Fredrikstad Animation Festival 2008 har kåret sine prisvinnere. Kjernen i festivalen er den nordisk-baltiske konkurransen og festivalens egen pris, Golden Gunnar, som i år gikk til filmen Inherent obligations.

Den estiske filmen Inherent Obligations (foto) av Rao Heidmets fikk festivalens Grand Prix. Festivalen nominerer også denne filmen til den europiske prisen Cartoon d´Or 2009. 

Årets internasjonale jury besto av Linda Fagerli Sæthren (Norge), Peter Hausner (Danmark) og Amid Amidi (USA).

Her er årets vinnerfilmer:

Beste nordisk-baltiske studentfilm

The Last Elephant  (foto) av Antti Laakso, Finland

Juryens begrunnelse:
"This film shows promise and talent with its playful use of animation techniques, strong personality animation and confident storytelling that mixes traumatic experiences with humor."

Beste nordisk-baltiske oppdragsfilm

En reise i vannets fremtid av Susanne Flender, Norge

Juryens begrunnelse:
"For commissioned work, we chose the title sequence to the documentary The Future of Water. We appreciated its strong visual concept, and its bold and elegant execution."

Beste nordisk-baltiske kortfilm

Min Bestemor Beijing av Mats Grorud, Norge

Juryens begrunnelse:
"A sweet allegorical tale that shows the personal effects of the rapid industrial modernization of China. The film doesn’t hit its audience over the head with its message, and takes advantage of the animation medium to make its point in a charming and disarming manner."

Hederlig omtale:

Lydskygger av Julie Engaas, Norge

Juryens begrunnelse:
"An effective use of animation to illustrate otherwise unportrayable emotions and senses. The film enhances our understanding of the challenges faced by blind people, and helps us to see the sounds that they can only hear."

Hederlig omtale:

Sagan om den lille dockpojken av Johannes Nyholm, Sverige

Juryens begrunnelse:
"The production values in this stop-motion short are lo-fi to the core, but the gags, characterizations and timing are razor-sharp. It made the entire jury laugh harder than any other film in competition."

Golden Gunnar Grand Prix

Inherent obligations av Rao Heidmets, Estland

Juryens begrunnelse:
"This film offers a disturbing view of contemporary media and culture that made us laugh and think at the same time. The film showcases a complete creative vision with its unconventional narrative structure and masterful mix of pixilation and stop-motion animation. Additionally, the film’s hypnotic visual rhythm holds the viewer spellbound from start to finish."

Audience Award

Eat Shit and Die (foto) av Anders Morgenthaler, Danmark

Life Time Achievement

Lejf Marcussen, Danmark

Norsk Animasjonsforums begrunnelse:

"We want to honour Lejf Marcussen with a Life Time Achievement Award for his visual inventiveness, technical superiority, sophisticated musicality and in general for his outstanding contribution to the art of animation."