The 28th Stuttgart International Festival of Animated Film was held successfully as a digital edition for the second time with its diverse programme, including the online screening of more than 400 shorts and feature films, video conferences, masterclasses and workshops from 4th to 9th May 2021.
Our Picks
Here are 5 short films from the nominated short films for the “International Competition” category that has caught our attention the most:
Affairs of the Art
(Canada, 2020)
Directors: Joanna Quinn and Les Mills
Screenwriter: Les Mills
Music: Benjamin Talbott of John Hardy Music
Producers: Michael Fukushima (NFB) and Les Mills
Production: Beryl Productions International
Synopsis: How many obsessions can one family have? In Joanna Quinn’s and Les Mills’ “Affairs of the Art”, we reconnect with Beryl, the workingclass heroine who not only reveals her own obsession with drawing but exposes the addictions of her eccentric family, which include pickling, screw threads and pet taxidermy.
Dans la Rivière
(English title: Step into the River)
(China, France, 2020)
Director: Weijia Ma
Screenwriter: Weijia Ma
Music: Pablo Pico
Producers: Damien Megherbi, Justin Pechberty Production: Les Valseurs
Synopsis: Lu and Wei are two young girls living in a village nestled on the banks of a river. As the onechild policy has led some families to drown baby girls, they both have a special relationship with this river, which looks like a cradle of tragic stories.
Folie douce, folie dure
(English title: Mild Madness, Lasting Lunacy)
(France, 2020)
Director: Marine Laclotte
Screenwriter: Marine Laclotte
Producers: Reginald de Guillebon, Corrine Destombes, Pierre Meloni, Christian Pfohl
Production: Lardux Films / Folimage
Synopsis: This walk in the daily life of several psychiatric institutions, allows us to meet extraordinary people who let us enter their privacy.
Precieux
(English title: Precious)
(France, 2020)
Director: Paul Mas
Screenwriter: Paul Mas
Music: Yann Lacan
Producers: Marc Jousset, Perrine Capron
Production: Je Suis Bien Content
Synopsis: Julie can’t fit into her school. The arrival of Emile, an autistic child, will change the game …
Psie Pole
(English title: Dog’s Field)
(Poland, 2020)
Director: Michalina Musialik
Screenwriter: Michalina Musialik
Music: Anna Lis, Mateusz Woś
Producers: Piotr Furmankiewicz, Mateusz Michalak
Production: Fumi Studio
Synopsis: Animals locked up in a flat with the decomposing corpse of their owner try to survive. In this difficult situation one of the dogs finds out that its love for its owner is stronger than animal instinct.
