14th StopTrik: “Madeleine” Wins Audience Grand Prix for Stop Motion Animation In Slovenia
The 14th StopTrik International Film Festival in Maribor, Slovenia, showcased a diverse selection of stop-motion and experimental animated films, highlighting both established and emerging talents. This year’s Audience Grand Prix for Stop Motion Animation was awarded to "Madeleine" by Raquel Sancinetti. This 15-minute Canadian short tells the touching story of Raquel, a Brazilian immigrant, who tries to convince her 107-year-old friend Madeleine to leave her retirement home, only to face resistance. The film struck a chord with audiences through its gentle exploration of friendship and the complexities of aging.
In the Borderlands category, the Audience Grand Prix went to "Toto," directed by Klaudia Bochniak of the Łódź Film School in Poland. The 6-minute animation follows a tiger that escapes from a circus, stirring up chaos. A young girl, aware of the tiger’s presence, decides to venture out into the night, creating a suspenseful and surreal narrative.
The Student Jury honored "Three Birds" (Tri tičice), a Slovenian-Croatian co-production directed by Zarja Menart. This 8-minute film, produced by Finta Film and Adriatic Animation, captivated the jury with its delicate storytelling and tender visual style. The narrative follows a girl guided by three birds into the unknown landscapes of her inner world, blending folktale elements with a reflective exploration of personal healing. The jury praised Menart’s craftsmanship and her film's therapeutic power, noting its symbolic importance in preserving storytelling traditions.
Another major recognition from the Student Jury went to "Father’s Letters" (Očetova pisma), directed by Alexey Evstigneev. This 12-minute film is set in 1934, when a professor sent to the Gulag writes imaginative letters to his daughter, shielding her from the grim reality of his sentence. The jury was deeply moved by the film's political undertones and its artistic approach, particularly the seamless integration of real-world objects into stylized animation. Evstigneev’s film was praised for maintaining emotional restraint while conveying a powerful message about resilience under oppressive regimes.
In the experimental animated film section, Zhen Li’s "Fur" was awarded for its playful yet coherent narrative. Set in a chaotic world of abstraction and lyricism, "Fur" follows the quirky story of a crush gone moldy, impressing the jury with its fluid transitions and blend of narrative and abstraction.
The Young Audience Grand Prix awards were divided by age group. For the youngest viewers (ages 6–8), "Hoofs on Skates" by Lithuanian director Ignas Meilūnas won top honors. The 12-minute film follows two friends who encounter an unfamiliar world beneath the ice as they skate on a frozen lake, prompting a story of courage and cooperation. In the 9–11 age group, "Lola and the Piano Sound," directed by Augusto Zanovello and co-produced by France, Poland, and Switzerland, was awarded. The 28-minute animation tells the story of Lola, an 11-year-old girl who builds a noise machine to communicate with her younger brother, who lives in a world of his own. For the 12–14 age group, the award went to "All Is Not Lost" by British directors Daniel Greaves and Ruth Beni. This 10-minute animation depicts creatures formed from debris after a volcanic eruption, fighting for survival in an underground cave.
The 14th edition of StopTrik in Maribor successfully highlighted the diversity and innovation present in contemporary stop-motion and experimental animation, reflecting both regional and international talents.
Full List of Awarded Films at the 14th StopTrik International Film Festival, Maribor:
Stop Motion Animation Audience Grand Prix:
- "Madeleine" / Raquel Sancinetti / Canada / 2023 / 15'
Borderlands Audience Grand Prix:
- "Toto" / Klaudia Bochniak (Łódź Film School) / Poland / 2023 / 6'10"
Student Jury Award (Stop Motion Animation):
- "Three Birds" (Tri tičice) / Zarja Menart (Finta Film, Adriatic Animation) / Slovenia, Croatia / 2024 / 8'18"
Student Jury Award (Official Competition):
- "Father's Letters" (Očetova pisma, Папины письма) / Alexey Evstigneev (Moderato, Mimesis) / France, Russia / 2024 / 12'10"
Experimental Film Award (Borderlands Category):
- "Fur" / Zhen Li (California Institute of the Arts) / USA / 2022 / 6'36"
Young Audience Grand Prix (Group age 6–8 years old):
- "Hoofs on Skates" (Kanopos ir pačiūžos / Kopita na drsalkah) / Ignas Meilūnas (Kadrų Skyrius) / Lithuania / 2024 / 12'24"
Young Audience Grand Prix (Group age 9–11 years old):
- "Lola and the Piano Sound" (Lola et le Piano à bruits / Lola in zvok klavirja) / Augusto Zanovello (Komdooli Studio, Folimage, Momakin, Nadasdy Film) / France, Poland, Switzerland / 2024 / 27'52"
Young Audience Grand Prix (Group age 12–14 years old):
- "All Is Not Lost" (Ni vse izgubljeno) / Daniel Greaves, Ruth Beni (Animage Films Ltd.) / UK / 2023 / 10'44"