The fifth edition of the International Animation Film Festival "Fantoche" ended with a new attendance record - despite the beautiful weather. The festival’s main prizes went to productions from Canada, Japan, the US, Russia and Austria.

Early Sunday evening in Baden: the last screenings of a total of 515 films from 37 countries took place. Over 20’000 visitors attended the 116 programmes. This is a continuation of the last four editions’ growing success and is also a new record. The Fantoche organisation is very pleased with this first results.

At the Festival Centre, the Canadian Craig Welch received the main prize “High Risk” for his WELCOME TO KENTUCKY and is awarded CHF 10’000. The Jury stated: "Here sensitive sound design and elegant visual motifs are deployed in a complex and haunting evocation of melancholy and mystery." UTSU-MUSUME SAYURI (STRINKING DAUGHTER) by Takashi Kimura from Japan received the “Hot Talent” prize (CHF 5’000) and the award for the category “Best Visual” (CHF 2’000) went to the American JJ Villard for his film SON OF SATAN. The prize for “Best Sound” (CHF 2’000) was given to Dmitrij Geller from Russia for his film LITTLE NIGHT SYMPHONY (MALENKAYA NOCHNAYA SIMPHONIYA). And the Austrian production MISSISSIPPI by Arash Riahis was awarded for “Best Idea/Best Script” (CHF 2’000).

Special Mentions were given to HEAVY POCKETS by Britin Sarah Cox, THE LAST KNIT (KUTOJA) by Laura Neuvonen, EVERYTHING WAS LIFE by Ellie Land, JAM SESSION by Izabela Plucinska, FABLE by Daniel Sousa, MILCH by Igor Kovalev and SEVENTEEN by Hisko Hulsing.

The Public’s Choice Awards of the “International Competition” and “World Wide Hits” with CHF 2’000 respectively CHF 5’000 were given THE LAST KNIT (KUTOJA) by Laura Neuvonen from Finland and to the Russian Production THE WIND ALONG THE COAST by Ivan Maksimov.

The Jury Award for “Minimotion” (CHF 500), a new competition for 10-second-films was given to the animation METAMORPHO by Jean-Claude Campell from Switzerland. Special mentions were given to LIFE IS ANIMATED by John Chan from Hongkong and WAR by Jordie Doubt from Canada.

Over 400 accreditations were registered for members of the film industry and media representatives. This is a significant increase in numbers compared to 2003 and is also reflected in the growing international interest to the Festival. Guests from all over the world expressed their praise to Fantoche and its programme concept, which consciously mixes experiment with entertainment and was as versatile as never before.

Almost all of the evening screenings were sold out, especially the very popular programmes “World Wide Hits” and “International Competition” as well as the feature films. A broad interest was also shown to the presentations of the Swiss animation film, the international animation film schools, the thematic programmes as well as to the exhibitions, workshops and filmpolitical events.

In the four cinemas and in the city of Baden, a true festival atmosphere developed over the six days. This was also due to many events that took place in locations other then on the screens: filmmakers, professionals and the audience met for the well attended daily discussions of “Meet the Artists” and “Talking about Animation”. Fantoche’s very own Festival Centre in the Kurpark offered culinary delights until late at night.

The box office income of this year’s festival exceeded all expectations, yet the projected budget could not be reached which was already known before the festival began. A biennial budget of about one million Swiss Francs proved hardly sufficient for a festival of this dimension. The main financial support for Fantoche is still provided by the public authorities. For the future, Fantoche wishes to intensify the cooperation with partners from business and industry.

The 6th edition of Fantoche will again take place in Baden from September 11 to 16, 2007.

A selection of Fantoche programmes will tour different Swiss cities until the end of September.


AWARD WINNING FILMS

High Risk (CHF 10’000):
WELCOME TO KENTUCKY, Craig Welch, CDN 2004

Hot Talent (CHF 5’000):
UTSU-MUSUME SAYURI (STRIKING DAUGHTER), Takashi Kimura, JP 2003

Best Visual (CHF 2’000):
SON OF SATAN, JJ Villard, US 2003

Best Sound (CHF 2'000):
LITTLE NIGHT SYMPHONY (MALENKAYA NOCHNAYA SIMPHONIYA), Dmitrij Geller, RU 2003

Best Idea/Best Script (CHF 2'000):
MISSISSIPPI, Arash Riahi, AT 2005

Special Mentions:
HEAVY POCKETS, Sarah Cox, GB 2004
THE LAST KNIT (KUTOJA), Laura Neuvonen, FI 2005
EVERYTHING WAS LIFE, Ellie Land, GB 2004
JAM SESSION, Izabela Plucinska, PL/DE 2005
FABLE, Daniel Sousa, US 2005
MILCH, Igor Kovalev, US/RUS 2005
SEVENTEEN, Hisko Hulsing, NL 2004

Public’s Choice Award "International Competition" (CHF 2'000):
THE LAST KNIT (KUTOJA), Laura Neuvonen, Finnland 2005

Public’s Choice Award "World Wide Hits" (CHF 5’000):
THE WIND ALONG THE COAST, Ivan Maksimov, RU 2004

Jury Award "Minimotion" (CHF 500):
METAMORPHO, Jean-Claude Campell, CH 2005

Special Mentions "Minimotion":
LIFE IS ANIMATED, John Chan, HK 2005
WAR, Jordie Doubt, CA 2005