StopTrik International Film Festival
Slovenian-Polish festival of stop motion animation
StopTrik IFF, a unique international celebration of worldwide stop motion animation takes place in two European countries, Slovenia (Maribor) and Poland (Łódź). Once a year the city of Maribor becomes an alternative capital of animation thanks to the festival of highest quality film programme, inspiring additi
onal events and inventive professional workshops of stop motion filmmaking. StopTrik vibe tears down the “red carpet” barriers – the audiences, guest filmmakers, and the organizers spend time together watching films, discussing traditions and new trends of animation, creating new works, and partying at the end of the day. A new kind of relationship between the audiences and the artists emerges at the StopTrik - the viewers are positioned in the role of the jurors deciding about the main festival's prizes. INTERNATIONAL STOP MOTION COMPETITION outlines the best contemporary achievements (professional, student, and independent production) in the field of traditional use of stop motion techniques (puppet film, claymation, objects / loose materials animation, pixilation, cut-out, etc.). THE BORDERLANDS COMPETITION stands out as a celebration of experimental approaches towards stop motion and emphasizes limitless possibilities of combining it with other means of animation techniques and cinematic expression (live-action included). Since 2022 StopTrik IFF presents also STOP MOTION FOR CHILDREN, i.e., competitive programmes engaging the youngest viewers in the processes of discussing and evaluating aesthetic and humanistic qualities of stop motion films. Each year a specific subject related to the problems of culture, society, and politics is being discussed by the examples of the films presented in special thematic retrospectives; this reflection also reoccurs in the themes of additional events such as panel discussions, exhibitions, performances, etc. The past editions posed questions about rebellious animation and propaganda film, animated cinemas from Latin American countries, feminism and animation as well as mythological storytelling. International dimension of the festival becomes clearly visible through artistic programme as well as fruitful and creative cooperation with festival co-organizers in Poland. Since 2012 complimentary editions of the festival have been held in various locations in Poland (formerly Niepołomice and Bielsko-Biala), and currently the Festival is held in Lodz. Stop motion is one of oldest techniques of animation that embraces a whole spectrum of different artistic approaches towards this specific film medium. Stop motion artists animate puppets, clay figures, random three dimensional and loose objects, cut-out papers or even human bodies. Extraordinary realities are brought to life by the magic of frame-by-frame photography that releases illusory movements and powerful transformations. It is an exceptional kind of cinema – emotional, intimate, and aesthetically sophisticated yet familiar and engaging. Fascinating art of stop motion uses contemporary technological innovations however digital tools do not turn animation into sterile 3D pictures. Stop motion is breathtaking not breathless.
