Editorial

From 2 September, “Roll’em!” will be the order of the day for Baden: over five days, cin­emas, exhibition spaces and the Merker Areal will be opening their doors exclusively for Fantoche and all things of animation.

Once again this year, the competitions offer a colourful bunch of films in a wide range of genres, narrative styles and animation techniques, and a host of moods and sentiments. In addition, audiences can expect a selection of exciting and quirky feature films, along with four themed programmes: we’ve got Japan as our Focus Country, “War and Peace” to celebrate the 1714 Treaty of Baden, the well­ established “Animation goes Multimedia” pro­gramme thread and – with “Animation yesterday, today, tomorrow” – a tour d’horizon of European animation film. As usual, of course, the younger audience and animation profes­sionals will also get their own programme threads tailored to their interests.

Animation can be graceful, entertaining, innovative and experimental, and all these styles will be showcased at Fantoche 2014. What’s more, it will become particularly clear this year: that animation makes an important contribution to serious social themes. Animation can incriminate, take a political stand, open the audience’s eyes to social ills and personal tragedies. With statements like these, it carries a lot of weight where culture is concerned.

And so, we wish our valued public not only lots of fun for Fantoche’s 2014 outing, but also gains in awareness, and powerful visual experiences.

On behalf of the Fantoche team: Annette Schindler, Festival Director