The 2024 Fredrikstad Animation Festival (FAF) marked a significant milestone, celebrating its 30th anniversary as the premier animation festival in the Nordic region. Held from October 24 to 27, the festival showcased a diverse array of animated films, masterclasses, workshops, and industry discussions, reflecting the remarkable growth of the animation industry in the Nordic-Baltic countries over the past three decades.
Guest of Honor: Priit Pärn
Esteemed Estonian animator and director Priit Pärn was honored as the festival's Guest of Honor. Renowned for his distinctive style and contributions to animation, Pärn's presence was a highlight, offering attendees unique insights into his creative journey and the evolution of animation in the region.
Competition Programs
The festival's competition segments were robust, featuring a variety of categories:
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Short Film Competition: A showcase of innovative short films from Nordic-Baltic creators, highlighting the region's storytelling prowess. It was the first year the festival opened an International Short Film competition program.
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Feature Films in Competition: Notable entries included Luna Rossa by Priit and Olga Pärn, The Brothers Gruff Go to Splash World by Will Ashurst, Flow by Gints Zilbalodis, Spermageddon by Rasmus A. Sivertsen and Tommy Wirkola, and Rule of the Heart by Roze Stiebra.
Premieres and Special Screenings
The festival was a platform for exclusive premieres:
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World Premiere of Pulverheksa’s Magical Christmas: A mini-movie based on the beloved "Pulverheksa" books, offering heartwarming stories for all ages.
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Norwegian Premiere of Spermageddon: Following its debut at the Annecy International Animation Film Festival, this inventive animated film received its first Norwegian screening at FAF.
Symposium: Visual Music
A dedicated symposium explored the intersection of visual art, animation, and music.Artists and researchers, including Birgitta Hosea, Derek Holtzer, William Bishop-Stevens, and Trygve Nielsen, presented groundbreaking works that blend sound and visuals, creating dynamic, multisensory experiences.
Production Day: Tech and Animation
Production Day focused on the future of animation, featuring sessions on technological advancements:
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Masterclass with Bill Wise: Insights into Pixar's adaptation of feature film pipelines for streaming platforms, emphasizing new technologies optimizing production.
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Session with Rasmus Sivertsen and Raymond Kreppene: Exploration of cost-effective CGI production techniques and practical tools for streamlining animation processes.
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Lecture by Dr. Mhairi Aitken: Discussion on AI ethics within the animation industry, highlighting considerations for integrating AI into creative practices.
Family Day
A special Family Day was organized, featuring activities and screenings tailored for children and families, fostering an inclusive environment and inspiring the next generation of animation enthusiasts.
Award Winners 2024
Best Nordic-Baltic Animated Short Film: The Lovers
Director: Carolina Sandvik
Sweden, 2023
This film really dissects contemporary romantic relationships, showing us with horrible sensuality their outer and inner layers.
The winner of the best Baltic Nordic Short Film goes to The Lovers by Carolina Sandvik.
Best Nordic-Baltic Animated Feature Film: Flow
Director: Gints Zilbalodis
Latvia, France, Belgium, 2024
This year's winner of the Nordic-Baltic Feature Film competition took us on a journey of wonder and danger. It's a movie for all ages, a story that talks about the current situation of the world we live in, yet feels timeless. It's a film that can touch us all regardless of nationality.
It's a film that uses its stunning artwork to enhance simple yet rich and powerful storytelling about friendship and coming together in times of hardship and struggle, a beautiful narrative fueled with empathy and flawless animation.
It's a film that achieves telling a story about humanity through animals and conveying feelings, emotions, and intentions without using a single word of dialogue.
It's our great honor to give this year's award for best feature film to Flow by Gints Zilbalodis.
Best Global Animated Short Film: Wander to Wonder
Director: Nina Gantz
Netherlands, 2023
This film is simultaneously realistic and completely surreal, taking media nostalgia to almost metaphysical levels. The technical delivery is masterful, giving pickles the screen time they deserve.
The winner of the best Global Short Film goes to Wander to Wonder by Nina Gantz.
Best Nordic-Baltic Animated Commissioned Film: Mayfly Vienna
Director: Sam Gainsborough
Norway, England, 2024
Mayfly Vienna is a riotous joy, full stop. A commissioned film that fulfills its brief with such aplomb, charm, and wit, that one is left buzzing. The marriage between animation and live action is brilliantly vibrant.
Special Mention Commissioned Film: Slomosa - Cabin Fever
Director: Andreas Emil Lund
Norway, 2023
Best Nordic-Baltic Animated Student Film: The Rip
Director: Ditte Lindroth, Anna Furenmo
Sweden, 2023
This film tells about a deep crisis through the eyes of a little girl, guiding us cleverly between the registers of drama and humor. Its visual and narrative style takes us with ease into a child’s universe.
The winner of the best Baltic Nordic Student Short Film goes to The Rip by Ditte Lindroth and Anna Furenmo
Best Nordic-Baltic Animated Youth Film: Maybe Elephants
Director: Torill Kove
Norway, Canada, 2024
The film we liked the most has a deep story. It is sad yet beautiful at the same time. It showcased a different culture, which was exciting. It was enjoyable to watch, with beautiful colors, music, and great animation.
Special Mention Youth Film: The Rip
Director: Ditte Lindroth, Anna Furenmo
Sweden, 2023
This film was sad but had an important theme. It showed that everyone can have a hard time. It was nice that there was a happy ending. The music was good, and the animation was cool.
Best Nordic-Baltic Animated Children's Film: Hoofs on skates
Director: Ignas Meilūnas
Lithuania, 2024
The film we liked the most is very funny, with amusing characters that were well made. It has nice patterns and good visuals and sound.
Special Mention Children's Film: Vera in Dorni Valley
Director: Noah A. Hall
Sweden, 2024
This film is very good because it shows a lot of emotions, with parts that are sad and difficult, and parts that turn out well. It addresses an important theme. We also liked the drawing.
Audience Award:
Director: Øyvind Tangseth
Norway, 2024
Grand Prix: Freeride in C
Director: Edmunds Jansons
Latvia, 2024
With its powerful rhythm, this film took us on a dynamic ride, giving hommage to the masters of abstract animation with a perfect symbiosis of animation, music and sound and simple, yet effective visuals.
The winner of the Grand Prix goes to Freeride in C, by Edmunds Jansons.
