photos: Daniela Kičić

from www.zavod-iskra.org/stoptrik:

August, 29th

Stoptrik IFF ended on Sunday, August 28th.  For the whole weekend Maribor audience admired international achievements of stop motion animation in seven festival selections. More than 50 people attended screenings held in Dvorana Gustaf, Kino Udarnik and Udarnik na prostem discovering different outlooks and approaches represented in selected films. Programme of 1^st Stoptrik IFF embraced works of most acclaimed artists of stop motion (Jan Švankmajer, Jiří Barta, Quay Brothers), winners of international animated film festivals (Wirgil Vidrich, Špela Čadež, Marek Skrobecki) as well as films made by independent artists (Monika Kuczyniecka, Kijek/Adamski, Leon Vidmar). Not only Stoptrik began as an opportunity to explore diversity of this specific form of art but also as an event which carefully examines national cinematographies and builds intercultural understanding. This year Stoptrik presented selection of classical films from Triglav Studio and contemporary productions from Poland. Last screening of the Festival, "First Experiments" presented silent works of Władysław Starewicz, artist of borderland, with exclusively Polish music played by MHX from Kraków. Special guest of Stoptrik Festival, Ambassador of The Republic of Poland in Ljubljana, Mr. Cezary Król enjoyed last Stoptrik screening in Dvorana Gustaf and expressed his admiration for new initiatives based on intercultural respect, exchange and curiosity. Stoptrik, new event in Maribor, haven't limited itself into film review. In the last weekend of August Dvorana Gustaf was a part of wider cultural and artistic movement in Maribor. Saturday's Stoptrik party started with performence of live musical improvisation combined with stop motion visualization and proceeded with DJ Kozmonaut's set. The event gathered large audience. Stoptrik enters now time of development and optimistically looks for continuation in 2012.  Thanks to network of film culture institutions (Pekarna magdalenske mreže, Zavod Udarnik, Animateka, Se-ma-for FF, SFA, Krakow Film Festival, Etiuda & Anima IFF) and national and international cooperation (Mestna Občina Maribor, The Embassy of The Republic of Poland, Urad Republike Slovenije Za Mladino, Youth in Action, Maribor 2012 European Capital of Culture) Maribor had a chance to gain new quality cultural event.