STOPTRIK 2026 MARIBOR AUDIENCE GRAND PRIX STOP MOTION ANIMATION

Ball Face, dir. & prod. Laurence Thérien, 2026, UK, Canada

STOPTRIK 2026 MARIBOR AUDIENCE GRAND PRIX BORDERLANDS

The Truth Rejects You, Cornelius / La veritat et gira l'esquena, Cornelius, dir. Khris Cembe, Marc Torices, prod. Hampa Studio, Mr. Miyagi, Ruibarbo, TPO, 2026, Spain’

STOPTRIK 2026 MARIBOR STUDENTS JURY

Maribor Student Jury: Melani Kumin, Gloria Džankić, Jan Svenšek

Stop motion animation AWARD

Pembe & Eflatun, dir. Alix Bortoli, Dal Park, prod. Minem Sezgin de Boer, 2025, The Netherlands

The film, with its monochromatic imagery and the second most common material on Earth, sand, warns of a future in which society is dictated by capital, which produces constant wars and climate catastrophe, and where the needs of communities are neglected. These conditions have displaced a large part of the population, who, in hope, seek refuge, which they find in an old prison. The prison, a state-owned space of repression where the story also takes place, here represents a space for building a community according to the principles of "bottom-up". The space is reformed to raise a new generation.

Stop motion animation SPECIAL MENTION

Making It Fit, dir. Mariana Leal, prod. Animate Projects, 2025, UK

The film's box projection technique deals with the niche topic of the queer community. Oppression accompanies them even in death, as the opinions of those around them and those close to them are projected back onto them. This social issue does not protect the marginalized, not even at the legal level.

Borderlands AWARD

Banana Soup / Labouyi Bannann, dir. Geena Gasser, prod. Schattenkabinett, 2025, Switzerland

The subject animation humorously exposes colonialism in everyday and self-evident goods. Due to globalization and the extended food chain, not only small farmers suffer, but also the fruit itself, as its biodiversity is disappearing. The animation mixes elements of ethnic music and visualization, authentically presenting the region.

Borderlands SPECIAL MENIONS

Fly Train / 《褪色的透明列車》(Tuise de touming lieche), dir. & prod. Ria Riwen Zhang, 2025, Hong Kong

An introspective passenger ride that takes the viewer into a dreamy black and white experience through the unique technique of object animation and shadow play.

STOPTRIK 2026 MARIBOR YOUNG AUDIENCE GRAND PRIX (group age 6-8 years old)

Piccolo Piccolo, dir. Marta Gennari, prod. Folimage, Nadasdy Film, 2025, France, Switzerland

STOPTRIK 2026 MARIBOR YOUNG AUDIENCE GRAND PRIX (group age 9-11 years old)

Cell Buddies / Celmaatjes, dir. Melle Windig, Hidde Alberts, Jurgen de Smit, Arjen van der Plas, Miguel Reyes, prod. Sint Joost School of Art & Design, 2025, The Netherlands

STOPTRIK 2026 MARIBOR YOUNG AUDIENCE GRAND PRIX (group age 12-14 years old)

PAI PAI - EP06: Typhoon’s Coming /《我是陳派派》第六集：我要放颱風假！(《Wo shi Chen Paipai》diliuji: Wo yao fang taifeng jia!), dir. Hugo Huang, prod. TurnRhino Original Design Studio, 2025, Taiwan

AWARDS AND STATEMENTS 16th StopTrik International film festival