The Stuttgart Festival of Animation wrapped up May 1, 2007, with the presentation of its prize winners. Simone Massi's short film, THE MEMORIES OF DOGS, took home the grand prize. On the TV side, TV-Loonland and The Illuminated Film Co.'s THE LITTLE PRINCESS was awarded the top prize. In the feature category, AZUR ET ASMAR by Michel Ocelot garnered the award.
Iain Harvey, producer of The Illuminated Film Co., commented,"Tony Ross gave us a wonderful world to explore with the LITTLE PRINCESS and, thanks to the team, I am lucky enough to work with, this property is continuing to grow from strength to strength. To obtain international recognition in the form of these awards is testament to the quality and popularity of the comic and enchanting animation."
The complete list of winners includes:
International Competition* Grand Prix - State of Baden-Wuerttemberg & City of Stuttgart Grand Award for Animated Film with a cash prize of 15,000 Euros
LA MEMORIA DEI CANI / THE MEMORIES OF DOGSSimone Massi, 8 min / Italy, France 2006
With minimalistic means this film poetically deals with human suffering and dignity, together with high-level design and artistic intensity. The jury wishes that the filmmaker will continue his artistic development and make more beautiful films.
* International Promotion Award for the best graduation film with a cash prize of 10,000 Euros
MY DATE FROM HELLTim Weimann, Tom Bracht, 14 min / Germany 2006Filmakademie Baden-Württemberg
The Promotion Award goes to MY DATE FROM HELL by Tim Weimann and Tom Bracht from Germany for being entertaining, dynamic, well executed, with convincing characters. A perfect example of mainstream animation.
* SWR Audience AwardThe Audience Award with a cash prize of 6,000 Euros
MIGRATION ASSISTÃE / AIDED MIGRATIONPauline Pinson, 4:33 min / France 2006
Young Animation* Award for the best student film with a cash prize of 2,500 Euros, sponsored by Landesanstalt für Kommunikation Baden-Wuerttemberg and MFG Filmförderung Baden-Wuerttemberg
BETONAriel Belinco, Michael Faust, 6 min / Israel 2006Bezalel Academy auf Arts and Design, Jerusalem
We noticed the generally high standards of technical achievement of the animation schools. At the same time we wanted to draw the attention on the personal commitment of the authors. So we choose the film that succeeded to portrait a delicate political situation with emotional involvement revealing human stupidity in a warm and humorous way.
* Special Mention:ELET VONAL / LIFE-LINETomek Ducki, 6:40 min / Hungary 2006
We also decided to give a special mention for the elegance and simplicity of the movement in the film ELET VONAL by Tomek Ducki of Moholy Nagy University.
Tricks for Kids* Award for the best children's animated film with a cash prize of 4,000 Euros, donated by NICK
ZHIHARKAOleg Uzhinov, 13:11 min / Russia 2006
The story of ZHIHARK" is great and funny. The film is not only very well made, but also full of surprising and exciting moments. We found the drawings interesting, because we have never seen drawings like this before. The idea of transforming a fairy tale into an animated film like this is wonderful.
* Special Mention:
ERNST IM HERBSTJakob Schuh, Michael Sieber, 6:30 min / Germany 2006
A lot of films were nominated for the final selection. But only one film can win. Therefore we would like to mention the film that came second.
AniMovie* Award for the best animated feature film with a cash prize of 2,500 Euros, donated by Leonhardt & Kern Werbung GmbH
AZUR ET ASMAR / AZUR AND ASMARMichel Ocelot, 93 min / France 2006
AZUR ET ASMAR by Michel Ocelot is a unique fairy tale that is both classic and modern all at once. The film is a stunning achievement that never fails to surprise both visually and narratively -- transcending its genre, bridging cultures, and stirring the soul through beautifully realized animation.
Animated Series* Award for the best TV animated series with a cash prize of 2,500 Euros, donated by EM. Ent. GmbH
LITTLE PRINCESS: I WANT MY SNAILEdward Foster, 11 min / Great Britain 2006
Within the limits of children's television animation, THE LITTLE PRINCESS dares to be poignant while at the same time being a subtle and satisfying animated production, the craft of which never interferes with its wonderful message.
* Special Mention:SPONGEBOB SQUAREPANTS: "Dunces and Dragons"Vincent Waller, 22 min / USA 2005
We would like to give special mention to SPONGEBOB SQUAREPANTS for doing what only a select few TV series -- animated or live action -- can do for the world. Make us all laugh hard. Long live the Sponge.
* Winner of the 48H-3D-Jam Red Girl SessionCezary Kwasny und Wojciech HoffmannAcademy of Fine Arts Poznan / Poland
* German Animation Screenplay Award for SING, HASE, SING!
The first ever German Animation Screenplay Award has been presented to writer Heike Sperling and producer/writer Oliver Huzly from Berlin. The award, to the value of 5,000 Euros, has been donated by the Evangelische Kirche in Deutschland (Evangelical Church in Germany).
The story of Henry the rabbit, raised by hedgehogs is based on a rhyme written by James Krüss in 1958. "The authors kept the fairytale theme," commented the jury, "but developed something completely new at a psychological level. The question of being different is dealt with using humor, pacing and suspense. The core of the screenplay is the family -- and family can mean any community which does not feel that being different is a threat but in fact an enrichment.
A total of 33 screenplays for feature-length animated films were submitted and the winning script was chosen by Detlef Gericke-Schönhagen, director of the department for film, television and radio at the Goethe Institute in Munich, Udo Hahn, head of the department of media and communications for the Evangelische Kirche in Deutschland (Evangelical Church in Germany), Daniel Nocke, animator and screenwriter and Ulrich Wegenast, artistic director of the Stuttgart Festival of Animated Film.
Next year Stuttgart will run from May 1-6. For more information, visit www.itfs.de.
Rick DeMott
Animation World Network
Creator of Rick's Flicks Picks
