Stuttgart 2024 Report & Winners: Packed cinemas, enthusiastic audiences, and a positive summary
Skwigly
The 31st Stuttgart International Festival of Animated Film (ITFS) came to a successful close in the evening with the grand awards ceremony. For six days, the animation industry gathered in Stuttgart, and the festival delighted filmmakers, industry visitors, and animation fans from around the world. This year’s ITFS featured numerous innovations, including a new Festival Centre, and presented itself as a festival of hospitality.
The new festival management duo Annegret Richter and Heike Mozer had proclaimed a festival of short distances – and this was well received by the visitors: Stuttgart’s city centre was transformed into a creative meeting place for the international animation scene from April 23 to 28, 2024, with the festival cinemas, the free open-air events, the GameZone and the new Festival Centre just within walking distance. Over 500 industry guests attended the festival, an increase of 25 percent compared to previous years, 40 percent of whom travelled from abroad alone.
The Festival Centre was the central meeting point for the industry, attracting over 250 visitors each day to exchange ideas. “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.
The clarity and easy accessibility were a significant benefit for the numerous events: Cinema attendance increased significantly. The screenings of the International Competition in particular were filled to capacity. Other film programmes, 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 programmes 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.
Not only the industry guests made intensive use of the offerings, but the Stuttgart audience was also drawn to the cinemas much more frequently than in previous years. After a rainy start, the weekend brought gorgeous spring weather, drawing thousands to Schlossplatz to enjoy the free open-air cinema, have a picnic, or participate in a range of interactive activities.
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, and the winner of the Animated Games Award Germany was also crowned. 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.
The awards ceremony on Sunday marked the end of Stuttgart’s Animated Week. For the first time, ITFS and its partner events, FMX – Film & Media Exchange (April 23 – 26) and Animation Production Days (April 23 –25), jointly celebrated a week of animation that radiated far beyond the region.
Award Winners
The juries’ detailed statements can be found soon here on our website.
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
Director: Bianca Scali
Germany 2023, 10:37 min
Special Mention:
Oliver the Giant (Oliver, az óriás)
Director: Júlia Lantos
Hungary 2023, 8:14 min
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)
Directors: Agathe Sénéchal, Alicia Massez, Elise Debruyne, Flavie Carin, Théo Duhautois
France 2023, 8:12 min
Special Mention:
About a Cow (O krávě)
Director: Pavla Baštanová
Czech Republic, Suisse 2023, 12:52 min
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)
Director: Benoît Chieux
France, Belgium 2022, 76 min
Special Mention:
Lonely Castle in the Mirror (Kagami no kojō)
Director: Keiichi Hara
Japan 2022, 116 min
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
Director: Yi Luo
Germany 2023, 12:36 min
Special Mention:
Recordari
Director: Carolina Cruz
Germany 2024, 9:31 min
The ITFS Audience Award with a cash prize of 6,000 Euro, sponsored by SWR (regional broadcasting for southwest Germany)
Mee and Burd
Director: Greg Mcleod
United Kingdom 2023, 7:48 min
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
Director: Flóra Anna Buda
France, Hungary 2023, 10:44 min
Special Mention:
Mariupol. A Hundred Nights
Director: Sofiia Melnyk
Ukraine 2023, 7:26 min
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
Directors: Alexandra Delaunay-Fernandez, Julie Majcher, Marine Benabdallah-Crolais, Noémie Segalowicz, Scott Pardaillhe-Galabrun, Sixtine Emerat
France 2023, 6:18 min
Special Mention:
The Story of Bodri (Historien Om Bodri)
Director: Stina Wirsén
Sweden 2022, 13:05 min
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 Euro, sponsored by L-Bank
The Mystery of Missing Socks (Kadunud Sokid)
Director: Oscar Lehemaa
Estonia 2023, 19:44 min
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 organisation(s) which have made a significant and innovative contribution towards the promotion and preservation of the art of animation. This year the internationally recognised 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
Authors: Marc-Uwe Kling, Marcus Sauermann
Producer: Nicole Kellerhals
Production: X Filme Creative Pool
Special Mention:
Die Olchies – Dino-Alarm!
Author: 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
Authors: 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