Fredrikstad Animation Festival (FAF) is proud to unveil its official 2026 trailer, directed by Elmer Lodemel, the Norwegian animator whose short film Service Bus has been captivating festival audiences across Europe. Featuring gentle absurdity and the unmistakably hand-drawn warmth that defines Lodemel's work, the trailer sets the tone for what promises to be an unforgettable edition of Norway's premier animation festival.
When approaching the trailer, "I had the ending in mind first," Lodemel explains. "Enjoying something together, that specific feeling of sitting at the cinema when you are with people and looking at the same light together. The moon just became a way to find that feeling somewhere else." It is a simple premise, yet one that speaks directly to what FAF means to him; having a shared experience with new people and the joy of discovering animation with peers.
"Finding small moments in life and playing around with them — that's 100% my style of filmmaking."
Service Bus blended 2D and 3D animation, Lodemel chose to strip the trailer back to pure 2D pushing saturated colors and bold graphic shapes to create something cleaner and more immediate. "I wanted to simplify it a little more," he says, "and lean into a graphical look. The 3D mix was losing that vibe, so I went all in on traditional 2D with 2D backgrounds." The result is a trailer that feels simultaneously traditional in animation with contemporary style.
Central to the trailer's charm is its deliberately handmade texture. Lodemel animates on threes, fours, even sixes, leaving intentional blobs and loose line-work visible throughout. "It's more and more important to me to find aspects of filmmaking that prove this was made by hand," he says. "You don't always know what you're looking at anymore Sometimes it could be generated. So it's important to me to prove this was made by a human.” In an era of smooth visuals, there is something quietly charming about embracing the imperfectly human.
The score is a family affair: Lodemel's father composed and sound-designed the trailer, weaving in the playful vocal percussion, including the lip pop sound that is familiar to festival goers. The sound collective made just as the lights go down. He wanted to include the playful sound that signals the audience excitement before a screening. We had so much fun," Lodemel recalls. "He has a nice office down in the city, I have mine here, and we'd jump between the two looking at the visuals and the music together." The collaboration proved so rewarding that the pair are already at work on a new project.
Sharp-eyed viewers will want to pay attention to the final frames: the moon, it turns out, is a lightbulb, flickering gently before the lights go out. "I like that last touch," Lodemel admits. As for any further easter eggs or hidden details, he's happy to leave interpretation open: "That's for the audience to decide."
A CONVERSATION with ELMER LODEMEL, edited for length and clarity
FAF approached you to direct the 2026 trailer — what was your first reaction?
"I was obviously very happy and honored. It was a really fun project…I was excited to start. And just coming back to Norway again, working with the FAF team, using the Norwegian landscapes… I love Norway, so it felt right."
Service Bus grew out of a very ordinary, personal observation on a bus ride. Does that instinct of finding stories in small, everyday moments feed into how you approached the trailer?
"For this trailer, specifically, I wanted to do something more directly linked to the Norwegian landscape that I painted. I wanted the ending to feel like going to the cinema. That specific feeling of sitting with people and looking at the same light together. The moon just became a way to find that feeling somewhere else.”
Your instinct as a filmmaker seems to be rooted in finding stories in small, everyday moments. Does that feed into how you approached this trailer?
"100%. Finding small moments in life and playing around with them…that's my style. That's where the ideas live."
You explored a mixed 2D/3D approach before settling on pure 2D. What made you commit to that direction?
"When I added the 3D, it lost that graphical vibe. I wanted to push the colours and make it more graphic, but the 3D was pulling it in a different direction. So I simplified it…all traditional 2D animation with 2D backgrounds. It just felt right for this project."
Comedy and visual composition seem to coexist naturally in your work. How do you balance the two?
"I don't think I mix them consciously — it just happens naturally. I always try to find something funny, maybe in the character design, maybe in an absurd situation like finding the moon at the end. But I've always drawn, so the visual composition and making it pretty has to come first. Then the fun sneaks in."
The trailer has a beautiful texture to the timing. Can you talk about that?
"I animate on threes and fours… sometimes sixes. It gives the animation this texture, this handmade feel. Nowadays you can't always tell what's generated, so it's more and more important to me to prove this was made by a human. I leave blobs in the line work on purpose. I want it to look crusty."
What's the sound moment in the trailer you're most proud of?
"When the sound effects came in, they just elevated everything. But specifically, the moon as a lightbulb, flickering in the last frame, and then the lights go out. I really like that last touch."
What software did you use?
"TVPaint for all the animation, Procreate for sketches and character design. DaVinci Resolve for the final edit and sound I use those basically all the time. And TV Paint, I use always for 2D animation, so…it’s just a really solid and easy software to use. So it fits perfectly to this 2D animation project.”
What do you love about Frederikstad as a festival?
"You meet so many people. You go to screenings, masterclasses, and you just keep getting to know more people throughout the week. It's a very personal festival, the staff, Anders and everyone, it's fun and light and serious at the same time. You can't quite describe it. It just feels good to be there."
Service Bus is still making the rounds. What's next for you?
"Service Bus is heading to Italy and OFF Odense Film Festival in August, which is exciting. Then in autumn I'm going back to Viborg for the open workshop with a new project I'm developing. I'm also working with Skjaldborn in Copenhagen on developing a visual look for a new project, similar territory to Service Bus. Very exciting times."
The official FAF 2026 trailer is available now. Fredrikstad Animation Festival takes place in Fredrikstad, Norway Oct 21 -25, 2026. For program announcements, accreditation, and tickets, visit the FAF website.
Follow Elmer Lodemel on Instagram for updates on his work and upcoming projects.