Editor

With ITFS 2024, a week full of animation comes to an end on Sunday 

Packed cinemas, enthusiastic audiences, and a positive summary

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