Winners & Laureates: 8th StopTrik IFF in Lodz
LODZ AUDIENCE AWARD
We have finalized the 8th edition of StopTrik IFF, Slovenian/Polish festival of stop motion animation: an annual alternative showcase of greatest contemporary worldwide stop motion shorts, unstoppable stream of discussions and debates, a trans-regional festivity of one of the oldest and still one of the most fascinating forms of animated cinema. We are grateful to the Audiences in Maribor and Lodz for their choices and curiosity in film art; Artists, Producers and Distributors whose excellent films we had a pleasure to present; Partner Festival who keep supporting us and stand united in the fight for widest possible recognition of artistic animation, all the Experts, Professionals, Journalists and Industry Guests whose opinions and advises we value greatly, and eventually: Slovenian and Polish StopTrik Teams that consist of highly engaged, dedicated and rightly crazy people willing to do a lot for the Festival. Thank you! Hvala! Dziękujemy!
The Burden/ Min Börda
dir. Niki Lindroth von Bahr, prod. Malade AB
2017, Sweden, 13'
An animated musical with apocalyptic undertones. The story is divided into four episodes that takes place in a supermarket, a long term hotel, a call center and a hamburger restaurant. All of the settings are located in a modern, generic market place next to a large freeway.
LODZ AUDIENCE BORDERLANDS AWARD: ex aequo
In a Nutshell
dir. Fabio Friedli, prod. YK Animation Studio
2016, Switzerland, 5'34''
From a seed to war, from meat to love, from indifference to apocalypse. An attempt to capture the world in a nutshell.
trailer: https://vimeo.com/239821361
Sog
Jonatan Schwenk (Offenbach University of Art and Design)
2017, Germany, 10'14''
After a flood, some fish got stuck in old trees. In danger of drying-out they scream sharply. Woken up by the noise, the inhabitants of a nearby cave don't feel happy about the unintended gathering.
LODZ STUDENTS’ AWARD BEST STOP MOTION FILM
The Jury statement: For brilliant visual and sound features, strong emotional content, rich symbolism and current transcultural message.
Mr. Deer/ Aghaye Gavazn
Mojtaba Mousavi (RPTCA)
2018, Iran, 9'
The story is narrated in an unknown time, in a ruined modern subway. People in this society have animal faces, they have forgotten humanity and ethics and they do not avoid sins. There is someone with a deer face who is trying to reform the society.
trailer: https://vimeo.com/262091104
LODZ STUDENTS’ AWARD FOR BEST FILM OF THE BORDERLANDS
The Jury statement: For a unique form, poetry and the craft to convey emotions in unconventional way.
A Love Letter to the One I Made Up/ Michtav ahava le’bahur she’hemtzeti ( מכתב אהבה לבחור שהמצאת)
dir. Rachel Gutgarts, prod. Bezalel Academy
2017, Israel, 6'05''
A lonely walk home is intertwined with an underwater fantasy world. The combination between reality and fantasy is portrayed in a love letter addressed to an imaginary "perfect" man. The film is made with a unique technique of screen-printed animation.
trailer: https://vimeo.com/206040167
LODZ STUDENTS’ SPECIAL MENTION
The Jury statement: For positive message and perfect handling of black humor.
The Death, Dad & Son/ La Mort, Père & Fils
Denis Walgenwitz and Winshluss (Je suis bien content, Schumby Productions)
2017, France, 13'02''
The Death’s son doesn’t want to take back the family business. He has the secret dream to become a guardian angel, this will trigger a succession of collapses. His dad will have to get him out of this mess.