Taking place from Thursday, September 21 – Sunday, September 24, 2000 in Abruzzo, Italy, the Matita Film Festival (MFF) awarded its grand prize to Britain’s Ruth Lingford’s PLEASURES OF WAR for its courage, stylistic coherence and the quality of animation, included within a strict narrative structure. Marie Paccou’s ME, THE OTHER won the student grand prize for its harmony, stylistic unity and technical quality of the animation. MFF's goal is to highlight the independent spirit, while not neglecting entertainment issues. This year’s festival featured retrospectives on Yuri Norstein, Animation Made in the U.K. and Phil Mulloy. Each year the MFF focuses on one animation school and their contributions to the industry and this time around they celebrated the work of CalArts. The prize awarded to the best film in competition for each category is ITL 4,000,000 (2,000 EUROS approx.). This year’s international jury was comprised of famed animator director Yuri Norstein, Sabrina Mastrodicasa, a student at Accademia Internazionale per le Arti e le Scienze dell'Immagine, director and animator Phil Mulloy, director of the British Animation Awards Jayne Pilling, graphic artist Domenico, and director and animator Rosa Mario Verger. Below is a complete list of winners.





STUDENTS' SECTION





Matita Gran Prix 2000





ME, THE OTHER by Marie Paccou, Royal School of Art, U.K.


For the harmony, stylistic unity and technical quality of the animation.





Honorable Mentions





AKROBAT by Tomas Lunak, FAMU, Czech Republic.


For the quality of the screenplay and the simplicity of the story that transmits humanity and great atmosphere.





LUZ by José Javier Martinez, University of California - School of Theater, Film and Television, U.S.A.


For the balanced use of the computer and the delicacy of the feelings that usually don't appear through computer animated films.





Audience Award





LAZY SUNDAY AFTERNOON by Bert Gottschalk, Hochschule fur Film und Fernsehen "Konrad Wolf," Potsdam, Germany.





AUTHORS' SECTION





Matita Gran Prix 2000





PLEASURES OF WAR by Ruth Lingford, FINETAKE Productions, London, U.K.


For the courage, stylistic coherence and quality of animation, included within a strict narrative structure.





Honorable Mentions





FILM WITH A GIRL by Daniel Suljic, Zagreb Film, Croatia.


For the freshness and liveliness of the style, which expresses innocence in its relationship with the adults.





ADAGIO by Garri Bardin, Studio Stayer, Moscow, Russia.


For the quality, plasticity and elegance of the animation.





Audience Award





ADAGIO by Garri Bardin, Studio Stayer, Moscow, Russia.