Watch the best animated films at home!
Whether artistically unusual or pure entertainment – experience some of the best animated films from around the world on demand with ONLINE+ access until 16 May 2021.
Whether artistically unusual or pure entertainment – experience some of the best animated films from around the world on demand with ONLINE+ access until 16 May 2021.
The International Competition (IC) is the beating heart of the festival. The best of current animated shorts from around the world are shown in this section. Films are humorous, contemplative, creative, or critical.
The Young Animation Competition (YA) shows selected animated short films made by students of international film and art schools. Young animation artists tell touching stories, create fantastic worlds and open new perspectives.
The Tricks for Kids Competition consists of age-based programmes of selected episodes of the most beautiful, international animated series for children of all ages. Children and their families can look forward to a journey across different continents, full of surprises and discoveries.
The films in this section are dedicated to issues of nature and sustainability, each of them in its very own, special way. They show the world from the perspective of various animals and, in a humorous way, point out social ills.
The Award honours the best use of music in an animated short film. We are happy to present the Award Nominees in this section: beautiful animated shorts by students of international film schools.
WED, 05.05. – SUN, 09.05., 4 – 6 PM
This years edition of ITFS will still feature the popular Filmmaker Talks. Via Zoom we will be streaming the talks with filmmakers of the competition programme live at 4 pm on each festival day: The directors will answer audience questions.
This extraordinary programme brings together all the diversity of artistic expression concentrated on a theme that the world is unanimously fed up with – actually. Humorous, thoughtful, poetic and sometimes even strangely prophetic, the works illuminate life in and after the global lockdown.
Creating*Diversity shows how creatives from all over the world create practised diversity. Their films tell (life) stories from different countries and cultures, about people with different religions and sexual identities.
Monique Renault is a pioneer in European animated film. She began dealing with especially social issues very early on – and made a name for herself. Her technique is unmistakable: she uses a coloured pencil to bring her animations directly onto paper as drawings. It is a great honour for the ITFS to dedicate a retrospective to this outstanding artist and pioneer of feminism and social diversity in its 28th edition.
Animation Around Europe celebrates independent European Animation. Discover programmes from: Portugal, Poland, Slovenia, and two French Programmes as part of the country focus.
Avid Liongoren // Philippines 2020 // 74 Min.
Available from May 7 – 16
Story
Nimfa Dimaano, a perfume saleskitty, is smitten by her customer Inigo – a dashing dog about town. Trouble is, Nimfa is with Roger, her janitor mongrel live-in mate. While the bedroom action is through the roof, their future is fuzzy with pockets running dry. As Nimfa gets her paws wet with Inigo, is she in for a rosier romance? In this cat and dog world,
amorous animals put their own spin on daytime soap opera.
Yee Chih-Yen // Taiwan 2020 // 91 Min.
Available from May 7 – 9
Story
As a 16-year-old struggling teenager, Leaf runs away from home, skips
classes and ends up, mysteriously, in a peculiar place: the City of Lost
Things. There he meets Baggy, a 30-year-old plastic bag. Baggy never
sees himself as just another piece of unwanted junk. He has a purpose
in his life, which is to lead his tribe to flee from the City of Lost Things.
But he needs the help of a reluctant Leaf to fight the dreadful army of
the Armors.
Rémy Chayé // Denmark, France 2020 // 82 Min.
Recommended from 8 years
French original version with English subtitles
Available on May 7 and 8
Story
12-year-old Martha Jane and her family are headed West. After her
father gets hurt, she takes charge of her siblings and learns to drive the
family wagon. She has never felt so free. Martha Jane dresses as a boy
and becomes increasingly troublesome for the community due to her
outspoken braveness. When the leader of the convoy wrongly accuses
her of theft, she runs away to find proof of her innocence …
Trevor Hardy // United Kingdom 2019 // 100 Min.
Recommended from 7 years
German Premiere
Original English version
Available from May 7 -16
Story
Mungo Morrison is a young mole who is due to begin work at his
father’s side in their hometown’s legendary gold mine. While his friends
are excited to be in the mine, Mungo secretly dreams of becoming a
professional footballer. However, desperate not to upset his father, as
well as being a small mole and unable to play football in bright light,
Mungo sadly resigns himself to life as a miner. When the mine is forced
to shut down after a mysterious accident, an evil and gold-obsessed
supervillain known only as “The Boss“, attempts to bully the townsfolk
into selling him the mine. Against all odds, Mungo begins an epic
adventure as he hurtles towards the Wild Cup football finals in Russia
and a final, breathtaking showdown with “The Boss“.
Joann Sfar // France, Belgium 2020 // 82 Min.
Recommended from 6 years
German Premiere
French original version with English subtitles
Available from May 5 – 9
Story
Little Vampire has been ten years old for the last 300 years. Despite
living in a haunted house with a merry group of monsters, he is bored to
death … His dream? Going to school to meet other kids. Unfortunately,
his parents won’t let him leave the mansion, as for them, the outside
world is way too dangerous! Accompanied by his trusted bulldog Phantomato,
Little Vampire secretly sneaks out on a quest for new friends. He
will soon meet a human boy, Michael, but their friendship will catch the
attention of the terrifying Gibbus, an old enemy that has been chasing
Little Vampire and his family for centuries …
Jean-François Laguionie, Xavier Picard // France, Luxembourg 2019
Recommended from 8 years
French original version with English subtitles
Available on May 7 and 8
Story
An old Prince runs aground on an unknown shore. Injured and lost, he
is found by young Tom and taken in by his parents, two scientists who
have been exiled from their community because they dared to believe in
the existence of other monkey civilisations…The Prince, guided by his
new young friend Tom, discovers with great fascination and enthusiasm
this society, even though it is actually quite staid and rigid. During
this time, the two researchers dream of convincing the Academy of the
veracity of their previously rejected thesis…
Jacques-Rémy Girerd // France 2003 // 90 Min.
Available on May 8 and 9
Story
Forty days and forty night of rain – the world has experienced a flood like this before, and now it’s happening again. The frogs, having prophesised the approaching catastrophe, attempt to warn the humans, and two adults and two children seek refuge in a gigantic barn – a kind of improvised ark. In this floating house they gather together the animals from their farm, and those from the neighbouring zoo. Unfortunately, the only food available is the 28 tons of potatos on board.
Francesco Dafano, Luca Della Grotta // Italy 2020 // 88 Min.
Available from May 4 – 16
Story
Discarded and forgotten, three packaging items come together in their search for the mythical recycling bin. They will continue their quest until they find it, because even trash deserves a second chance.
Boxes, bottles, cans. Garbage. Abandonned, ignored, inert. Until nightfall. Slim is a resigned cardboard box. He dosesn’t believe in the legend of the Magic Pyramid: a place where it’s possible for all garbage to be useful again. His fate changes when a kid toy box, Spark, involves him and his pals in an adventure that will change their life forever.
Sam // Spain 2015 // 81 Min.
Available from May 4 – 9
Story
Trini, the worldfamous flamenco dancer, has been deeply depressed and has abandoned the stage. Damian, her 8-year-old son, is possessed by a malicious devil that makes him do the most bloody and cruel misdeeds.
Wojtek Wawszczyk, Tomek Lesniak, Jakub Tarkowski // Poland 2011 // 80 Min.
Story
George the Hedgehog, an inveterate womanizer, big fan of skateboard and couple of pints after hours becomes a key point in the master plan of a genetic manipulations freak. The crazy scientist hires two deadly enemies of George, the skinheads, Zenek and Stefan. Their job is to get hold of George’s genes in order to create the Hedgehog’s clone. Some secret laboratory work and the clone is born and quickly becomes a multi-media idol, severely complicating George’s life and ruining his reputation in the meantime. The Hedgehog fights back for his identity and, above all, his beloved Jola.