Best Student Animated Short Film at the Annecy International Animation Film Festival and was also selected for the prestigious Cannes Film Festival. The absurd Polish film Headprickles by Katarzyna Miechowicz, who last year won a special mention at Fest Anča for her film Crumbs of Life, may also be of interest. One of the questions the film answers is how many plastic bags are needed to pack one banana.

Besides this author, at this year’s Fest Anča you will see other films by authors who have appeared at the festival in the past. Well-known names such as Peter Millard, Steven Woloshen, and Candy Guard, who was even on the jury of the 2019 festival, will present their films here. Nikita Diakur’s new film backflip is also in the main competition. Nikita won the main award of Fest Anča in 2019.

Not to forget the latest film by the talented Filip Diviak, who won a special mention at last year’s festival for Sounds Between the Crowns. The selection also includes the exceptional Oscar-nominated short film Ice Merchants by Portuguese filmmaker João Gonzalez, which delicately deals with the relationship between a father and son.

Strong and original testimonies of Slovak filmmakers

Slovak animation is an integral part of the international selection of Fest Anča every year. My Name is Edgar and I Have a Cow by the aforementioned Filip Diviak made it to the main competition and also to the Slovak competition. The selection also includes the film Mercy by the renowned director Ivana Laučíková, which depicts the theme of extremism, as well as the film Criss Cross, which is embroidered with a blunt needle.

Ema Nemčovičová, a member of the pre-selection committee, commented on this year’s Slovak selection, “The selection of Slovak films shows that animation is in good shape in our country, which is evidenced not only by the wide range of themes it deals with but also by the rich means of expression it utilises.”

Music Videos

The combination of animation and music is one of the highlights of the festival every year, and this year will be no different. The music video competition will offer a high level of audience appeal. Visitors of Fest Anča can look forward to music videos from faraway countries such as Argentina, Hong Kong or Costa Rica. However, the competition will also feature a video clip from neighbouring Ukraine, depicting the difficult war situation in Mariupol. The Belgian director Simon Breeveld was particularly creative, and the pre-selection committee even selected two music videos of his.

Films for children

Parents with children will also be delighted by the rich and varied selection of animated films. Fest Anča will bring films that the child viewer would otherwise not have the opportunity to see in the regular cinema distribution. One of such is a German film T-Rex by Julie Ocker’s about a dinosaur who can’t play basketball. Children can also look forward to this film because Julia is one of the names that have been presented at Fest Anča in the past.

From the children’s programme, don’t miss the exceptional film The Turnip, which depicts the tale of the enormous turnip from the opposite perspective in an interesting way. The Swiss film Pond, on the other hand, presents the unknown world of the inhabitants of an (extra)ordinary pond.

Additional programme

Regular visitors know that Fest Anča also includes several specialised sections, such as Anča in Mordor and Anička in Wonderland. This year, the festival will again feature the Short Animated Documentary section, as well as a section devoted to extremely short films or contemporary abstract and non-narrative animation.

Fest Anča is also exceptional in that it annually presents a selection of films, the vast majority of which have never premiered in Slovakia. “Viewers and visitors of Fest Anča can look forward to exclusive animated content that they will not find anywhere else,” concludes Jakub Spevák, the programme director.

The festival annually includes an international competition of animated short films and music videos, as well as thematic and special-focused film sections. Fest Anča offers four days of lectures, exhibitions, workshops, screenings for children and many other accompanying events.

Fest Anča International Animation Festival of 2023 was financially supported by the Audiovisual Fund. The festival was financially supported by the LITA Fund. The Student Forum Fest Anča has received a grant from Iceland, Liechtenstein, and Norway through the EEA and Norway Grants.

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Brighton International Animation Festival is set to take place at Latest Music Bar on Saturday 15^th and Sunday 16^th April.  Taking place for the second year running, the festival is a fantastic celebration of iconic animation and showcases the best in the next generation of filmmakers – UK and International. As well as an impressive programme, this year the festival will include an exciting AR exhibit and the One Bum Cinema Club will be making an appearance. All films are subtitled with BSL interpreters at all events, making it fully accessible for deaf & hard of hearing. 

2023 judge’s prestige panel includes Emmy and Oscar-nominated director Joanna Quinn, who will also be hosting her first UK retrospective at the festival for the first time in years. Barry Purves – whose work ranges from the stop motion 80s Wind in the Willows to feature films like Mars Attacks! And King Kong – will be giving a masterclass on the Sunday, and Hannah Lau Walker – a pioneer of women in the animation industry. 

You can book tickets online now for the jam-packed two-day programme, including:   

To Be Human – focusing on the human condition. Living with Alzheimer’s, child soldiers, body image and men’s knitting groups are just some of the topics explored in this collection of films from countries including Australia, Egypt through to UK. 

 The (un)Natural World – Science, the environment and creatures of the earth are the focus of this programme. Expect sea creatures, insect specialists and hot-blooded flowers in the programme from countries including Taiwan, Iran and Sri Lanka. 

 Wild Characters – Use of personification and exaggeration are some of the joys of designing and working with character within animation. Clocks, clowns, huge sausage dogs and Elton John all feature in this collection of films that all have a character-based focus.  

This festival is also one of firsts, featuring Queer As F**K: a special curated programme of Queer Animation not seen in other animation festivals, that explores an array of contemporary queer culture from terfs and gender identity to sex positivity. BIAF will also feature No Planet B – an Augmented Reality exhibition which will be on site to explore between the schedules.  

 Visit the Brighton International Animation Festival website for more information and keep updated by following @brightonanimation on Instagram. 

Schedule times, summaries and judge bios

 Sat 15^th April 2023 

• 11am New Generation 72’
• 1.30pm Joanna Quinn retrospective
• 4pm Puppet Stories 69’
• 6pm To be Human 77’
• 8pm Wild Characters 70’ 

Sun 16^th April 2023 

• 10am 360 life drawing workshop
• 12.30pm The (un)Natural World 76’
• 2.30pm Artists film 69’
• 4.30pm Barry Purves master class
• 6.30pm Queer as F**k 76’
• 8.30pm Long shorts/closing night awards  

New Generation 

Look out for the next generation of filmmakers in this showcase of the best cutting edge of talent from both UK and International. Anxiety, family relations and space travel are just some of the topics covered by this new generation of filmmakers, expect to see work from countries including Canada, Israel through to UK. 

Joanna Quinn Retrospective 

Joanna Quinn is one of the most iconic British Animation practitioners of recent times. She is renowned internationally for her drawing skills, wonderful characterisations and her humour. The politics of gender and oppression together with her obsessive fascination with exploring the eccentricities of the human body, in particular the female form, are the central themes of her work. Joanna’s films have won many awards including 4 BAFTA’s, 3 EMMY’s and 3 OSCAR® nominations. Come down and see a full screening of her works from the beloved Beryl films through to the cultural commentary of Britannia. She will undertake a Q+A after the screening so come with questions! 

Puppet Stories 

Puppet based stop frame animation was pioneered in the early twentieth century in the former eastern bloc countries including former Czechoslovakia and Yugoslavia. We can still see the influence of these pioneers today in this selection of narrative based figurative films from countries including Uruguay, Finland through to UK. Expect beautiful craft in both tactile and digital puppet making. 

To Be Human 

This programme focusses on the human condition. Living with Alzheimer’s, child soldiers, body image and mens knitting groups are just some of the topics explored in this collection of films from countries including Australia, Egypt through to UK. 

Wild Characters 

Use of personification and exaggeration are some of the joys of designing and working with character within animation. Clocks, clowns, huge sausage dogs and Elton John all feature in this collection of films that all have a character based focus. Expect music videos and both short films from Hungary, Germany, Croatia through to UK. 

360 Life Drawing Class 

Join Leo Crane from Figuration to draw the nude and create a 2D 360 turn around animation. You’ll be encouraged to consider movement in a series of sequential poses, before capturing a single pose from multiple viewpoints. At the end of the session, you will have the chance to animate your drawings with a simple smartphone app. 

The (un)Natural World 

Science, the environment and creatures of the earth are the focus of this programme. Expect sea creatures, insect specialists and hot blooded flowers in the programme from countries including Taiwan, Iran, Sri Lanka through to UK. 

Artists Film 

The joy of animation is its diversity of the medium both in form and ideation. This collection of films explore more experimental and non-linear approaches to animation including charcoal erasure animation, CG through to cut out from countries including USA, Belgium through to UK.  

Barry Purves masterclass 

Barry is a veteran of 45 years involvement with stop motion, working on popular TV series ranging from The Wind in the Willows and Twirlywoos, through to feature films Mars Attacks! and King Kong. He will give a presentation on his work and career including screening of new film No Ordinary Joe.  

Queer as F++K 

Special curated programme of Queer Animation that explores an array of contemporary queer culture from terfs and gender identity to sex positivity. 

 
Judge Biographies 

JOANNA QUINN 

Joanna discovered animation while studying Graphic Design at Middlesex University London in the late 1980’s. Her graduation film Girls Night Out, introduced audiences to the character of Beryl and kick-started Joanna’s animation career by winning 3 awards at Annecy. Joanna is renowned internationally for her drawing skills, wonderful characterisations and her humour. The politics of gender and oppression together with her obsessive fascination with exploring the eccentricities of the human body, in particular the female form, are the central themes of her work. Joanna’s films have won many awards including 4 BAFTA’s, 3 EMMY’s and 3 OSCAR® nominations. 

BARRY JC PURVES 

Barry is a veteran of 45 years involvement with stop motion, working on popular TV series ranging from The Wind in the Willows to, recently, Twirlywoos, and The Sound Collector, as well as his own unique and more adult, rich Oscar and Bafta nominated short films such as Next, Screen Play, Rigoletto, Achilles, Tchaikovsky. And No Ordinary Joe. Barry was involved with the feature films Mars Attacks! and King Kong. 

Away from animation Barry teaches at universities and festivals around the world, and directs, performs and designs for many theatre shows, varying from farces, to controversial dramas and grand opera. 

He has written several books on animation and has his own weekly Radio Show ‘Bedtime with Barry’ on Radio Alty. 

HANNAH LAU-WALKER 

Hannah Lau-Walker is an animator and director based in London. She graduated with a diploma in Character Animation from Central St. Martins in 2011. 

With over ten years of experience in commercial animation, Hannah has worked at indie studios based out of peoples living rooms, to big production houses in Soho. Animating everything from a laundrette morphing into a beautiful garden to a cow on skates. 

Hannah has led animation productions, directed her own animations, as well as taught animation skills and mentored up and coming animators. 

In 2019, she founded ‘She Drew That’ an animation community focused on the promotion, support, and development of women in the UK animation Industry. Through this community, she has established various mentor schemes, a director’s residency, a podcast, and various other programmes to promote and develop the skills of women to reach senior roles within the industry. 

The post Brighton International Animation Festival 2023 Announce Events and Jury appeared first on Skwigly Animation Magazine.

This will be the second edition of the awards, the first was held in 2022 online and saw Mad God director Phil Tippett awarded with Best Feature Film Animation as well as the Harryhausen Hall of Fame Award for his long career in VFX, feature films and animation. Short went to Only a Child by Simone Giampaolo, Commercial went to Save Ralph by Arch Model Studio, Television went to Scream Street by Factory, Student went to Absolution, Parsin by Jack Nop and Children’s Film went to Battle of Gastropoda by Kristian Harding.

This year also sees an incredible new Awards logo by designer Lars Seiffert. The competition is now accepting submissions under the following categories before the deadline of April 30th 2023:

• Best Feature Film Animation
• Best Short Film Animation
• Best Student Film Animation
• Best Children’s Film Animation
• Harryhausen Hall of Fame Award

More information can be found at www.harryhausenawards.com or you can submit your work on Filmfreeway

The awards will be held at the Cameo Cinema, Edinburgh on June 29th, 2023, followed by a 60th anniversary screening of Ray’s classic film Jason and the Argonauts.

The post Ray Harryhausen Awards 2023 – New Logo and Call for Entries Launched appeared first on Skwigly Animation Magazine.

The festival wishes to thank our industry partners Screen Ireland and the support from Enterprise Ireland in achieving this festival. We are most grateful for the support from: Coimisiún na Meán, The IDA, Cultural & Creative Industries Skillnet and The French Embassy of Ireland.

Across the Festival programme, in the fishing village of Dingle in West Kerry, there was participation from broadcasters and streamers from Ireland, UK, USA, Germany, France, South Africa, Canada and included: Apple TV+, BBC, Disney, Gaumont, Lego, Milkshake!, Paramount, WDR, RTÉjr, Sony Kids, and Spin Master Entertainment.

“Enterprise Ireland is delighted to support the 11th annual Animation Dingle Conference and Festival bringing together Irish animation’s creativity, storytelling and innovation in an awe-inspiring Kerry location. The event showcases Ireland’s international standing as a centre of excellence for animation and celebrates the work of an increasing contingent of award-winning Irish animators.

An important aspect of the event is the way it connects young Irish talent and creativity. It provides new entrants, graduates and third-level students with access to international decision-makers who they can look to for advice, direction and valuable insights.

Enterprise Ireland is delighted to support the Irish Digital Entertainment sector ranging from start-up stage right through to leadership development, innovation supports and facilitating key in-market events with international buyers”. Eileen Bell, Senior Business Development Advisor at Enterprise Ireland.

We began our call to the animation world early last year and it was wonderful to present here in Dingle to over 700 registered animators, the results of our selection process. 119 short animated films from 26 countries were exhibited here on the Dingle Peninsula on the west coast of Ireland. The winning films were announced at The RTÉjr Animation Dingle Awards on Friday night in The Dingle Skellig Hotel in County Kerry, Ireland.

Without further ado, here’s a complete list of winners:

Best Irish Student sponsored by RTÉjr: The Small Makings of a Storm by Avery Angle, IADT

The Small Makings of a Storm went on to win an incredible 4 awards on the night!

The film also won the Best 2D Award sponsored by Toon Boom; the Best Art Direction/Design Award sponsored by Jam Media and the Best Music/Sound Design Award sponsored by Egg Post Productions.

Judges were so impressed with this beautiful animation and had this to say about the film.

“Majestic and epic wonderful colour palette – Perfectly complete film. Could watch all day ” Suzanne Kelly RTÉjr

“The style of music employed in the animation was aptly suited to the enchanting world depicted. Through the interplay of music and sound design, a captivating and immersive environment was created, characterised by a rich texture that effectively complemented the visuals. Overall, the soundscape served to fill the auditory space, resulting in a seamless fusion of sound and image”. Mark Gordon, Score Music Draw.

“Beautiful design, confident bold art direction, powerful atmospheric piece” Mark Cumberton, Jam Media

“Gorgeous. The style is a bit like Hokusai meets the Lion King.” Eimear O’Mahony RTÉjr

There were Honourable Mentions for His Dancing Shoes in Best Music/Sound Design, Small Hours in Best 2D and in Best Art Direction/Design.

Best International Student sponsored by CBBC: Friendly Fire by Tom Koryto Blumen of Bazalel Academy of Art and Design

Sarah Muller of the BBC said Friendly Fire was “Unique and exceptional”

There was also a special mention in this category given to the incredible Close your Eyes by Manon Bérardengo, Audrey Defonte, Léo Depoix, Denis Koessler, Clémentine Laurent, Pierre Guislain, Chloé Boursier from Pôle 3D, France.

Taking home 2 awards was the impressive stop motion film His Dancing Shoes by Domhnall Cotter from IADT

Best Animation Award sponsored by MILKSHAKE! Best Writer Award sponsored by Animation Ireland and National Talent Academy for Animation.

“Beautifully emotive and a sensitive exploration of the grieving process. So much story has been successfully conveyed using minimal body movement but with detailed focus on the stories our eyes tell. Stunning”. Kyle Jenkins, Milkshake

“A beautiful and captivating story, as well as heartbreaking. Nicely transitions between the present and the past. A lovely well told story of a lost love.” Deirdre Barry, NTAA

Best Stop Motion Award sponsored by Aardman Animations went to Stay by Yu Sun, London College of Communications.

“Loved the powerful emotions at play here, where the narrative and themes were held together perfectly by the technical approach. Wonderful.” Mark Simon Hewis, Aardman Academy

The Best 3D/CGI Award went to Synchrony, directed by Julia Le Bras-Juarez, Emmie Marriere,     Marianne Fourmanoit, Laura Techer, Louise-Marie Rousselie, Jean Delamarre, Alexis Prost from Supinfocom Rubika

The award is sponsored by Boulder Media and Paul O’ Flanangan had this to say about the film

“Intriguing story. Lovely character animation and acting. Great design and render. Beautifully storyboarded.”

Special mention was given for The Most Boring Granny in The World by Damaris Zielke

The Best Director Award sponsored by Triggerfish went to Small Hours by Marta Sniezek & Christian Spurling from IATD

“Beautiful, sensitive animation.“ Stuart Forrest, Triggerfish

Best Irish Professional Short sponsored by the IDA: Colour! by Britt Bailey

“The concept of the film may seem simple, but it is so relevant and actual. The sharpness of the treatment highlights situations and emotions lived and experienced by the minorities. As part of minority people in a western country, I can only be highly concerned by the topic and deeply touched by the message. The graphism is sober but leaves room for poetry and emotions.

Messages are true and sincere. One of them resonates deeply inside me: Never reject what we are and where we are from.” Denis Do (Funan)

AND the recipient of Animation Dingle’s Best Irish Professional Short Award is also eligible for consideration in the Animation Short Film category of the Academy Awards®

An Honourable Mention went to Regular Rabbit By Eoin Duffy

We are honoured to mention that Animation Dingle is now a qualifying Student Academy Awards® festival. This means that Student Films selected into our competition and nominated for an award are eligible for consideration to be nominated in the Student Academy Awards®

Best International Professional Short sponsored by Nickelodeon: Ninety-Five Senses by Jerusha Hess & Jared Hess, USA

“This is a wonderful film and the different animation styles take you on a visual journey that is a treat to watch. It is a smart monologue taking you through the senses of seeing, smelling, hearing, taste and touch and how these are woven into a reflective telling of a life before death – it’s a really clever structure and juxtaposition. The story covers so much – comment on the future and screen use, the smell memories evoke, remembering childhood memories, the remorse of causing a death, the materials you feel around you that you don’t necessarily notice, reflection on your life, the wishes you once had, regret and redemption, all create an emotive and thought provoking film that ends with his death. It’s a lovely story and has lightness, sadness, comedy and tragedy in equal measure. It’s lovely to see the journey translated into so many different styles all coming together to make sense as one united film with a great pace.  An excellent film and narrative!” Louise Bucknole, Paramount

Honourable Mention The Smile By Erik Van Schaaik

The Big Pitcher Winner, Fay Antar with her project On Eir. Fay wins a 6 month paid internship with Jam Media and will get to pitch at Cartoon Springboard later this year.

Best Sting sponsored by Monster Entertainment went to Frankenphiast by Matthew Jackson University of Dundee

Honourable mentions for The D.M.C.A Lab by Jack Finnerty MTU and Midnight Fusion by Rían O Loughlin TUS Athlone.

Winner of the inaugural Best Game Sting was VR Trouble by Oísin O Connell, BCFE. This was the first year of the award, presented at Animation Dingle Studio Fair, the game was selected the winner by Nancy Xu Virtual Production Producer, Epic Games, Unreal Engine. “All of the games are excellent, fun to play and addictive. VR Trouble is very complex, visually high quality, and the painting experience was excellent.”

Young Animator of the Year(YAOTY) sponsored by the Disney Channel, the award went to Earth Nua – A New Utopian Age by Eoghan Micheál Bonner from Gairmscoil MhIc Diarmada.

“Excellent design throughout, and some really excellent classic-style 2D animation.  Graphic and cartoony.  And stylish!”  Orion Ross from Disney

And finally:

Murakami Award 2023 sponsored by Brown Bag Films was presented to Steve Woods.

Irish Animator Steve Woods was honoured with the festival’s greatest accolade, The Murakami Award, sponsored and presented by Cathal Caffney, Managing Director BBF, COO 9 Story Group. The award is in the name of the late Jimmy T. Murakami and Jimmy’s wife, Ethna Muramkai was also present. On the night Tom Moore, Richie Baneham, Alan Shannon and Darragh O’ Connell paid tribute to Steve who gave an emotional and heartfelt acceptance speech.

Animation Dingle is delighted to announce these winners and to announce also that animation is alive and kicking in Ireland with a robust sector awaiting all these creative upcoming animators – the future is bright.

The post Winners Announced at this years RTÉjr Animation Dingle Awards appeared first on Skwigly Animation Magazine.

AniMovie is the name of the international feature-length film competition of the 30th Stuttgart International Festival of Animated Film (ITFS), which takes place from 25 to 30 April 2023. The films selected this year have a chance to win the coveted Trickstar award. Many directors have announced their attendance at the premieres and screenings.

With their power to tell unique stories in artful images with a distinctive signature style, animated films often create a more intense cinematic experience than many a live-action film. With characters that the viewer can identify with, unfazed by their colours, shapes and language, a projection screen is created. This year’s films in the ITFS programme take us into the past of historical figures such as the artist Charlotte Salomon or Friedrich Hölderlin, we accompany strong women through times of war in Angola or Syria or travel to the North Pole with a small Italian dog. The AniMovie competition includes films for children and adults. In addition, the ITFS shows extraordinary feature-length films in the supporting programme (AniMovie Special) – among them a world premiere.

AniMovie – Feature-lenght Films in Competition

German premiere: „Charlotte“
Directors: Eric Warin, Tahir Rana // Canada 2022 // 92 min. Friday, April 28, 6:30 pm, Gloria 1

The true story of Charlotte Salomon, a young German-Jewish artist who comes of age on the eve of the Second World War and defies incredible odds to create a timeless masterpiece.

In the original English version with the voices of Keira Knightley, Brenda Blethyn and Jim Broadbent, among others. Salomon’s autobiographical life’s work, a collection of drawings, texts and scenic notes, is currently on display at the Lenbachhaus Munich. Tahir Rana will be present in Stuttgart.

German premiere: „Titina“
Director: Kajsa Naess // Norway 2022 // 90 min. Wednesday, April 26, 6:30 pm, Gloria 1

Italian airship engineer Umberto Nobile enjoys a quiet life with his beloved dog Titina, who charmed him into rescuing her from the streets of Rome. One day, Norwegian explorer superstar Roald Amundsen contacts him and orders an airship to conquer the North Pole. Nobile seizes the opportunity to go down in history. He brings Titina along, and the unlikely trio sets out on an expedition to the last undiscovered place on Earth. Their quest is successful but, in the aftermath, the two men start to quarrel over the glory.

Director Kajsa Naess will be present for the German premiere in Stuttgart. The film is based on the true adventures of the dog Titina, who won the hearts of Europeans in the 1920s. Naess presented the film in the Work in Progress series at ITFS 2022.

„Nayola“
Director: José Miguel Ribeiro // Portugal, Belgium, France, Netherlands 2022 // 83 min. // Thursday, April 27, 6:30 pm, Gloria 1

Angola. Three generations of women in a 25-year-long civil war: Lelena (the grandmother), Nayola (the daughter) and Yara (the granddaughter). Past and present interlace. Nayola goes in search of her missing husband at the height of the war. Decades later, the country is finally at peace but Nayola has not returned. Yara has become a rebellious teenager and a subversive rap singer. Lelena tries to contain her for fear of the police coming to arrest her. One night, a masked intruder breaks into their house. An encounter like nothing they could have imagined.

With “Nayola”, José Miguel Ribeiro realised the first Portuguese animated feature film ever, which won the prize for best animated feature film at the Guadalajara International Film Festival and the audience award at the São Paulo International Film Festival 2022.

AniMovie Kids – Feature-lenght Films in Competition for Kids

German premiere: “Three Robbers and a Lion” (Folk og røvere i Kardemomme by)
Director: Rasmus A. Sivertsen // Norway 2021 // 79 min. Thursday, April 27, 4:00 pm, Gloria 1

Chaos rules the everyday life of the three troublemakers Casper, Jasper and Jonathan – also in their household. As they co-live with a lion, they are in desperate need for a housekeeper and come up with a plan to kidnap Aunt Sophie who is famous to be a domestic goddess. However, her management skills are even better than her housekeeping: She bosses the robbers around and has them do the job. Little by little, the three realize they are in a trap. The only solution is to get rid of Sophie by bringing her back to town.

Director Rasmus A. Sivertsen will be present for the German premiere in Stuttgart. The film is based on one of the best-known Norwegian children’s books and impresses above all with its innovative fusion of miniature buildings with CGI-animated characters.

“Dounia & the Princess of Aleppo” (Dounia & la Princesse d’Alep) Directors: Marya Zarif und André Kadi // Canada, France 2022 // 72 min. Friday, April 28, 2:00 pm, Gloria 1
Recommended for ages 8 and older, live German narration.

A few nigella seeds tucked in the palm of her hand, 6-year-old Dounia leaves Aleppo with the Princess of Aleppo’s help and travels towards a new world.

In her debut film, director Marya Zarif tells her own story of escape from Aleppo in a fabulously impressive way.

“Yuku and the Himalayan Flower” (Yuku et la fleur de l’Himalaya) Directors: Arnaud Demuynck, Rémi Durin // Belgium, France 2022 // 65 min. // Saturday, April 29, 2:00 pm, Gloria 1
Recommended for ages 4 and older, German version

On top of the highest mountains on earth grows a plant that feeds on the most perfect sunlight – the Himalayan flower. Yuku, a young mouse, leaves

her family to search for this flower of eternal light and give it to her grandmother, who will soon have to follow the little blind mole through the twists and turns of the earth. But to succeed, there is a long journey ahead, full of obstacles. Arnaud Demuynck will be present.

AniMovie Special – Feature-length Films in the Supporting Programme

ITFMX Screening: „Guillermo del Toro’s Pinocchio”
Director: Guillermo del Toro // USA 2022 // 116 min. Thursday, April 27, 8:30 pm, Gloria 2

In a joint screening, ITFS and FMX – Film and Media Exchange will show a darker version of the story about the famous wooden boy by Hollywood filmmaker del Toro. Present at the screening will be Georgina Haynes, Head of Character Creation on “Pinocchio”. The film won the OSCAR 2023 in the category “Best Animated Feature”.

World Premiere: „Hölderlins Echo“
Directors: Hannes Rall, Susanne Marschall // Germany 2023 // 90 min. Saturday, April 29, 6:30 pm, Gloria 1

One famous poet, hundreds of famous composers: the work of Friedrich Hölderlin was set to music about 1800 times in the 20th century. In the history of modern music, Hölderlins poetry has been transformed into avant-garde Liedkunst, which is interpreted globally, but especially in Asia. “Hölderlins Echo” resonates with many voices in the film’s elaborately designed animations, which were created by an international team. Four poetic animated scenes show episodes from Hölderlin’s life and constantly reinterpret the figure of the restless, loving, ever-breaking, multi-faceted poet through the individual styles of the animation artists. Susanne Marschall (director live-action film) and Hannes Rall (director Animation) will be present at the world premiere.

„Teheran Tabu“
Director: Ali Soozandeh // Germany, Austria 2017 // 96 min. Thursday, 27. April, 6:30 pm, Delphi

Pari, Babak, Sara and Donya live in the Iranian capital Tehran. In order to earn a living for herself and her five-year-old son Pari works as a prostitute and sells her body to an influential judge, who supposedly helps her lead a better life. life. Her neighbour Sara, who ekes out an obedient existence as a housewife under her husband and his devout parents, also dreams of a better life, but would much rather go back to work. Young Donya faces a similar fate. In a few days she will get married. Nevertheless, she agrees to spend the night with the young musician Babak and afterwards demands that he pays for an operation to restore her virginity.

The ITFS will also show a film about the Islamic Revolution in Iran at the free open-air cinema on Schlossplatz: “Persepolis” (directed by Vincent Paronnaud, Marjane Satrapi, France 2007), at 8:15 pm on Wednesday, 26 April.

„My Love Affair with Marriage”
Director: Signe Baumane // Latvia, Luxembourg, USA 2022 // 108 min. // Thursday, April 27, 8:00 pm, Cinema

From an early age, songs and fairytales convinced Zelma that Love would solve all her problems as long as she abided by societal expectations of how a girl should act. But as she grew older something didn’t seem right with the concept of love: the more she tried to conform, the more her body resisted. A story about the acceptance of the inner female rebellion.

Signe Baumane will be present for the screening. The Open Air programme will also feature her feature-length film “Rocks in My Pockets”.

To register for press accreditation, please go to: https://www.ITFS.de/en/press-pr/accreditation/

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Merlin Flügel on the idea for “Out of Bounds”:

The marble run is subject to certain rules and follows a certain track. But the real fun begins when unforeseen things happen. When balls derail and the track develops a life of its own. To me, this tension between chaos and order is what makes a festival tick, and I wanted to pick up on this feeling in my trailer. Animated short film in particular is so versatile that as a viewer of a short film programme you have to engage with so many different ideas within such a short space of time. This is often an emotional rollercoaster ride. It can be overwhelming, sometimes thrilling, sometimes you are overcome by chaos. As for me, that’s what makes short film so transformative and exciting as an art form.

Merlin Flügel lives in Berlin and works as a freelance director and animation artist. His short films have a handmade character and have already won many awards – including at the Festival d’Animation Annecy. His short film “Rules of Play” was screened in the International Competition at ITFS 2019. He is part of the animation collective GOGO TANDA together with Jonatan Schwenk and Marc Rühl.

Michael Fakesch is responsible for the electronic music of the trailer. The music producer, sound designer, DJ, lecturer and film music composer was one of the founders and members of the electro duo Funkstörung and has already worked for Björk, Wu-Tang Clan, Jean-Michel Jarre, Notwist and Nicolas Winding Refn. Fakesch has also created the music for the ITFS trailers several times in past festival years.

Accreditations and festival passes are now available at itfs.de

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