Animation ‘Ties’ Takes Top Prize at Oscar-Qualifying Interfilm Berlin

Boasting a record attendance of 23,000 visitors — including over 1,000 intrigued attendees of the “30 Years Peaceful Revolution – Fall of the Wall” program and more than 9,000 kids and youths packing screenings for the concurrent KUKI young audiences festival — the 35th International Short Film Festival of Berlin (Interfilm) wrapped up this weekend, announcing 18 film prize winners.

The festival awarded 40,000 euro worth of prizes this year. Notably, this year’s Best Film distinction (a 6,000 euro prize endowed by Medienboard) was awarded to poetic animated short, Ties by Dina Velikovskaya (Germany/Russia). The line-drawing animation centers on a young woman who leaves home to forge a life of her own as an adult — but remains literally connected to her family, creating consequences for everyone in her path.

TIES trailer from Dina Velikovskaya on Vimeo.

Two other Interfilm prize winners have earned Academy Award qualifying status: Best Live-Action Film winner From Matti with Love by Jarno Lindemark (Finland), and Best Animation (3,000 euro prize endowed by SAE Institute) winner KIDS by Michael Frei (Switzerland), an animated interactive project created with game designer and artist Mario von Rickenbach which hones social misconduct to a fine point in a highly original way.

KIDS Trailer from Michael Frei on Vimeo.

Full list of award winners available online.

In addition to more than 60 screening programs, the 2019 Interfilm also boasted special events, workshops and parties where it was possible to mingle with the 500-plus accredited guests from across Germany and the international film community.

Learn more at www.interfilm.de.