Language

animation courses

Contemporary German Animated Film

German animation which in the past had played a very minor role nationally and internationally has caught up on its European neighbours during the last years. This concerns feature-length productions, often made in association with foreign partners, as well as short films.

The features benefit from the increasing popularity of animated product in commercial cinemas: According to the latest statistics, in the first half of 2006 the contingent of animated features (German and foreign) in the country's cinemas related to the number of cinema-goers was 20%. It was 7% only ten years ago and had raised continuously since. While German features find their way into commercial cinemas, often with positive results at the box-office, the distribution of individual quality shorts is, as in nearly all other countries, more or less limited to the so-called festival circuit. TV stations, apart from some minority channels, as well as theatrical distributors dismiss shorts.

In spite of the depressing market situation the number of animated shorts has increased in Germany during the past years. At the same time there are also more films of high standard which is reflected by a considerable number of important festival honours and other distinctions. This seems to be the result of training at an international level at the animation departments of schools like Filmakademie Baden-Württemberg at Ludwigsburg, Hochschule für Film und Fernsehen Konrad Wolf at Potsdam and Kunsthochschule Kassel and the introduction of several new animation classes. Public funding which varies from region to region and the support by the German Federal Film Board enable young filmmakers to produce independent films after their graduation, although budgets are usually rather meagre.

The programme entitled Contemporary German Animaton consists of 13 shorts made between 1995 and 2006, half of them student and diploma films and the other half films made with the help of subsidies. Nearly all of them are international prize-winners, from Thomas Stellmach's Quest (Oscar winner 1997) to the 3D animation 458nm from the Academy at Ludwigsburg (Golden Nica at Ars Electronica). The selection was made from programmes shown in the non-competitive Wiesbaden International Weekend of Animation over the years.

Joachim Kreck

Busby

Anna Henckel-Donnersmarck (Filmakademie Baden-Württemberg GmbH)

Germany, 1997, 35 mm, 3'25''

In the tradition of early Hollywood musicals, the film creates an abstract world consisting of hands which continuously form choreographed patterns.

Killing Heinz

Stefan Eling (Stefan Eling)

Germany, 1996, 35 mm, 3'29''

A man rents an exciting video and heads off home. On his way, he survives all sorts of disasters until he finally arrives and experiences a terrible fate in front of the television set.

Za Gerolda ni prostora / Kein Platz für Gerold / No Room for Gerold

Daniel Nocke (Studio Film Bilder)

Germany, 2005, 35 mm, 5'05''

After ten long years in his flat, Gerold the crocodile is being thrown out. Is there a conspiracy against him? Does newcomer Ellen the wildebeest has something to do with it? One thing is for sure: his wild days are now just a distant memory.

The Message

Raimund Krumme (Raimund Krumme/Heinz Busert)

Germany, 2000, 35 mm, 6'13''

The message "He is back again!" is passed on. It changes its character depending on who receives and passes on the message, until a dispute about the meaning of the message takes place.

Just in Time

Kirsten Winter)

Germany,1999, 35 mm, 9'

"Still physically suffering from a car accident 16 years ago, a trip by train all over the USA evoked feelings I had not been aware of for a long time."

Quest

Tyron Montgomery (Thomas Stellmach)

Germany, 1995, 35 mm, 11'33''

In search of water, a sand puppet leaves the world of sand behind and wanders through other worlds made of paper, stone and iron, following the sound of dripping water - with tragic results.

Panther

Vuk Jevremovic (Canvas Productions)

Germany, 1998, 35 mm, 6'35''

A dream of freedom. Inspired by the poem Der Panther by Rainer Maria Rilke.

No Limits

Heidi Wittlinger, Anja Perl (Filmakademie Baden-Württemberg GmbH)

Germany, 2004, 35 mm, 1'07''

A social spot for children's rights.

Umreti zaradi ljubezni / Morir de Amor / Dying of Love

Gil Alkabetz (Sweet Home Studio)

Germany, 2004, 35 mm, 12'37''

While their owner is having his siesta, two elderly caged parrots rake up memories from the past. This leads to unexpected consequences for the three of them.

Delivery

Till Nowak (Fachhochschule Mainz)

Germany, 2005, 35 mm, 9'12''

An old man lives a lonely life under the dark shadows of industrial smog. One day he receives a mysterious package which gives him the ability to change his environment.

Lazy Sunday Afternoon

Bert Gottschalk (Hochschule für Film und Fernsehen "Konrad Wolf")

Germany, 1999, 35 mm, 9'

The desert. A vulture enjoys the silence of a hot afternoon. The sudden appearance of a noisy vehicle destroys the quietness of the situation. Two pistoleros get out of the car ready for a duel. The vulture is watching, ready to take advantage.

458nm

Jan Bitzer, Ilija Brunck, Tom Weber (Filmakademie Baden-Württemberg GmbH)

Germany, 2006, 35 mm, 6'30''

Two mechanical snails meet in the forest.

Mr. Schwartz, Mr. Hazen & Mr. Horlocker

Stefan Müller (Basement Pictures)

Germany, 2005, Beta SP, 7'20''

Disturbed by loud music from one of his neighbours, Mr. Schwartz calls the police. But initially the officer cannot ascertain anything. Then the story starts again from the view of every tenant and allows the audience to see what really happened in each apartment. A history of the butterfly effect.

AnimaWeb


>