BEST FICTION SHORT FILM

Play

Jury motivation:
Play has found a way to develop an emotional film which is also able to rationally reflect and focus on the essense of a relationship and the coping with its loss. The film intercepts valuable insights on immortal questions, such as: What is it left in the aftermath of a loss, what do we do with its incomplete and fragmented memories? With his undisputable talent for engaging young cast, the director has taken us in a place where playing is a brave and desperate act of rebellion against the inevitable. The film is ultimately, to our eyes, the story of humankind against the illusion of control.

BEST ANIMATION SHORT FILM

Luce and the Rock

Jury motivation:
Written and directed by Britt Raes, Luce and the Rock is a warm story about growing up and facing and overcoming our fears, but also about the awareness of belonging.
Skilful and understated, but clear in direction, where visual stylization is used to support the story. Following the “less is more” principle, the visualization relies on color, contrast and symbolism, and the animation is lively and witty. The almost absent dialogue also highlights the emotion, and the sound and music skilfully evoke the communication. The film not only provides a pleasant viewing experience, it melts our hearts, it teaches us that facing the unknown should be recognized as an opportunity for personal growth and maturation. Lucy and the Rock teaches us compassion and love.

“SENZA” AWARD

Adapt

Jury motivation:
In a time where technology pushes the boundaries of media and arts, taking steps from a complex hybrid of storytelling tools, all arts face the need to reinvent their own identity. From this point of view, Adapt is a strong reminder of the essence of cinema. Without the need of significant resources, without a professional camera, it depicts the beauty of filmmaking, using technical intuitions and formal care to provide highly emotional experience that couldn’t exist outside of the realm of cinematic forms. The film is ultimately a statement of the absolute necessity of films to understand human actions and beliefs.

BEST SCREENWRITING

Jury motivation:
For it’s meticulous take on story-beats and rhythm, for its ability to sync a simple mechanism to a breathtaking gaze on the souls of the youngsters, for using a microscope to explore the vastness of human emotions, for the courage to depict a life path as an unjust and questionable competition in the name of an intangible desire. The screenplay of Chicken uses the ability of stories to manipulate time and tighten its peaks to the audience’s heartbeats in order to drive us at that crossroad of society, where making a choice between truth and illusion becomes an urgent and essential priority.

SPECIAL MENTION FOR FICTION SHORT FILM

The last break

Jury motivation:
For having united everyone under a single culture, under the symbolic need to have shoes to walk and eyes to see. The special mention goes to this little jewel which highlights with extreme simplicity how, beyond the boundaries of the visible, normality can instead transform itself into an irreparable tragedy for those who, without having chosen it, were born in a world where the common act of going to school is anything but normal, but a feat as heroic as it is solitary.

SPECIAL MENTION FOR ANIMATED SHORT FILM

My Father’s Damn Camera!

Jury motivation:
The film corresponds on two visual levels, a handmade drawing and a stop-trick collage animation. The phantasmagorical vortex of photographs intertwines with a dynamic drawing in which these two planes fight for our attention. This way perfectly supports the film’s narrative, the boy’s efforts to win his father’s favor.
The film brings us a precious visual experience and that is exactly what we expect from animation, to surprise and amaze us, and we remain enchanted by that fascination, in the same way as the boy, the protagonist of the film.

CIAS AWARD – BY 3.7 COMPETITION

EX AEQUO AWARD

Sunday

Jury motivation:
For the social value of the production process, in line with the context of the laboratory in the refugee community in which the work was created.
The animation with different techniques is effective, created using the natural objects available in the place of life in a creative way.

CIAS AWARD – BY 3.7 COMPETITION

EX AEQUO AWARD

Africa

Jury motivation:
For clear and immediate communication, with the choice of a simple and direct language.
The evident participation of young children in the various phases of the production process is appreciable.

CIAS AWARD – BY 8.10 COMPETITION

EX AEQUO AWARD

Snoring

Jury motivation:
The film appears as a social metaphor. In a strongly patriarchal and macho society there is a reversal of roles: the person in difficulty/in error is the male adult, and the girl is the strong character who forces him to find solutions.
The work is distinguished by the good control of the various stages of production, from the idea to the screenplay to the shooting, up to the interpretation, especially of the child, with an adequate and functional structure and timing for the narrative characteristics of the short film.

CIAS AWARD – BY 8.10 COMPETITION

EX AEQUO AWARD

Jury motivation:
For the original development of the subject, apparently trivial, well conducted both in the images and in the management of the sounds, with fun and irony.
The plasticine animation is appreciable, in an overall very well made film.

CIAS AWARD – BY 11.13 COMPETITION

Traces

Jury motivation:
The work is distinguished by the particular technique chosen, supported by an effective graphic elaboration of original visual intuitions.
Excellent assembly in the appreciable brevity of the finished product.
The positive participation of the children in the realization of the pictorial materials used is highlighted.

CIAS AWARD – BY 14.18 COMPETITION

Water Lullaby

Jury motivation:
Original and very well done animation project, also in consideration of the particularly complex technique adopted, well mastered by a very young author, with a surprisingly effective result.
The contribution of music of traditional inspiration is important, interpreted in a poetic way and harmoniously linked to the visual component of the work.

CIAS AWARD – BY 14.18 COMPETITION

2nd CLASSIFIED

Jury motivation:
For the careful staging, with excellent animation based on a convincing screenplay, of the delicate story of a bottle that can express emotions, feelings and dreams.

UNICEF JURY AWARD – BY 3.7 COMPETITION – BY 8.10 COMPETITION

Lullaby

Jury motivation:
Delicate, profound, Face a current and ever-increasing emergency; accompanied/unaccompanied minors.
Reference is made to Art. 22 paragraph 1 of the CRC declares that “… the child, alone or accompanied, can benefit from the protection and humanitarian assistance necessary to enable him to enjoy the rights recognized in this Convention …”
And to Objective 16  of the 2030 AGENDA: PEACE, JUSTICE AND SOLIDARITY INSTITUTIONS, as a wish and achievement.

UNICEF JURY AWARD – BY 3.7 COMPETITION – BY 8.10 COMPETITION

Jury motivation:
The house becomes magical for a succession of short flashes of well  conceived  and original highly imaginative creations using various objects easily found in the house, without following a defined story.
The animation and filming technique is very accurate and varies according to the use of the objects.
Recall the art. 27 of the Convention on the Rights of Children and Adolescents which recognizes every child’s right to a home where they can live, play and study in a context of peace.
The soundtrack has a recurring basis but that diversifies for each situation and is always appropriate.

UNICEF JURY AWARD – BY 11.13 COMPETITION

Jury motivation:
This Italian short highlights the love of a young girl for the game of soccer and a boy for dance. Their behavior is not accepted by their classmates and friends, who make fun of them.
This narration highlights the need to promote non-discrimination attitudes, as referred to in art. 2 of the Convention on the Rights of the Child and Adolescent (CRC).
This short addresses a major current problem, it manages to convey a clear message addressed to the viewer with a language that is simple, but very incisive.

UNICEF JURY AWARD – BY 14.18 COMPETITION

Jury motivation:
The relationship, initially not easy, between a mother and her young daughter, who does not feel welcomed and listened to, is highlighted. The protagonist of her loves to draw and the visit to the Prado Museum in Madrid, makes her happy and gives hope to her life, even towards her mother.
The reference to the art. 12 of the (CRC) which recalls the importance of adults listening to the opinions of young people, recognizing their legitimate interests and behaviour.
The narration highlights a good coherence in the various moments and feelings of the two protagonists, with a skilful use of images and colors.

SENIOR JURY AWARD – BY 3.18 COMPETITION

Africa

Jury motivation:
A vividly coloured description of a real continent transfigured by the imagination of children through their drawings and works of decoupage. The children’s voices tell the story of a candid, simple and dream-like world populated by animals and cultures, where realistic elements meet boundless imaginings with lively naturalness.

SENIOR JURY AWARD – BY 3.18 COMPETITION

Jury motivation:
An honorable mention goes to “A frog traveler” for its elegant technique, the involvement of students of various ages in its realization and for the simplicity and poetic nature of its tale. The adventures of a frog are gently accompanied by a number of encounters that enrich their experience of subtle emotions like kindness, calm and the deep feelings that music has the ability to stir.

SENIOR JURY AWARD – BY 3.18 COMPETITION

Jury motivation:
Poetic, animated cut-outs describe the experience and the fears that come with war, with fleeing one’s country and with the hopes of a family of refugees. The melody of the lullaby flows in the background dramatically, highlighting the tragedy but at the same time soothing the suffering.

SENIOR JURY AWARD – BY 3.18 COMPETITION

Jury motivation:
How can a Palestinian child get over the shock from the bombing of the Gaza Strip? By telling himself that these things do not scare him, that he can find shelter in a world where even lions are friends and where his frail body can turn into that of a tiger. This is the magic worked by such an effective decoupage technique.

SENIOR JURY AWARD – BY 3.18 COMPETITION

Jury motivation:
The challenging sand-based animation technique is masterfully handled by the young author. Transitions and shadows describe a floating world where his mother’s lullaby carries the baby human away from loneliness, among the fish who embrace him with the peaceful shifting of their shapes.

DOC JURY AWARD – BY 3.7 COMPETITION

The sailor’s life

Jury motivation:
For the original idea, for the involvement of all the children in the creation and writing of the story, for the variety of materials and techniques used in a creative and fun mix, for the constantly evolving story and the unexpected ending.

DOC JURY AWARD – BY 11.13 COMPETITION – BEST SHORT FILM

We flew, we came here

Jury motivation:
For speaking of the war from the point of view of the little ones with simple, direct and profound words, for effectively expressing the sense of loss and expectation, for reminding us that a person is not necessarily identified with the nation from which comes.

DOC JURY AWARD – BY 11.13 COMPETITION – SPECIAL MENTION

Our Days in Dongshi

Jury motivation:
For the spontaneous and natural acting of the kids, for enhancing the richness and difficulties of a particular environment, for having documented and made known a little piece of the world to kids who live a very different life.

DOC JURY AWARD – BY 14.18 COMPETITION

After the storm

BEST 48ORE SHORT FILM

UN FRIGO DI LIBRI

Studio:
PQ FILM (Padova)

Jury motivation:
A short in which different genres are effectively integrated, in which the dramatic and the supernatural marry harmoniously, and the acting, direction and editing are of an excellent level.

AUDIENCE AWARD

PIÙ TV MENO COUS COUS

Studio:
UNDER 48 (Ponte San Nicolò)

PIÙ TV MENO COUS COUS

Studio:
UNDER 48

Jury motivation:
A funny short edited with a modern and dynamic language that brings it closer to the language of social media.

IL PALADINO

Studio:
TOI TUTO

Jury motivation:
The short that uses poetic language with original expedients and in its simplicity the ending is surprising and visually incisive.

UN CUCCHIAIO UNA VERITÀ

Studio:
KITTEN MOVIE

Jury motivation:
A short that courageously uses the not simple dystopian genre.