ANIMARKT Stop Motion Forum is the only industry event in the world focused on the most important problems and challenges connected with stop motion animation production. Its main purpose is to create a platform to share experiences and practices between stop motion film creators, distributors, broadcasters, producers, animation services providers and industry representatives from all around the world.
21 innovative stop motion film ideas from around the world have competed for international recognition and production support for their projects. The selected filmmakers had the chance to present their projects in front of international experts, producers and representatives of key production studios, opening the door to a global career in the world of animation, as well as securing partners and winning awards that will bring them closer to achieving their goal.
The projects presented a wide spectrum of genres, themes and techniques of stop-motion animation: from family drama and horror comedy to surrealism and ambitious documentaries. They address important contemporary themes such as migration, identity and environmental sustainability.
The Pitching section was divided into two categories, with 11 projects selected in each. Eligible for the first wetr short film projects in the development phase, with a running time of 25 minutes or less and with at least a first draft of the script completed. The second format focused on feature film and TV series projects, at various stages of development. A mandatory qualification in both cases was that a minimum of 80% of the animation was to be done in stop-motion.
Paulina Zacharek, president of MOMAKIN, the co-organizer of the Forum, said:
This year’s edition was unique, because we had a pleasure to organise the event in the newly opened Mediateka and we think that it gave the Pitching contest a more glamorous mood. Also the projects set the bar high. We are more than happy that we could host this event, set up a platform of networking between creators, producers and animation studios from all around the world as well as offer support to the projects. We hope that that’s the beginning of their successful story.
The finalists competed for valuable prizes to help bring their projects to life. Among them were: a voucher for a contribution (in kind to the equivalent of PLN 40 000) from the Wrocław Feature Film Studio; a package from APA LAB Awards containing: 5 nights’ accommodation at Unquillo, free accreditation to APA LAB – a special mentoring programme with B2B meetings; marketing consultations on audiences and funding from Animond Award; Dragonframe 5 software from the producer; accreditations for the Animator Pro festival and event from Animator International Animation Film Festival and accreditation for Young Horizons Industry and a place in the Project Pool section from the organiser.
The creators who took part in the pitching contest were supported by an exceptional tutors: Christophe Erbes (former director of European Kids TV at Canal+, SuperRTL, Nickelodeon, Disney; international consultant on children’s, youth and family media), Kike Ortega (Chilean director and animation series creator, his research focuses on sustainable animation using biomaterials and clean energy), Nancy Denney-Phelps (journalist specialising in European animation and festivals and animation music producer), Kerdi Oengo (executive producer of Estonian studio Nukufilm since 2005, which has produced more than 40 animated shorts), Piotr Knabe (versatile freelance artist with extensive experience in sculpture, mould making, creative engineering, character design, illustration, 3D modelling and 3D printing).
Robert Banasiak, Director of the Wrocław Feature Film Studio, said:
Supporting Pitching at the ANIMARKT Stop Motion Forum allows us to work with exceptional projects from all over the world, and our animation studio actively supports their development by bringing in experience and creativity. Thanks to these partnerships, we not only expand our portfolio, but also help projects reach their full potential.
This year, submissions once again had to be accompanied by a sustainable production plan for the film, which accounts for 10% of the evaluation of the overall project.
Awarded projects – SHORT FILM PROJECTS
- 40 000 PLN in kind contribution sponsored by the Wroclaw Feature Film Studio
project: SAUDADE, dir. Laura Moncada, prod. Laura Moncada, Daniel Virgüez
- APA LAB AWARDS, Cordoba (Argentina) in March 2025
project: SAUDADE, dir. Laura Moncada, prod. Laura Moncada, Daniel Virgüez
- Animond Award: Marketing, Audience and Financing Consultation
project: BARRO, dir. José Prats, prod. Andrew Oldbury, Holly Carrington
- CEE Animation Forum Award: qualification to the Out of Competition selection in 2025
project: 10.000 STEPS, dir. Joan Rubinat, Belinda Bonan, prod. Belinda Bonan
- IAFF Animator Award: accreditation for producer and director
project: IT CAME WITH THE TIDE, dir. Monja Dietrich, Vincent Suttner, prod. Monja Dietrich
- Dragonframe Award: Dragonframe 5 software
project: ONLY RATS, dir. Paz del Carre, prod. Leticia Montalvá
Awarded projects – FEATURE FILM & TV SERIES PROJECTS
- Animond Award: inclusion in Animond Catalogue
project: DANI’S FICTION RULES, dir. Coty Luzoro, prod. Kike Ortega
- CEE Animation Forum Award: qualification to the Out of Competition selection in 2025
project: NATURAL SELECTION, dir. Irida Zhonga, prod. Kostas Mylonas, Bruno Caetano, Irida Zhonga
- IAFF Animator Award: accreditation for producer and director
project: MICHEL CLUB, dir. Paul Mas, prod. Stéphanie Launay
- Dragonframe Award: Dragonframe 5 software
project: IF I DIE, dir. Esther Vital, prod. Camilo Cavalcanti
- Animarkt Award: 2025 Accreditation Award
project: NATURAL SELECTION, dir. Irida Zhonga, prod. Kostas Mylonas, Bruno Caetano, Irida Zhonga
- Animarkt Award: 2025 Accreditation Award
project: MICHEL CLUB, dir. Paul Mas, prod. Stéphanie Launay
Projects pitched during ANIMARKT have a better chance of being completed, as exemplified by the film Hello Summer by Martin Smatana and Veronika Zacharova (Slovakia/Czech Republic/France, prod. Studio Bororo/Maur Film/Last Films/Vivement Lundi) – the studio won the main prize during the Forum in 2021 and the audience award at the most important festival for the animation industry in the world held in Annecy in 2024.
Martin Smatana, director of Hello Summer, said:
During ANIMARKT 2021, I had the opportunity to consult on the story and presentation with Nancy Denney-Phelps and other consultants, who gave me very valuable and useful feedback, and I also found the French co-producer Jean-Francois LeCorre of Vivement Lundi, who approached me immediately after the Pitching and offered support. This ended up in a very nice collaboration, which allowed us to make the entire Hello Summer soundtrack in France and also to buy the rights to the famous Douliou Douliou Saint Tropez soundtrack.
