In 2008, the festival was held from October 22nd to 26th. This was the year the Nordic-Baltic competition made its comeback. Official guests were: Andreas Deja, Snobar Avani, Peter Hausner, Sarah Phelps, Amid Amidi, Gene Deitch, Zdenka Deitchova, Celia Bullwinkel, Pes, and Biljana Labovic.
During the festival approximately 150 short films in 11 programs were screened. In addition, we screened 10 feature films in various genres.
The Nordic-Baltic Competition
The core of Fredrikstad Animation Festival is our competition program with the festivals very own award: the Golden Gunnar. After some years absence, the festival in 2008 could again incorporate the Nordic-Baltic competition in full scale. The final submission number was s record high, with over 200 short films submitted. At a pre-jury organized in collaboration with AnimationVolda, 58 of these were selected to be screened in our competition program.
Winners and Jury
The Danish experimental animator Lejf Marcussen was honored with the festival’s Lifetime Achievement Award. This year’s Grand Prix went to Inherent Obligations of the Estonian animator Rao Heidmar. The festival also nominated this film for the Cartoon d’Or 2009. The award for best Nordic-Baltic Short Film went to the Norwegian short film My Grandmother Beijing by Mats Grorud. This film was also nominated to be the Norwegian contribution to ANOB-Award 2009.
The international jury at this year’s festival was Linda Fagerli Sæthren (Norway), Peter Hausner (Denmark) and Amid Amidi (USA).
Best Nordic-Baltic student film
The Last Elephant by Antti Laakso, Finland
Best Nordic-Baltic commissioned film
En reise i vanntes fremtid by Susanne Flender, Norway
Best Nordic-Baltic Short Film
My Grandmother Beijing by Mats Grorud, Norway
Honourable mention
Lydskygger by Julie Engaas, Norway
Honourable mention
Sagan om den lilla dockpojken by Johannes Nyholm, Sweden
Golden Gunnar Grand Prix
Inherent Obligations by Rao Heidmar, Estonia
Audience Award
Eat Shit and Die by Anders Morgenthaler, Denmark
Lifetime Achievement Award
Lejf Marcussen, Denmark
Kurt Blir Grusom – premiere and exhibition
The opening film of 2008 was the feature film Kurt blir grusom. In conjunction with the premiere of Kurt blir grusom we also presented an exhibition focusing on the adaptation from book to film. The exhibition was produced in collaboration with Qvisten Animation, Fredrikstad Kino, and was supported by Film & Kino.
Special Focus: American Animation
Given that 2008 was an election year in the United States, we chose to focus on American animation. In addition to a wide selection of movies, we also had a a very strong program of guests and speakers. The greatest interest was perhaps Disney star animator Andreas Deja who is respected worldwide for his contributions to modern Disney classics like Lion King, Beauty and the Beast etc. Additionally, we had a visit from author and Cartoon Brew-founder Amid Amidi, UPA legend and Oscar-winner Gene Detich, animation phenomenon PES, and Bill Plymptons producer Biljana Labovic.
Other presentations and workshops
“What’s up?”
“What’s up?” was a new concept where different studios, directors and other people in the industry could present new projects. In addition to providing a picture of what is happening within the Norwegian animation, this concept was as a great meeting place for the industry as well. Participants included NRK grafisk, Storm studios, Qvisten Animation, Tilnærmet Lik, Earthtree, Netron, Mikrofilm, Pang Produksjoner, and the Swedish studio Alphaville.
Animation Workshop
In collaboration with E6 Østfold Mediverksted we held an animation workshop for children. During the final day of the workshop, the finished films had their own special premiere at Fredrikstad Kino.
Fredrikstad Animation Festival 2008 was produced by norsk animasjonsforum with Festival Director Trond Ola Mevassvik, in collaboration with:
AnimationVolda, Dean Bar, Den amerikanske ambassaden, Den danske ambassaden, Earthtree Media, E6 Østfold Medieverksted, Film & Kino, Fond for lyd og bilde, Fredrikstad Blad, Fredrikstad Kino, Fredrikstad Kommune,, Hotel Fontenen, Karivold Film, Kulturhuset Blå Grotte, Norsk filminstitutt, Norsk filmvederlagsfond, Nordisk film, SAS Radisson, Verdensspeilet, Qvisten Animation, Østfold fylkeskommune, Østfold kulturproduksjon