Major Stage for Animation
ITFS celebrates a successful 33rd Edition in Stuttgart
On its sixth and final day, the 33rd Stuttgart International Festival of Animated Film (ITFS) once again celebrates animation in all its diversity. The short film WITH TAPES AND TOASTS IN THE CAR by Kiana Naghshineh received two awards at Saturday evening’s big Award Ceremony and automatically qualifies for the Academy Awards in Los Angeles through its Grand Prix win. The festival management draws a positive conclusion: once again, the Stuttgart International Festival of Animated Film successfully created a space for new discoveries, international encounters and cultural participation.
For one week, Stuttgart was immersed in animation fever as ITFS invited both the national and international industry as well as a broad regional audience to discover and experience the very best of animation on screen across around 150 events. The numerous opportunities to engage with filmmakers and films were very well received: the festival welcomed around 30,000 guests to the city-centre cinemas, the Festival Centre (Haus der Katholischen Kirche) and the GameZone (Staatsgalerie); in addition, approximately 40,000 visitors enjoyed the free Open Air programme at Schlossplatz. The positive feedback confirms the festival management’s curatorial direction:
“This year, we wanted to place a particular focus on participatory activities for children and families because it is important to us to make the potential of animated film visible to younger audiences. We were especially delighted that the programmes for nursery and school groups were fully booked. Alongside the very well attended screenings and the fantastic atmosphere at the Open Air, what will stay with us above all are the encounters with filmmakers, who often set the course for their careers at ITFS, and who shared their inspiring perspectives on the world with us through films and conversations,” says Heike Mozer, Managing Director of Film- und Medienfestival gGmbH.
More than 300 filmmakers from Germany, across Europe, as well as North and South America, Asia and Africa travelled to Stuttgart for ITFS this year and enriched the cinema experience for audiences through Q&As and discussions. Across the competitions and numerous additional short and feature film programmes, visitors experienced how artistic animation can open up new possibilities and perspectives in sensitive and powerful ways, particularly in socially challenging times.
The Winners have been announced
Hosted by Jane Mumford, the Award Ceremony took place on Saturday evening at Gloria 1. Six film awards and one project award were presented across the various competition categories: the ITFS International Competition Grand Prix, endowed with € 10,000, went to the short film WITH TAPES AND TOASTS IN THE CAR by Filmakademie graduate and Stuttgart-based filmmaker Kiana Naghshineh. The award automatically qualifies the film for the Academy Awards. The French-German co-production also impressed audiences and additionally received the Audience Award, sponsored by SWR.
Further awards presented included the Student Award and the Lotte Reiniger Promotion Award in the ITFS Student Competition, the AniMovie Award for Best Animated Feature Film, the Trickstar Nature Award and the Animated Games Award Germany.
Earlier in the festival, on Thursday evening, the German Animation Screenplay Awards and the Trickstar Business Award were presented during the AniX Awards ceremony at the Festival Centre. The festival’s final award was presented on Sunday afternoon on the Open Air stage: the Kids’ Jury honoured the best film in the ITFS Tricks for Kids Competition in front of an eagerly awaiting audience.
In order to make the best competition films, including the award winners, accessible to interested audiences beyond the festival itself, three curated cinema-ready programmes will go on tour from autumn onwards. Films from the ITFS International Competition, a children’s programme featuring highlights from the ITFS Tricks for Kids Competition, and a programme showcasing the films of the ITFS Trickstar Nature Award will then be available free of charge for organisers worldwide to book and screen.
Strong Response in Cinemas, Industry Programme and Open Air
A particular audience favourite was Friday evening’s screening of Lotte Reiniger’s THE ADVENTURES OF PRINCE ACHMED, accompanied live by members of the SWR Symphony Orchestra. The performance marked the moving highlight of this year’s focus on silhouette animation and demonstrated that, even after 100 years, the film has lost none of its magic or appeal. The special event attracted a broad cultural audience and succeeded in engaging many visitors who previously had little connection to animated film. Further cinema screenings, particularly the competition programmes, were close to sold out and captivated audiences with moving, thought-provoking and entertaining stories.
The extensive industry programme, including the Master Class with Michel Ocelot, was extremely well received and provided the international guests with valuable inspiration and professional input for their own work. Opportunities for international networking included, among others, a get-together hosted by the Dutch animation industry and the Embassy of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, as well as around 50 additional events. The interactive GameZone at the Staatsgalerie proved a particular highlight for younger visitors, but also for many others who were able to immerse themselves free of charge in animated game worlds. From Friday afternoon onwards, Stuttgart residents also enjoyed the spring weather at the Open Air programme on Schlossplatz, which gives the festival its unmistakable atmosphere.
Save the Date: The 34th Stuttgart International Festival of Animated Film will take place from 27 April to 2 May
Photo: Reiner Pfisterer