’27,’ ‘Sirocco’ Win Top Prizes at Successful 31st Stuttgart Animation Fest

The 31st Stuttgart International Festival of Animated Film (ITFS) wrapped up another successful edition Sunday evening with the awards ceremony. For six days, the festival welcomed filmmakers, industry visitors and animation fans from around the world to venues around Stuttgart, presenting its habitual range of animated and immersive projects to packed audiences, as well innovations such as the new Festival Centre.

The new festival management duo Annegret Richter and Heike Mozer had proclaimed a festival of short distances, which was well received by visitors: Stuttgart’s city center was transformed into a creative meeting place for the international animation scene from April 23 to 28, with the festival cinemas, the free open-air events, the GameZone and the Festival Centre within walking distance.

Over 500 industry guests attended ITFS 2024 (an increase of 25% compared to previous years), 40% of whom travelled from abroad. The Festival Centre was the central meeting point for these pros, attracting over 250 visitors each day. “We wanted to create space for encounters at the festival, and we are delighted that our ideas met with such a positive response,” said Heike Mozer, Managing Director of Film- und Medienfestival gGmbH.

Cinema attendance also increased significantly. The screenings of the International Competition in particular were filled to capacity. Other film programs, like the world premiere of the series Fritzi und Sophie – Grenzenlose Freundschaft, also saw excellent attendance. “The festival had a very special atmosphere. Even the late-night film programs were fully booked, and new offerings like a live-drawing challenge were a huge hit. We couldn’t be happier,” said Annegret Richter, Artistic Director of Film- und Medienfestival gGmbH.

A total of 138 short and feature-length films were screened in five competitions and discussed by the international juries. Cinema audiences could also vote and award prizes. The winning films were announced Gloria Cinema on Sunday night, as well as the winner of the Animated Games Award Germany. The winning films of the Children’s Competition, Tricks for Kids, were announced on Sunday afternoon on the open-air stage and then screened for free on the big screen. The German Animation Screenplay Awards, the Trickstar Business Award and the ASIFA Prize had already been presented on Thursday, April 25 as part of the AniX Awards.

Sunday’s awards ceremony marked the end of Stuttgart’s inaugural Animation Week, jointly celebrated with ITFS’s partner events FMX – Film & Media Exchange (April 23-26) and Animation Production Days (April 23-25).

 

ITFS Award Winners

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

It’s Just a Whole
Bianca Scali (Germany)

Special Mention: Oliver the Giant (Oliver, az óriás)
Júlia Lantos (Hungary)

 

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 euro, sponsored by Verband Region Stuttgart

On the 8th Day (Au 8ème Jour)
Agathe Sénéchal, Alicia Massez, Elise Debruyne, Flavie Carin, Théo Duhautois (France)

Special Mention: About a Cow (O krávě)
Pavla Baštanová (Czechia/Switzerland)

 

ANIMATED GAMES AWARD GERMANY
Award for the best animation based German computer game with a cash prize of 5,000 euro, sponsored by MFG Creative Baden-Württemberg

Closer the Distance
Studio: Osmotic Studios GmbH
Publisher: Skybound Games
Genre: Narrative Life-Simulation

 

ANIMOVIE
Award for the best animated feature film

Sirocco and the Kingdom of the Winds (Sirocco et le Royaume des Courants d’Air)
Benoît Chieux (France/Belgium)

Special Mention: Lonely Castle in the Mirror (Kagami no kojō)
Keiichi Hara (Japan)

 

INTERNATIONAL COMPETITION

Lotte Reiniger Promotion Award for Animated Film: Award for the best graduation film with a cash prize of 10,000 euro, sponsored by MFG Film Funding Baden-Württemberg

Dodo
Yi Luo (Germany)

Special Mention: Recordari
Carolina Cruz (Germany)

 

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

Mee and Burd
Greg Mcleod (United Kingdom)

 

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

27
Flóra Anna Buda (France/Hungary)

Special Mention: Mariupol. A Hundred Nights
Sofiia Melnyk (Ukraine)

 

TRICKS FOR KIDS
Award for the best children’s animated film with a cash prize of 4,000 euro, sponsored by Studio 100 Media

#doudouchallenge
Alexandra Delaunay-Fernandez, Julie Majcher, Marine Benabdallah-Crolais, Noémie Segalowicz, Scott Pardaillhe-Galabrun, Sixtine Emerat (France)

Special Mention: The Story of Bodri (Historien Om Bodri)
Stina Wirsén (Sweden)

 

Tricks for Kids Audience Award: Award for the audience’s favorite of the ITFS Children’s Film Festival with a cash prize of 1,500 euro, sponsored by L-Bank

The Mystery of Missing Socks (Kadunud Sokid)
Oscar Lehemaa (Estonia)

 

ASIFA PRIZE
Since 1985 ASIFA has awarded a prize for the outstanding achievements in the art of animation. The ASIFA Prize is awarded annually to individual(s) or organization(s) which have made a significant and innovative contribution towards the promotion and preservation of the art of animation.

This year the internationally recognized prize is awarded to the Czech filmmaker Michaela Pavlátová.

 

GERMAN ANIMATION SCREENPLAY AWARD
Award for the best German screenplay for an animated feature film with a cash prize of 2,500 euro, sponsored by Animation Media Cluster Region Stuttgart (AMCRS)

Das NEINhorn
Writers: Marc-Uwe Kling, Marcus Sauermann
Producer: Nicole Kellerhals
Production: X Filme Creative Pool

Special Mention: Die Olchies – Dino-Alarm!
Writer: Toby Genkel
Producer: Sunna Isenberg
Production: gretels gold GmbH

 

Award for the German screenplay with the biggest international market potential with a cash prize of 1,500 Euro, sponsored by Pink Parrot Media

Out of Frame
Writers: Keiron Self, Giles New
Producers: Emely Christians, Sonja Matthes
Production: Ulysses Film Production

 

TRICKSTAR BUSINESS AWARD
Award for the best innovative and groundbreaking business model in the field of animation with a cash prize of 7,500 Euro, sponsored by Verband Region Stuttgart

Black Goblin
Ana Betancourt (CEO), United Kingdom

Special Mention: Zeuniks
David Aguirre Hoffmann (Art Director & Illustrator), Germany

 

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Learn more about the festival at itfs.de.