16th StopTrik IFF: Stop Motion Animation for Children Official Selection Announced
StopTrik takes Maribor young audiences for an exciting worldwide journey of stop motion marvels. From Argentina, through Spain, France, Hungary, to South Korea and Taiwan, any place where animated puppets, clay figures, and objects shine the brightest!
The Selectors, Brina Fekonja and Jelena Dragutinović, say: We've received a little fewer than 100 short animated films for the children's competition programme. Congratulations to all filmmakers who are still creating in the stop motion animation technique! The selected films are brave attempts to convey important messages to our youngest audiences, helping us understand the world around us and within us. Deeply moving, sincere, funny, artistically original and technically accomplished – we can't wait to see them on the big screen! And we can’t wait to welcome Maribor’s youth to these screenings!
“Official Selection: International Competition Stop Motion Animation for Children” is showcased in three separate competitive screening blocks. The Audiences, in their respective age groups (6-8 years old, 11-12 years old, 13-14 years old), grant their Awards. The screenings will be held on September 21-22, 2026 in Maribor Puppet Theatre and Vetrinjski dvor in Maribor.
International Competition: Stop Motion Animation for Children I
6-8 years old
Screening date and venue: 09:00am, September 22, 2026 (Tuesday),
Vetrinjski dvor, ul. Vetrinjska 30, 2000 Maribor, Slovenia
01. Camille & Chameleon, dir. Lucie Nichelmann, prod. Hug Films, 2026, Germany, 12’30’’
02. I Don't Know What to Do, dir. Akshita Tyagi, Leyla Belarbi, Lia Macruz, prod. BAU Art and Design College in Barcelona, 2025, Spain, 4’30’’
03. Get a Grip, dir. Abbey Collings, prod. National Film Board of Canada, 2025, Canada, 1’40’’
04. Tokiori, dir. Nino Vispo, prod. Can Can Club, 2026, Argentina, 1’58’’
05. Piccolo Piccolo, dir. Marta Gennari, prod. Folimage, Nadasdy Film, 2025, France, Switzerland, 8’30’’
06. An Ode to Dogs / Oda a los perritos, dir. Maria Zancolli, prod. Can Can Club, 2025, Argentina, 1’34’’
International Competition: Stop Motion Animation for Children II
9-11 years old
Screening date and venue: 11:00am, September 21, 2026 (Monday),
Maribor Puppet Theatre, Vojašniški trg 2A, 2000 Maribor, Slovenia
01. Into the Forest / Vers la forêt, dir. Niclass Antonin, prod. Isabelle Zampiero, 2026, Switzerland, 9’55’’
02. Home Mouse /《宅鼠了》 (Zhaishule), dir. Chia Hui Lei, prod. EKA Estonian Academy of Arts, 2026, Estonia, 8’16’’
03. Backstreet Birds / Pingvinas ir Balandis, 2025, dir. Gertrūda Nemčauskaitė, prod. Kadrų Skyrius, Lithuania, 7’22’’
04. Sapling, dir. Connor Yarish, prod. Slumbo Animation, 2025, Canada, Czechia, 5’50’’
05. Battery Grandma /《건전지 할머니》 (Geonjeonji Halmeoni), dir. Jeon Seungbae, prod. Toyville Studio, 2026, South Korea, 9’46’’
06. 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, 5’11’’
International Competition: Stop Motion Animation for Children III
12-14 years old
Screening date and venue: 11:00am, September 22, 2026 (Tuesday),
Vetrinjski dvor, ul. Vetrinjska 30, 2000 Maribor, Slovenia
01. A Serious Thought / Öömõtted, dir. Jonas Taul, prod. Nukufilm, 2026, Estonia, 16’30’’
02. Cartoon Physics, dir. Ru Kuwahata, Max Porter, prod.Miyu Productions, Ka-Ching Cartoons, Hélium Films, 2026, France, Netherlands, Switzerland, 10’50’’
03. King Ubu / Ubu Roi, dir. Romane Tulli-Houzet, prod. Scalae Productions, 2025, France, 2’22’’
04. 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, 13’
05. Fire in My Pocket / Lángbogár a zsebemben, dir. Janka Feiner, prod. Moholy-Nagy University of Arts and Design, 2026, Hungary, 10’02’’
06. SHORTS FROM THE BOX: Personal Space, dir. Géza M. Tóth, prod. KEDD Studio, 2025, Hungary, 7’15’’
Selectors: Brina Fekonja (Slovenia), Jelena Dragutinović (Slovenia)