The 12th Stuttgart International Festival of Animated Film 2004 (April 1-6, 2004) has broken the attendance record of the last festival with more than 40,000 attendees. The closing events were completely sold out. 500 films were screened at four venues over the six days. Adding to its international acclaim, TRIPLETS OF BELLEVILLE took home the feature prize.

The winners were:

State of Baden-Württemberg Award – 7,500 EUR
FLUX -- Christopher Hinton, Canada 2002
Jury’s comment: An original animated film which could not have been made using any other medium. Christopher Hinton has produced a lively film that uses a narrative to take us on an abstract journey.

City of Stuttgart Award – 7,500 EUR
ISCHOW TRAMWAI NO° 9 -- Stepan Koval, Ukraine 2002
Jury’s comment: The director has extended the possibilities of working with clay. The film demonstrates what a typical tram ride can be like – the exception being the public transport system in Stuttgart, which is, of course, much better.

International Promotion Award for the best graduation film produced by a film school, college, university or art academy – 12,500 EUR
The prize money is to be used to finance a new animated film, which will then have its world premiere at the next Animated Film Festival.
TREEVIL -- Aiju Salminen, Finland 2002
Jury’s comment: TREEVIL is a refreshingly original puppet film. The International Promotion Award goes to Aiju Salminen, Christer Lindström, Aino Ovaskainen and the members of the jury are really looking forward to seeing their next film.

SWR Audience Award
The award-winning film is voted for by the TV audience using TED (telephone voting system).
1st Prize – 6,000 EUR
IN-SAENG (THE LIFE) -- JunKi Kim, Korea 2003
2nd Prize – 4,000 EUR
INSTINKT (INSTINCT) -- Rao Heidmets, Estonia 2003
3rd Prize – 2,000 EUR
POST CARD -- Anna Matysik, Germany 2003

Award for the Funniest Film -- Donated by Elektrofilm Postproduction Facilities GmbH – 1,000 EUR
BOZHESTVO / THE GOD -- Konstantin Bronzit, Russia 2003
Jury’s comment: This divine comedy shows us that there are actually limits to the power of a god.

Special Mentions
ATAMA YAMA -- Koji Yamamura, Japan 2002
For combining traditional and contemporary perceptions.

FAST FILM -- Virgil Widrich, Austria 2003
For its narrative technique and energy.

WARD 13 -- Peter Cornwell, Australia 2003
For its effective fast-paced editing.

Young Animation
International Student and Graduate Competition; Award for the Best Student Film – 2,500 EUR -- Donated by Gorilla Film GmbH
DUCKS -- Uri Kranot, Israel 2002
Jury’s comment:
For its great cinematographic approach to animation and personal account of a circle of violence.

DASDING Award
The DASDING Jury chose the DAS-DING award winner from five films that were selected by the public and screened in the Young Animation Competition.
UN GROS BILLET / A BIG BILL -- Frederic Martin, France 2003

Special Mention
CAI WEI -- Ye Zhao, China 2003
For its artistic quality. The filmmaker creates a unity using organic materials and noises in order to tell the story.

Tricks for Kids
International Competition for Children’s Film: Award for the Best Children’s Film -- Donated by Super RTL, Cologne – 4,000 EUR
NUIT D’ORAGE / STORMY NIGHT -- Michèle Lémieux, Canada 2003
Jury’s comment: Michèle Lumineux has created an outstanding piece of art with "Nuit d’orage.”.She combines a remarkably beautiful design, fascinating images, a very poetic style of animation with an optimistic story full of hope to create an entertaining and wise lesson in philosophy, psychology and transcendency, which reaches the hearts and the intellect of viewers of all ages. Despite the unusually complex themes focused on in the film, an exciting children’s story, which opens up a new world for children, has been created.

Children’s Jury Award
SHOWA SHINZAN -- Alison Reiko Loader, Canada 2002