The Best of International Student Animation II

The international student animation programme includes examples from the world’s best animation schools. Student film in the context of animation doesn’t have to mean amateur cinema; it is often higher in quality and more courageous and professional than some major films from established studios. Guests are from Turku Arts Academy in Finland, the Royal College of Art in England, the Bezalel Academy of Arts and Design in Israel, La Poudrière in France, the Academy of Art and Design St. Joost in Denmark, Tama Art University in Japan, the Film and Television University "Konrad Wolf" (HFF) in Germany, Lucerne University of Applied Sciences and Arts in Switzerland and many more. The international student animation programme has often received the highest ratings from festival goers due specifically to its innovativeness, youthful energy and the students’ fresh love for and devotion to animated film. The international student animation programme is certainly one of the festivals with the most diverse programme in the whole festival line-up and reflects trends in modern animation, dealing with salient topics in the lives of today’s younger generations.

ABDULLAH - Germany 2013, 9', dir/prod: Jakob Besuch

Abdullah is growing up as the son of a migrated family. Connecting with the music scene he starts increasing his consumption of marijuana until he faces a psychosis. In hospital he feels recognised by a psychologist who supports his way back to life. Today Abdullah owns a store for glasses and wants to help people being noticed

THE TABLE IS SET - Finland 2013, 4'36'', dir: Anni Oja, Sini Pietiläinen, Taru Riskilä, Markus Tervola, Nuppu Nykyri, Miira Tonteri, prod: Anni Oja

Unsuspecting servant faces unforeseen challenges in upstairs and downstairs.

GAMER'S DEATH - Estonia 2013, 7', dir: Kristjan Bobkov, prod: Eesti Kunstiakadeemia

Film about a gamer who without knowing commits bad deeds in the game world. His actions turn out to be fatal for him.

BUT MILK IS IMPORTANT - Norway 2012, 10', dir/prod: Anna Mantzaris, Eirik Grønmo Bjørnsen

A man with social phobia gets his life, full of routines, drastically changed. A naive and clumsy creature appears and starts following him. Terrified the man tries to escape, unaware that the creature actually is a helper with slightly unconventional methods.

OFF THE TRACK - France 2012, 4' 10'', dir/prod: Rocio Alvarez

Chloé takes her driving test - for the ninth time.

NIGHTTIME TALES - Finland 2013, 10', dir/prod: Olli Hurskainen

A documentary-like review of what happens during one town's peaceful night. What kind of people and creatures stay awake when others sleep and what are the reasons of their behaviour.

THE THING UNDER THE TREE - UK 2013, 6'30'', dir: Lily Fang, prod: Royal College of Art

Gabby keeps bothering her older sister Tam to play, so Tam tells a story about a monster that lives in the forest. Whatever you do, you can't let it see your face. But then her phone rings, leaving the story unfinished—so Gabby goes off to find the creature herself.

THE STAR - Finland 2013, 2'20'', dir/prod: Emmi Heimonen

A wanted man runs from the police and finds himself in a barbershop.

SATURDAYS - Iran 2013, 5'31'', dir/prod: Hanieh Shojaee

In an elderly nursing home it is a costume that every saturday a visitor family come and choose one of the old people as their new grandparent. Today is one of those saturdays.

PANDAS - Slovakia 2012, 12', dir/prod: Matuš Vizar

They are the product of millions of generations before them and yet they're left all alone in the forest to fend for themselves. One day an all too active primate, the human being, finds them and they quickly become a pond in man's games.