StopTrik International Film Festival Bids Farewell to Poland After 12 Years
The StopTrik International Film Festival, a celebration of stop-motion animation, concludes its 12-year Polish chapter in 2024, transitioning to Slovenia as its sole location starting in 2025. Since its inception in Maribor, Slovenia, in 2011, StopTrik has operated as a binational festival, with Poland playing a key role in its expansion and programming.
The Polish editions of StopTrik began in 2012, hosted initially by the Małopolskie Centrum Dźwięku i Słowa in Niepołomice. These early years established the festival’s reputation for its DIY spirit and dedication to showcasing high-quality, unconventional animation. Esteemed guests such as Tadeusz Wilkosz and Piotr Kardas contributed to the festival’s growth, supported by organizations like Fundacja Nowych Ujęć (New Prospects Foundation).
From 2014 to 2015, the festival moved to Galeria Bielska BWA in Bielsko-Biała, where it gained further academic prominence by organizing conferences such as "Twisted Dreams of History," leading to the publication of influential works on animation in Central and Eastern Europe.
In 2016, StopTrik found a new home in Łódź, under the guidance of Piotr Kardas, director of the O!PLA Festival of Polish Animation. Kino Bodo, a renowned art-house cinema, hosted the festival until its closure in 2022. During these years, StopTrik flourished, integrating local animation talent, engaging in collaborations with cultural hubs, and expanding its programming with events like the Trik Show discussions.
By 2022, StopTrik transitioned to the Film School Cinema in Łódź, with support from the Association FilmEter and key figures like Natalia Spychała. The festival’s final Polish edition in 2024 was held at the National Center of Film Culture (NCKF), marking the end of an era. The decision to conclude the Polish chapter was mutual between the Polish and Slovenian teams, reflecting a desire for autonomy while maintaining a collaborative spirit.
While StopTrik’s Polish journey has ended, its influence endures. FilmEter plans to launch a new animation festival in Łódź, carrying forward the city’s legacy of celebrating animated art.