This was an interesting year for the Norwegian Fredrikstad Animation Festival (24-27 October 2024), which continues to assert its position in the Nordic animation world -and beyond. A programme full of indie animation films, and a festival that expanded from its Nordic-Baltic competition to a separate global short competition.

The Estonian animation veteran Priit Pärn (in person, with Olga Pärn) was there to collect another of his (well-deserved) Lifetime Achievement Awards; but also to get the Nordic premiere of their latest, 33-minute animation short 'Luna Rossa'.

The industry events were divided between the business and the arthouse sector, while the festival's focus on Nordic-Baltic films permitted a comprehensive overview of what is at stake in the corresponding scene.

Swedish Carolina Sandvik won the best Nordic-Baltic Animated Short film with her puppet doomed romance 'The Lovers'; the Latvian Edmunds Jansons was the winner in Grand Prix for a Short Film, with his experimental musical-themed, 'Freeride in C'. And Nina Gantz won the Global Short Film competition with her 'Wander to Wonder' puppet short.

Gints Zilbalodis won another award at the festival, for Best Nordic-Baltic Animation Feature film for his animal survival parable, 'Flow'. The Norwegian Øyvind Tangseth was the recipient of the audience award, with his morbidly funny 'Dead Weight'. And Torrill Kove won the Best Nordic-Baltic Animated Youth Film for her 'Maybe Elephants' autobiographical story into Africa.

The Full List of FAF 2024 Winners

Best Nordic-Baltic Animated Short Film:
The Lovers, Director: Carolina Sandvik / Sweden, 2023

Justification: This film really dissects contemporary romantic relationships, showing us with horrible sensuality their outer and inner layers.

Best Nordic-Baltic Animated Feature Film:
Flow, Director: Gints Zilbalodis / Latvia, France, Belgium, 2024

Justification: This year's winner of the Nordic-Baltic Feature Film competition took us on a journey of wonder and danger. It's a movie for all ages, a story that talks about the current situation of the world we live in, yet feels timeless. It's a film that can touch us all regardless of nationality.

It's a film that uses its stunning artwork to enhance simple yet rich and powerful storytelling about friendship and coming together in times of hardship and struggle, a beautiful narrative fueled with empathy and flawless animation. It's a film that achieves telling a story about humanity through animals and conveying feelings, emotions, and intentions without using a single word of dialogue.

 
Best Global Animated Short Film:
Wander to Wonder, Director: Nina Gantz, Netherlands, 2023

Justification: This film is simultaneously realistic and completely surreal, taking media nostalgia to almost metaphysical levels. The technical delivery is masterful, giving pickles the screen time they deserve.
 
Best Nordic-Baltic Animated Commissioned Film:
Mayfly Vienna, Director: Sam Gainsborough, Norway, England, 2024

Justification: Mayfly Vienna is a riotous joy, full stop. A commissioned film that fulfills its brief with such aplomb, charm, and wit, that one is left buzzing. The marriage between animation and live-action is brilliantly vibrant.  
 
Special Mention Commissioned Film:
Slomosa - Cabin Fever, Director: Andreas Emil Lund, Norway, 2023

 
Best Nordic-Baltic Animated Student Film:
The Rip, Director: Ditte Lindroth, Anna Furenmo, Sweden, 2023

Justification: This film tells about a deep crisis through the eyes of a little girl, guiding us cleverly between the registers of drama and humor. Its visual and narrative style takes us with ease into a child’s universe.
 
Best Nordic-Baltic Animated Youth Film:
Maybe Elephants, Director: Torill Kove, Norway, Canada, 2024

Justification: The film we liked the most has a deep story. It is sad yet beautiful at the same time. It showcased a different culture, which was exciting. It was enjoyable to watch, with beautiful colors, music, and great animation.
 

Special Mention Youth Film:
The Rip, Director: Ditte Lindroth, Anna Furenmo, Sweden, 2023

Justification: This film was sad but had an important theme. It showed that everyone can have a hard time. It was nice that there was a happy ending. The music was good, and the animation was cool.
 
Best Nordic-Baltic Animated Children's Film:
Hoofs on skates, Director: Ignas Meilūnas, Lithuania, 2024

Justification: The film we liked the most is very funny, with amusing characters that were well made. It has nice patterns and good visuals and sound.
 
Special Mention Children's Film:
Vera in Dorni Valley, Director: Noah A. Hall, Sweden, 2024

Justification: This film is very good because it shows a lot of emotions, with parts that are sad and difficult, and parts that turn out well. It addresses an important theme. We also liked the drawing.
 
Audience Award: 
Dead Weight, Director: Øyvind Tangseth, Norway, 2024

Grand Prix:

Freeride in C, Director: Edmunds Jansons, Latvia, 2024

Justification: With its powerful rhythm, this film took us on a dynamic ride, giving hommage to the masters of abstract animation with a perfect symbiosis of animation, music and sound and simple, yet effective visuals.

Fredrikstad Animation Festival took place 24-27 October 2024 in Fredrikstad, Norway.

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