Following the screening, we went to a party at the lovely Hotel de Ville ("House of the City" or City Hall) where we all enjoyed delicious food and drink along with our first chance to catch up with old friends. From there, Nik and I went to the late night party at the La Plage restaurant for champagne and yummy hors d'oeuvres. There are very few things lovelier than walking back from La Plage along the lake front late at night with the moon shining on the water, a fitting end to a perfect evening.

This year Annecy spotlighted Germany's contribution to the world of animation with numerous special screenings, including a presentation of Lotte Reiniger's 1926 classic The Adventures of Prince Ahmed with live musical accompaniment. Stuttgart's renowned Studio Film Builder, celebrating their 20th anniversary this year, was saluted with a screening of their films and Throwing Light on Works in the Shade took us deep into the archives of German animation from the 1920s to the 1960s along with interviews with surviving witnesses of the dynamic German avant-garde film scene.

My favorite party every year is the Stuttgart Animation Festival event, and this year as the honored country they went all out. In past years the event was a large affair but this year Filmforderung Baden-Wurttemberg was co-hosting the party, as well as the opening MIFA event and so this fete was a "petite animation reception." After a bus ride up a very curvy mountain road we arrived at the beautiful Auberge la Mageriaz. This tranquil, cozy inn is owned by Vincent and Cathy Ferris. In case Vincent's name sounds familiar, he is the former manager of MIFA. The superb French-Swabian regional food (Swabia covers much of Germany's Southwestern state of Baden-Wurttemberg) was only matched by the lovely rustic country surroundings. The food and atmosphere was totally complemented by music provided by Rolf Bachler and Nik.

In 2009 the festival strengthened their new policy in favor of feature films with 10 feature films in competition chosen from a field of 45 entrees, nine shown out of competition, three film premieres and, of course, the night time outdoor shows on the giant screen.

I had already seen Adam Elliot's brilliant Mary and Max, Tomm Moore and Nora Twomey's beautifully animated Brendan and the Secret of the Kells and Coraline, Henry Selick's modern masterpiece, but there were still delightful surprises such as My Dog Tulip.

Paul and Sandra Fierlinger created a beautiful adaptation of A. J. Ackerley's 1956 book telling of the 14 years he shared with a German shepherd that he rescued, who he named Tulip. The film features the voices of Christopher Plummer, Lynn Redgrave and Isabella Rossellini. The Fierlingers and producer Norman Twain have created a very personal love story which is definitely an adult film, which once again proves that animation is not just for children or dog lovers.

The other feature that grabbed my attention was The Story of Mr. Sorry. A group of five South Korean students from the Korean Academy of Film Arts adapted Lee Jeok's delightfully strange story of Mr. Sorry, a professional ear wax cleaner who, due to a chance encounter with a fortune teller, finds himself shrinking and shrinking until he is small enough to climb into his customers' ear canals. This tale of social comment, emotional resonance and mystical fantasy answers the question: "What will happen to Mr. Sorry now that he knows his clients deepest thoughts?"

I was a bit surprised that $9.99 was shown out of competition, but at least Tatia Rosenthal's Israeli/Australian co-production was screened on three separate occasions throughout the week.

By and large I found the five short film competition programs not particularly inspiring. Of course, there were some outstanding exceptions. I have been anxiously awaiting Latvian animator Vladimir Leschiov's new film, and his Wings and Oars definitely did not disappoint me. The beautifully drawn film tells the tale of a pilot looking back over his past with extreme sensitive, delicate hues and superb art work.