In a rare occurrence, the winning film of the 23rd Fantoche International Animation Film Festival (2-7 September 2025) turned out to be the same in both the International and National competition categories.

The film 'Qui part à la chasse' by Lea Favre, a documentary-minded animation story won Best Film in the International Competition and Best Swiss Film in the corresponding National Competition.

The runner-up (High Risk prize) was presented to the US indie film 'Long Live Livia' by Zach Dorn, while a special mention was reserved for the NFB-produced film 'Paradaiz' by Matea Radic.

Fantoche International Animation Film Festival 2025 Winners:

INTERNATIONAL COMPETITION
Jury: Katie Bignell (UK), Nina Gantz (NL), Christoph Terhechte (DE)

BEST FILM: Qui part à la chasse – Lea Favre, CH 2024
Lea sets off to find a subject for her documentary film. She goes on the hunt armed with her camera and finally meets someone who is not like others. Lea thinks she has finally found her prey, but then the situation changes.

Jury statement: ‘The Best Film is one that captured all of us with its sleight of hand in taking us down the route of an ordinary day, only to deliver us in an unflinchingly dark space with no escape. The descent into this sucker punch relents when the filmmaker provides a foothold for a voice to speak out honestly and loudly. This bravery and switching of the line of fire impressed us greatly. The Best Film award goes to Qui part à la chasse by Lea Favre.’

HIGH RISK: Long Live Livia – Zach Dorn, US 2025
An animator discusses a scene from the TV series “The Sopranos” while meticulously crafting stop-motion recreations of his family’s home movies. He tries to fill the gaps in his leaky memory through the shared Italian-American idiosyncrasies of the show and his past.

Jury statement: ‘This award goes to a film for its uncompromising exploration of expression in animation and its visionary independence. The filmmaker allows us to participate in his search for the story of his own family and explores the relationship between documentary truth, fiction, and generated images, with multiple layers delving into recreated home videos and family memories. The High Risk award goes to Long Live Livia by Zach Dorn.’

SPECIAL MENTION INTERNATIONAL COMPETITION: Paradaïz – Matea Radic, CA 2025

Welcome to a place where the houses have holes, tomatoes are ticking bombs, and snails wander the streets in search of a safe space. In Paradaïz, Sarajevo-born artist Matea Radic uses absurdist animation, archival images, and her own slippery childhood memories to explore the real meaning of home.

Jury statement: ‘We want to acknowledge a vivid exploration of returning to a place of conflict. The film’s beautiful imagery presents a poignant collection of memories that blend childhood with the scars it leaves. The Special Mention goes to Paradaïz by Matea Radic.’

• Read Also: Our Interview with Matea Radic

SWISS COMPETITION
Jury: Aubry Mintz (US), Lucija Mrzljak (HR), Julie Rousson (FR)

BEST SWISS:  Qui part à la chasse – Lea Favre, CH 2024
Lea sets off to find a subject for her documentary film. She goes on the hunt armed with her camera and finally meets someone who is not like others. Lea thinks she has finally found her prey, but then the situation changes.

Jury statement: ‘The film we chose to award shows us that cinema can be an act of bravery. What starts with an innocent and playful story, vibrant décor, and stop-motion technique, suddenly turns into something much more troubling. The director grabs the audience’s attention and emotion in a powerful way that may help those who still don’t understand what many of us go through every day to finally share in our haunted experiences. The film shows a power game between hunter and hunted, starting from an innocent quest of curiosity, to becoming prey, to finally claiming back the power. We applaud the filmmaker for making this beautiful film and telling her story. She is not afraid to bring us into the darkness, and we are proud to stand with her. The Best Swiss award goes to Qui part à la chasse by Lea Favre.’

HIGH SWISS RISK:  Ich bin nicht sicher – Luisa Zürcher, CH 2025
During her stay in hospital, the filmmaker repeatedly experiences absurd, funny moments between pain, homesickness, and disgust with her own body. Meanwhile, she tries to come to terms with the hospital’s own procedures and hierarchies. An emotional trip through the underground corridors of the hospital.

Jury statement: ‘It is a big risk to put a traumatic experience out there, to bare yourself to an audience, body and soul. This film made us aware of how fragile we are, of the reality of a declining body we will all have to face at some point and that the director was unfortunate to deal with. This film uses humour as a survival mechanism to cope with pain, change, and the weight of it all. The charming and truly independent spirit of the animation style created a peculiar and endearing experience for us. Animation tells this story in a more effective way than any other medium could. We are definitely sure: The High Swiss Risk award goes to Ich bin nicht sicher by Luisa Zürcher.’

FANTASTIC SWISS:  Karies – Aline Höchli, CH 2025
Eager to create a monumental work of art, a shaman remains blissfully unaware that she is painting her murals inside the mouth of a vain weather presenter.

Jury statement: ‘This award goes to a film that is highly inventive from the start. It creates its own little universe that swallowed us up immediately. It is a great exploration of the animation medium, with inventive language and delightful visual storytelling. It’s quirky, it’s fun, it’s unique, it’s all the things you want in an independent animated film: to be carried away and led through an artistic vision that left us smiling from ear to ear and ready with our toothbrush in hand. The Fantastic Swiss award goes to Karies by Aline Höchli.’

SPECIAL MENTION SWISS COMPETITION: Ouais – Della Miranda, CH 2025
A young woman is overwhelmed by her own mind, consumed by distorted self-perception due to her eating disorder. Is the room getting smaller, or is she getting bigger? Her picture-perfect pastel world is slowly drowning her.

Jury statement: ‘The Special Mention aims to encourage a director whose vision and creativity we all felt in her very short film. We applaud her ability to summarize insecurities we all went through in some fashion and to portray how it feels to be in your own body. The use of visual analogy is fully at play. The director is not afraid of allowing the audience to fill in the gaps while experimenting with scale and texture, leading to an emotional outcome. We cannot wait to see more from her. The Special Mention goes to Ouais by Della Miranda.’

YOUTH JURY
Jury: Titus Kappeler, Eliana Simdorn, Marc Ruedin, Esteban Saugy, Mina Caviezel, Giona de Stefani, Gianni Polli

YOUTH AWARD FOR BEST NEW TALENT: Cottage Cheese – Liina Luomajoki, Lena Metzger, Janina Müller, Alice Kunz, CH 2024
Sitting on the toilet, Mika is shocked to discover something slimy in her underpants. In search of answers, she embarks on a bizarre journey into her own vagina.

Jury statement: ‘This film portrays a taboo topic and the shame that comes with it in a very forward yet funny way. Through the use of unique images and an unforgettable “mushy” sound, the film portrays a character discovering herself in a way that felt fresh and unexpected. Lastly, it is the brief use of Swiss German at the end that really made this film feel authentic. We admire how bold it is in its storytelling without ever taking itself and its topic too seriously. The Youth Award for Best New Talent goes to Cottage Cheese by Liina Luomajoki, Lena Metzger, Janina Müller, and Alice Kunz.’

SPECIAL MENTION YOUTH JURY: Double or Nothing – Tokay, CH 2025
Real estate shark Akio Kashiwagi has built an empire on stolen money. Blinded by greed and unaware that he is being hunted by an American, he accepts a dangerous gamble that might cost him his life. Inspired by booming 1980s Tokyo, told in stop-motion puppet animation.

Jury statement: ‘This film captivated us because of its stunning use of stop-motion animation and how it perfectly combines with the engaging storytelling. We could not help but be in awe of the attention to detail shown in this film, especially to the backdrops. The inclusion of the behind-the-scenes in the credits was a subtle yet amazing way to show how much care really goes into an animation film. The Special Mention goes to Double or Nothing by Tokay.’

KIDS FILM COMPETITION

BEST KIDS: Bobel’s Kitchen – Fiona Rolland, BE 2024
Bobel is a toadstool who dreams of becoming a chef at the village market. But as a poisonous mushroom, he has to face the villagers’ prejudices.

Jury statement: ‘Because the characters’ way of speaking is creative and visually well represented,
... because we were impressed by the design of the felt figures,
... because the story conveys a lot of emotions,
... because the film demonstrates that looks aren’t everything,
... and because it shows what good friends can achieve,
... the children’s jury awards the Best Kids award to Bobel’s Kitchen by Fiona Rolland.’

SPECIAL MENTION KIDS FILM COMPETITION: Mojappy -It’s mine!- – Nijitaro, JP 2025

Mojappi are three cheeky little animals that live in the forest. When they see that their friends are eating pancakes, they do everything they can to get them.
Jury statement: ‘Because an exciting story is told in a short time,
... because the movie made us laugh,
... because the protagonists want to annoy the others but achieve the opposite,
... because each character has their own strength,
... and because in the end, they all become friends, despite everything,
... the children’s jury awards the Special Mention to Mojappy -It’s mine!- by Nijitaro.’

SWISS ANIMATION INDUSTRY AWARD
Jury: Aubry Mintz (US), Lucija Mrzljak (HR), Julie Rousson (FR)

SWISS ANIMATION INDUSTRY AWARD: What makes us human? – Lars Würgler, CH 2025
Jury statement: ‘This impactful commissioned film reminds us that we are all in the same boat. It connects us to deep philosophical questions and engages us emotionally through a unique, simplified yet artistic style. The film reaches its aims by fostering discussion about the human cost of global warming and broad issues surrounding it. The production design embodies a “less is more” approach allowing us to relate in an impactful way. The Swiss Animation Industry Award goes to What makes us human? by Lars Würgler.’

SPECIAL MENTION SWISS ANIMATION INDUSTRY AWARD: TED-Ed: What happens to your brain without any social contact? – Camille Bovey, CH 2025
Jury statement: ‘This piece talks about an experience that impacted us recently as a global population and reminds us that we tend to forget the everyday life of those we do not see behind walls and locks. It also reminds us how vital, physically and mentally, it is to stay connected to each other. From an educational point of view, the poetic and metaphorical imagery brings the complexity of emotions and struggles onscreen. The Special Mention goes to TED-Ed: What happens to your brain without any social contact? by Camille Bovey.’

FLYING ANIDOC AWARD
Jury: Francesca Scalisi (CH), Dunja Keller (CH), Andrea Giovarruscio (CH), Dayan Aliprandi (CH)
Shadows – Rand Beiruty, JO/FR 2024

Ahlam, a 15-year-old girl, tries to escape from Baghdad, the only home she has ever known. At a crowded airport, she battles the lurking shadows and fights for her freedom and her dream of independence.

Jury statement: ‘By intertwining a profound interview with the imagery of the quintessential non-place of an airport, the film carries us through the protagonist’s journey of inner liberation, revealing the resilience of a life far too young to have endured such violence. We believe this film will reach thousands of passengers in flight, leaving them with translucent colours that layer the shadows of the past with the shapes of a future of self-determination. The Flying Anidoc Award goes to Shadows by Rand Beiruty.’

The Audience Award for the International Competition was given to the Armenian/Estonian/Belgian/French stop-motion film 'Winter in March' by Natalia Mirzoyan; the audience award for the Swiss Competition & Special Mention Youth Jury was given to 'Double or Nothing' by Tokay.

Fantoche Awards 2025
 

The next Fantoche International Animation Festival will take place 1-6 September 2026.

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