Fantoche


Fantoche is an animation film festival with international participation that takes place annually in the city of Baden, Switzerland.
The first Fantoche took place in 1995 with the goal to enrich the Swiss cultural life with an animation film festival of international reach. Today, Fantoche has become a multidisciplinary meeting point for visual media. All kinds of different animated films, most of them Short films but some feature-length movies as well, are shown in four different cinemas.
The festival sets various priorities like the Swiss film industry, children's film, history, Asia, the US, etc. The competition program aims to challenge the artistic border of animated films and to push it forward.

Award winner

In 2005, an amount of 23,000 Swiss francs was awarded in the following categories:
  • High Risk – Winner Craig Welch for Welcome to Kentucky
  • Hot Talent – Winner Takashi Kimura for Striking Daughter
  • Best Visual – Winner JJ Villard for Son of Satan
  • Best Sound – Winner Dmitrij Geller for Little Night Symphony
  • Best Idea/Best Script – Winner Arash Riahi for Mississippi
  • Audience Award – Winner Laura Neuvonen for The last Knit and Ivan Maksimov for The Wind Along the Coast
  • Minimotion – Winner Jean-Claude Campell for Metamorpho
In 2007, the prestigious jury prize was awarded to two Russian movies, which, in accordance to the jury, "particularly point out the innovative character of Russian animation films. The 10,000 francs worth main award was awarded to "Foolish Girl" by the Russian artist Zoija Kirejewa for "the celebration of a strange female character, an unconventional screenplay and its captured universality through brief moments of beautiful drawings, emotions and gestures".
In 2009, Fantoche introduced a Swiss competition with an award and an Audience Award. One year later, the national award "High Swiss Risk" was awarded as well. Furthermore, were there two new awards for children's films after 2009; one jury award and a children's Audience Award.

Award winners since 2009 by category

International Competition:
Best Film:
YearFilm titleAward WinnerNationality and year
2009LucíaCristóbal León, Joaquín Cociña, Niles AtallahCL 2007
2010In A Pig's EyeAtsushi WadaJP 2010
2011The External WorldDavid OReillyDE 2010
2012Oh Willy...Emma De Swaef, Marc James RoelsBE/FR/NL 2012
2013Gloria VictoriaTheodore UshevCA 2013
2014The Bigger PictureDaisy JacobsGB 2014
2015World of TomorrowDon HertzfeldtUS 2015
2016Before LoveIgor KovalyovRU 2015
2017The BurdenNiki Lindroth von BahrSE 2017
2018WildebeestNikolas Keppens, Matthias PhlipsBE 2017
2019DaughterDaria KashcheevaCZ 2019
2020Something to RememberNiki Lindroth von BahrSE 2019
2021The Fourth WallMahboobeh KalaeeIR 2021
2022Bird in the PeninsulaAtsushi WadaFR / JP 2022
2023Un genre de testamentStephen VuilleminFR 2023
2024This Is a Story Without a PlanCassie ShaoUS 2023

Audience Award:
YearFilm titleAward WinnerNationality and year
2009MutoBluIT 2008
2010Sinna MannAnita KilliNO 2009
2011Bon voyageFabio FriedliCH 2011
2012ChintiNatalia MirzoyanRU 2012
2013PandyMatúš VizárSQ/CZ 2013
2014My Own Personal MoseLeonid ShmelkovRU 2013
2015ChangeoverMehdi AlibeygiIR 2014
2016Mr MadilaRory Waudby-TolleyGB 2015
2017Negative SpaceMax Porter, Ru KuwahataFR 2017
2018
2019Sweet NightLia BertelsBE 2018
2020TiesDina VelikovskayaRU 2019
2021Affairs of the ArtJoanna QuinnGB 2020
2022Au revoir Jérôme!Adam Sillard, Gabrielle Selnet, Chloé FarrFR 2022
2023Our UniformYegane MoghaddamIR 2023
2024Pear GardenShadab ShayeganDE 2024

High Risk:
YearFilm titleAward WinnerNationality and year
2009Please Say Something
Ezurbeltzak, una fosa común
David OReilly
Izibene Oñederra
DE 2009
ES 2007
2010Love & TheftAndreas HykadeDE 2010
2011TwoSteven SubotnickUS 2011
2012KuhinaJoni MännistoFI 2011
2013FutonYoriko MizushiriJP 2012
2014Through the HawthornAnna Brenner, Pia Borg, Gemma BurdittGB 2014
2015EndgamePhil MulloyGB 2015
2016MonkeyJie ShenCN 2015
2017Vilaine filleAyce KartalFR 2017
2018FestNikita DiakurDE 2018
2019Acid RainTomek PopakulPL 2019
2020Freeze FrameSoetkin VerstegenSE 2019
2021Just a GuyShoko HaraDE 2020
2022EpicenterHeeyoon HahmKR 2022
2023Our PainShunsaku HayashiJP 2022
2024HIC SVNT DRACONESJustin FayardFR 2024

New Talent:
YearFilm titleAward WinnerNationality and year
2009NoteboekEvelien LohbeckNL 2008
2010KuchaoMasaki OkudaJP 2010
2011Chroniques de la poisseOsman CerfonFR 2010
2012BellyJulia PottGB 2011
2013ZiegenortTomasz PopakulPL 2013
2014The WoundAnna BudanovaRU 2013
2015The Pride of StrathmoorEinar BaldvinUS 2014
2016ForeverZhong SuCN 2016
2017UglyNikita DiakurDE 2017
2018Bloeistraat 11Nienke DeutzBE 2018
2019La plongeuseIulia VoitovaCZ 2019
2020PrécieuxPaul MasFR 2020
2021Ten, Twenty, Thirty, Forty, Fifty Miles a DayMathieu GeorisBE 2020
2022SierraSander JoonEE 2022
2023DrijfLevi StoopsBE 2023
2024New TalentTabac froid, Arthur JamainFR 2023

Best Story :
YearFilm titleAward WinnerNationality and year
2009ChainsawDennis TupicoffAU 2007
2010Divers in the RainOlga Pärn, Priit PärnEE 2010
2011Tord och TordNiki Lindroth von BahrSE 2010
2012The Great RabbitAtsushi WadaFR/JP 2012
2013PandyMatúš VizárSQ/CZ 2013

Best Visual:
YearFilm titleAward WinnerNationality and year
2009Madame Tutli-PutliChris Lavis, Maciek SzczerbowskiCA 2007
2010Get Real!Evert de BeijerNL 2010
2011AmarIsabel HergueraES 2010
2012What happens when children don't eat soupPawel PrewenckiPL 2011
2013BathTomeck DuckiPL/GB 2013
2014WonderMirai MizueJP/FR 2014
2015ErlkönigGeorges SchwizgebelCH 2015
2016Among the Black WavesAnna BudanovaRU 2016
2022Au revoir Jérôme!Adam Sillard, Gabrielle Selnet, Chloé FarrFR 2022
2024Pear GardenShadab ShayeganDE 2024

Best Sound:
YearFilm titleAward WinnerNationality and year
2009Drux FluxTheodore UshevCA 2008
2010Divers in the RainOlga Pärn, Priit PärnEE 2010
2011AmarIsabel HergueraES 2010
2012663114Isamu HorabayashiJP 2012
2013Sock Skewer Street 8Elli VuorinenFI 2013
2014Snow HutYoriko MizushiriJP 2013
2015RhizomeBoris LabbéFR 2015
2016Any RoadBoris Labbé, Daniele GhisiFR 2016
2017Impossible Figures and Other Stories IIMarta PajekPL 2016
2018Solar WalkRéka BucsiDK 2018
2019Toomas Beneath the Valley of the Wild WolvesChintis LundgrenEE / HR / FR 2019
2020Cage MatchBryan LeeUS 2019
2021Anxious BodyYoriko MizushiriFR 2021
2023CyclepathsAnton ClaBE 2023

National Competition:
Best Swiss:
YearFilm titleAward WinnerNationality and year
2009Flowerpots
Retouches
Rafael Sommerhalder
Georges Schwizgebel
GB/CH 2008
CH/CA 2008
2010MiramareMichaela MüllerHR/CH 2009
2011Bon voyageFabio FriedliCH 2011
2012La Nuit de l'OursSamuel und Fred GuillaumeCH 2012
2013Plug & PlayMichael FreiCH 2013
2014Oh WalJoana LocherCH 2014
2015ErlkönigGeorges SchwizgebelCH 2015
2016Das Leben ist hartSimon SchnellmannDE/CH 2015
2017AirportMichaela MüllerCH/HR 2017
2018The Cannonball WomanAlbertine Zullo, David ToutevoixCH / FR / CA 2017
2019The Flood is ComingGabriel BöhmerGB / CH 2018
2020Aletsch NegativeLaurence BonvinCH 2019
2021EcorceSamuel Patthey, Silvain MonneyCH 2020
2022La reine des renardsMarina RossetCH 2022
2023Die graue MarchCharlotte Waltert, Alvaro SchoeckCH 2023
2024Sans voixSamuel PattheyCH 2024

Audience Award:
YearFilm titleAward WinnerNationality and year
2009SignalisAdrian FlückigerCH 2008
2010HeimatlandAndrea Schneider, Loretta Arnold, Marius Portmann, Fabio FriedliCH 2010
2011BorderlineDustin ReesCH 2011
2012La Nuit de l'OursSamuel und Fred GuillaumeCH 2012
2013The KioskAnete MeleceCH 2013
2014AubadeMauro CarraroCH 2012
2015D'ombres et d'ailesElice Meng, Eleonora MarinoniCH/FR 2015
2016Analysis ParalysisAnete MeleceCH 2016
2017In a NutshellFabio FriedliCH 2017
2018Drôle de poissonKrishna Chandran A. NairFR / CH 2017
2019Le dernier jour d'automneMarjolaine PerretenGB / CH 2018
2020SignsDustin ReesCH 2020
2021EcorceSamuel Patthey, Silvain MonneyCH 2020
2022La reine des renardsMarina RossetCH 2022
2023La colline aux caillouxMarjolaine PerretenCH 2023
2024DieterRolf BroennimannCH 2024

High Swiss Risk:
YearFilm titleAward WinnerNationality and year
2010Cronache marxianeLaura SolariCH 2009
2011Logged InStephanie Cuérel, Joshua SchaubCH 2010
2012Zmitzt drinCecile BrunCH 2011
2013Washed AshoreJonas OttNL 2012
2014CyclopèdesMathieu EpineyCH 2014
2015Ivan's NeedVeronica L. Montaño, Manuela Leuenberger, Lukas SuterCH 2015
2016Analysis ParalysisAnete MeleceCH 2016
2017Living Like HetaBianca Caderas, Isabella Luu, Kerstin ZempCH 2017
2018SELFIESClaudius GentinettaCH 2018
2019KIDSMichael FreiGB / CH 2018
2020Little Miss FateJoder von RotzCH 2020
2021JeroboamBianca CaderasDE 2020
2022Manchmal weiss ich nicht wo die SonneSamanta AquilinoCH 2021
2023PipesKilian Feusi, Jessica Meier, Sujanth RavichandranCH 2022
2024La PerraCarla Melo GampertCO / CH 2023

New Swiss Talent:
YearFilm titleAward WinnerNationality and year
2016
2017ImmersionLalita BrunnerCH 2016
2018Travelogue Tel AvivSamuel PattheyCH 2017
2019BraisesEstelle Gatlen, Sarah RothenbergerCH 2018
2020The EdgeZaide Kutay, Géraldine CammisarCH 2020
2021SaunaAnna Lena Spring, Lara PerrenCH 2021
2022The RecordJonathan LaskarCH 2022
2023CrevetteSven Bachmann, Noémi Knobil, Jill Vágner, Elina HuberCH 2023
2024About a CowPavla BaštanováCZ / CH 2023

Award „Best Kids“:
Best Kids:
YearFilm titleAward WinnerNationality and year
2009The Incredible Story of My Great Grandmother OliveAlberto RodriguezGB 2009
2010Der präzise PeterMartin SchmidtDE 2010
2011Fluffy Mc CloudConor FinneganIE 2010
2012ZingKyra Buschor, Cynthia CollingsDE 2012
2013Hedgehogs and the CityEvalds LacisLV 2013
2014Pik Pik PikDmitry VysotskiyRU 2014
2015LilaCarlos LascanoAR/ES 2014
2016L'arbreLucie SunkovaFR/CZ 2015
2017EthnophobiaJoan ZhongaAL/GR 2016
2018Fruits of CloudsKateřina KarhánkováCZ 2017
2019The Bird and the WhaleCarol FreemanIE 2018
2020Avec le do de la cuillèreLaurent Wassouf, Clément Crosnier, Edgard Cros, Theoline Chapas, Nolwenn Pétereau, Nedellec Anouk, Lucas AncelFR 2019
2021Le criCharlotte Chouisnard, Ninon Dodemant, Baptiste Leclerc, Solène Michel, Justine Parasote, Anouk Segura-DiazFR 2020
2022LOOPPablo PolledriES 2021
2023The Pirate and the CelloAndreï SokolovRU 2023
2024BubblesLezhi XiaoCN 2023

Children's Audience Award:
YearFilm titleAward WinnerNationality and year
2009The Incredible Story of My Great Grandmother OliveAlberto RodriguezGB 2009
2010Der präzise PeterMartin SchmidtDE 2010
2011Fluffy Mc CloudConor FinneganIE 2010
2012ZingKyra Buschor, Cynthia CollingsDE 2012
2013Hedgehogs and the CityEvalds LacisLV 2013
2014Le vélo de l’éléphantOlesya ShchukinaFR/BE, 2014
2015Johnny ExpressKyungmin WooKR 2014
2016Taking the PlungeElizabeth Ku-Herrero, Nicolas Manfredi, Marie Raoult, Thaddaeus AndreadesUS 2015
2017EthnophobiaJoan ZhongaAL/GR 2016
2018PinguinJulia OckerDE 2017
2019ElefantJulia OckerDE 2018
2020Apple Tree ManAlla VartanyanRU 2020
2021InkJoost van den Bosch, Erik VerkerkNL 2020
2022LOOPPablo PolledriES 2021
2023The Pirate and the CelloAndreï SokolovRU 2023
2024The SwineherdMagnus Igland Møller, Peter SmithDK 2023

Other categories:
Badener Prize of Honor:
YearFilm titleAward WinnerNationality and year
2015Tik TakÜlo PikkovEE 2015
2016Blind VayshaTheodore UshevCA 2016

A selection of the films can be watched in different Swiss cities under the name Fantoche on Tour.