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press release
Stuttgart, May 8, 2017 – The 24th International Festival of Animated Film (ITFS) ended on 7th May with a festive award ceremony. The program motto „Animation Without Borders“ has confirmed itself: this year’s program with connections of animated films, games, music, as well as virtual and augmented reality, inspired the audience and industry. The motto also made it clear that animation across borders can tell stories that reach and touch people.
„About 90,000 visitors were present in the cinemas, the open air on the Schlossplatz, the GameZone in the Kunstgebäude and the numerous other venues of the ITFS“, summarizes Dittmar Lumpp, ITFS Managing Director Organisation and Finance. This is an increase of 13% vompared to the previous year. „Especially on Fridays and Saturdays, the Open Air was very well attended. The many other guest venues such as the Mercedes Benz Museum, the Breuninger „Wall of Animation 2“, the Wilhelma or the Trickfilmlounge in the Gerber, were well attended and this shows that the ITFS also shows a radiation effect beyond the cinemas.
The GameZone as a symbol of this connection took place for the first time in the Kunstgebäude on 2,000 sqm. „The GameZone in the Kunstgebäude is a milestone. We want to set the example for the fact that the games area belongs to today’s art and culture scene. In conjunction with high-quality animations and future-oriented projects, it is a laboratory of the future. And best of all, everyone is welcome „, says Prof. Ulrich Wegenast, Managing Directore Programme of ITFS. And thus closes the arch to the popular open air. But the quality of the ITFS is also evident in the film program. „Sold out cinemas show us that the audience knows that there is a high-quality film programme to see. Trust in us has developed and consolidated over many years, „explains Dittmar Lumpp.
But also on the part of business and politics, it becomes clear what significance and synergies the different event formats ITFS and Animation Production Day (APD), FMX and spotlight have for national and international perception for the economic center of Stuttgart and the state of Baden-Württemberg. Through the introduction of the Animation Germany initiative, which is committed to the international competitiveness of the German animation industry and the first award of the Trickstar Business Award, this becomes clear. It is the world’s first prize with an economic focus on innovative business models or projects.
For the first time the Animated Games Award was awarded, which won the best and most innovative computer game from Germany. The honorary trickster went to the Italian animation artist and creator of the famous figure „Signor Rossi“: Bruno Bozzetto. A detailed press release will follow on May 8th.
The next International Festival of Animated Film in Stuttgart will take place from April 24 to 29, 2018
Prize winner of the 24th International Trickfilm Festival Stuttgart 2017
International competition
Grand Prix
15,000 euros funded by the state of Baden-Württemberg and the city of Stuttgart
Figury niemozliwe i inne historie II (Impossible Figures and Other Stories II)
Poland 2016, 14:40 min.
Director: Marta Pajek
Producers: Piotr Szczepanowicz, Grzegorz Waclawek
Production: Polish Film Institute
The jury’s statement: For extraodinary design and cinematic construction and for excellence in animation and powerful concept, the jury awards the Grand Award for Animated Film to Impossible Figures and other Stories II by Marta Pajek from Poland.
Special Mention:
L’Horizon de Bene (Bene’s Horizon)
France 2016, 12:53 min.
Director: Eloic Gimenez, Jumi Yoon
Producer / Producer: Fabrice Dugast
Production: 3xPlus
Lotte Reiniger Award for animation film
10,000 Euro funded by the MFG Film Promotion Baden-Württemberg
Untamed
Denmark 2015
Director: Juliette Viger
Produced by: Michelle Nardone
Production: The Animation Workshop
The jury’s statement: The Lotte Reiniger Promotion Award to Untamed by Juliette Viger. For its atmospheric, complex portrayal of a daughter dealing with the threat of violence, and a musician father dealing with his own depression.
Special Mention:
AYNY (My Second Eye)
Germany, Jordan, Palestine 2016
Director: Ahmad Saleh
Producer: Stefan Gieren
SWR Audience Award
6,000 euros
Our Wonderful Nature – The Common Chameleon
Germany 2016
Director: Tomer Eshed
Production: Lumatic
Amazon Audience Award
5,000 euros
Asteria
France 2016
Director: Alexandre Arpentinier, Mathieu Blanchys, Lola Grand, Tristan Lamarca, Thomas Lemaille, Jean-Charles Lusseau
School: ESMA
Production: École Supérieure des Métiers Artistiques (ESMA)
Young Animation – Award for the best student film
2,500 euros funded by the Landesanstalt für Kommunikation Baden-Württemberg (LfK) and MFG Film Funding Baden-Württemberg
happy end
The Czech Republic 2015
Director: Jan Saska
Producers: Kamila Dohnalová, Ondřej Šejnoha
School: FAMU
The Jury’s statement: The film „Happy End“, the winner of the Young Animation Award, by Jan Saska brought us a joyful vision of a rather sad situation. By its unique graphic style, its black humor, its perfect timing, its clear and well-structured storytelling, it appears to us that in the end we were very happy to distinguish it!
Special Mention
Kastaars
Belgium 2016
Director: Jasmine Elsen
Producer: Lai Kin Chang
School: RITCS
The FANtastic Prize
1,000 euros, funded by the Animation Family, the most loyal fans of ITFS
Tough
Great Britain 2016
Director: Jennifer Zheng
School: Kingston University
The jury’s statement: The film we chose pushes the boundaries between generations and nations in straightforward lines. The cultural identity of a family changes constantly to shape the individual concept of home. We congratulate our laureate to become a member of our Animation family tonight.
Tricks for Kids – Award for the best short film for children
4,000 Euro funded to Studio 100 Media GmbH
Når jeg hører fuglene synge (When I Hear the Birds Sing)
Norway 2016
Director: Trine Vallevik Håbjørg
Production: Råsalt AS
The statement of the children’s jury: We chose the film because
„… because the film explains a current topic and makes one think about how hard such a war is for children.“ (Nika)
„… because one should learn how people really go in the war.“ (Tammik)
„Because the film is beautifully drawn.“ (Yvette)
„… because it is a real and stirring film.“ (Carlotta)
„… because it is important that children understand what war means.“ (Charlotte)
„…. Because he communicates an acute topic in a comprehensible and easy way. „(Grik)
„… because you can show with this film how strong people have to be when they escape from their home.“ (Annika)
„… because alone thinking about this topic can inspire people to help and change something in the world.“ (Arne)
Special Mention
Swiff
France 2016
Director: Alexis Agliata, Théo Bonora, Arnaud Bellour, Thibaud Gambier, Juliana Berckmans, Romain Lavoine
Production: ESMA
Tricks for Kids – Award for the best animation series for children nationally (sponsored by MIP Junior 2017)
National,
„Trude Beast – The Beauty and the Beast“
Germany 2016, 6:00 min.
Director: Klaus Morschheuser
Production: Studio Soi GmbH & Co KG
Internationally
„We Bare Bears: Burrito“
USA 2016, 11:37 min.
Director Daniel Chong, Manny Hernandez
Production: Cartoon Network
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pzVaDEtDhJ4
AniMovie – Award for the best animation long film
Window Horses
Canada 2016
Director: Ann Marie Fleming
Producers: Ann Marie Fleming, Shirley Vecruysse, Michael Fukushima, Sandra Oh
Production: Stick Girl Productions, National Film Board of Canada
The Jury’s statement: This movie is not only a brave production with a brave subject, it’s an open window on emotion, identity , different cultures and poetry crossing any border. Thank you Ann Marie, you have touched our hearts.
Special Mention:
Kono Sekai no Katasumi ni (In this corner of the world)
Japan 2016
Director: Sunao Katabuchi
Producers: Masao Maruyama, Taro Maki
Production: Genco INC.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fS2tLARCLQU
We would also like to highlight the film Kono Sekai No Katasumi Ni (In This Corner of the World) for its beautiful style and history.
Trickstar Business Award
7,500 € endowed, sponsored by the Stuttgart region
Project „The Shadows“
Company: Break Thru Films, Hugh Welshman & Dorota Kobiela, Poland
Jury: At „The Shadows“, Dorota Kobiela and Hugh Welchman implement a very unusual but obvious business model and reach completely new, art-interested target groups for the animation project. The key reason for the award to the production company Break Thru Films is, however, that the concept can be derived from a generally valid, economically successful model for artistic-painterly animation film, the cinema evaluation, digital social media campaigns with the aura of a Original painting. “
German Screenplay Award
2,500 euros funded by Telepool GmbH
The Journey of the Elephant Soliman
Author: Juliette Alfonis, Matthias Drescher
German Voice Actor Award
Alexandra Maria Lara for the role of Rosita in the film „Sing“.
Animated Games Award Germany
5,000 euros funded by the MFG Baden-Württemberg
On Rusty Trails
Developer: Tobias Bilgeri
Publisher: Blackpants Game Studio
Animated Com Award International:
Funded by Animation Media Cluster Region Stuttgart
Gold: Johnny Walker with „Keep Walking“ (Kristian Andrews, Studio AKA, GB 2016).
Learn more about the film on the website from Studio AKA!
Have a look to the film here:
https://vimeo.com/113934930
Silver: YP Dine: „Living Room“ (Rob Shaw, Bent Image Lab, USA 2016).
Bronze: Aldi with „The Amazing Christmas Carrot“ (Kylie Matulick, Todd Mueller, Psyop, USA 2016).
Special mention:
SEED Matters by Buck
„Lapp Connected Award“
Funded by U.I. Lapp GmbH
„Shine“
Alexander Dietrich and Johannes Flick (Filmakademie Baden-Württemberg)
Crazy Horse Session – 48H Animation Jam
In cooperation with M.A.R.K. 13, supported by the Landesanstalt für Kommunikation (LFK)
Team Egypt: Islam Mazhar & Ahmad Abdelhameed
Special Mention: Team Germany: Stella Raith and Beate Höller.
Arab Animation Forum
Winner in Pitching competition in cooperation with Roboert Bosch Stiftung
Testimonial of My Grandmother’s Transformation into a Chair
Nicolas Fattough, Libanon
The Jury would first like to congratulate all of the participants in this forum. As you can imagine, the decision was not an easy one. Nicolas’ story of a life fading out and the transformative nature of memory and its effects on the people involded was particularly compelling.