Friese-Jury Statement

The film “Bats&Bugs” convinced us not only with its heart-warming and humorous storyline, but also by highlighting just how important insects are to a diverse environment. Moths, fireflies and a baby bat bridge the gap between day and night as they take flight, telling a story of friendship that extends far beyond a mango tree.

Friese-Jury Statement

In the film “Cellmate” we were captivated by how a new friendship showed what can be achieved when people are there for one another. We were particularly impressed by the characters, which were created with great attention to detail, and we look forward to more adventures featuring the manatee and raccoon friendship.

Mo-Jury Statement:

This year’s winning film is “Abracadabra” by Amay Mehrishi. We particularly liked this film because it focuses on the friendship between the children. We also found it fascinating that the story takes place almost entirely on a bus and is told without any jumps in time. This made it very easy for us to follow the plot and really empathise with the characters. What’s more, the film makes you think and shows just how important friendship can be.

Mo-Jury Statement:

This year’s honourable mention goes to “Tutti” by Rong Zuo Zhuang. We particularly liked how the film shows that friendship means supporting one another and sticking together. Music also plays an important role in the story. Some of us play an instrument ourselves, so we were able to identify strongly with the characters. The film beautifully illustrates how we can grow together and overcome challenges.

Neon-Jury Statement

Together with the lead actress we are immersed in the world of a young mother. The director takes us into the world of a teenager who wants to live a normal life and at the same time has to fulfil her obligations as a mother in order to keep her child.
The portrayal of the mother-child relationship in particular stands out due to its organic nature. The images mostly do not appear staged, but almost documentary in style. InIn  In addition the use of dance to express the lead actress’s emotions takes this form of storytelling to a whole new level, one that goes far beyond what would be possible with words alone.
The images are expressive enough to tell the story, yet combined with sensitive dialogue, consistently fitting music and a very pleasant sound design, the film becomes a work of art in audiovisual storytelling.

Neon-Jury Statement

The film stands out not only for its concept and acting, but also for its artistry in telling a story driven by profound, vivid characters. Rather than resorting to stereotypes, it deals with challenging themes and a deep sibling bond that extends far beyond the cinematic realm.
The cinematography and colour palette draws you into the story – as if on a warm summer’s day – allowing the viewer to immerse themselves more deeply in this world. The visual language is crucial here, making the interplay feel organic and natural. Through this level the film conveys its message in a powerful way.

ECFA-Jury Statement  

First of all, we would like to express that it was a hard choice, as there were quite a few very strong films in the competition.
We finally agreed on a film that takes us straight into a child’s mind, where feelings that cannot be put into words take on a physical form. By following a small distraction, the protagonist enters a colorful, adventurous and expressive world, accompanied by a flame as an imaginary friend. Within this space, the boy also encounters the darker corners of his mind and feelings, and we as an audience explore them right alongside him.
Visually, the film is a burst of creativity that combines 2D and 3D animation, stop-motion, puppet animation, and real-life elements—including time lapses of rapidly growing mushrooms—creating a surreal environment with flying insect-like creatures and slime overtaking whole areas. As the boy goes deeper into his imagination, the images start to feel increasingly alive, becoming almost more real than his everyday world.
For children, the film embraces their inner lives—celebrating imaginary friends, boundless play, and magical worlds, encouraging them to face and express their emotions. For adults, it opens a mesmerizing window into how children think, dream, and phantasize, and shows how important it is to give them the space and safety to follow their daydreams.
The jury selected this film for its creative uniqueness, its wide technical range, and its timeless message.
We are very happy to announce that the ECFA Short Film Award goes to “Fire in My Pocket” by Janka Feiner.