Two years have passed since the last Festival of Animation Berlin (FAB). After the renowned and popular work show from the animated worlds seemed shortly before the end last year, it is now back with concentrated strength and presents itself more vital than ever. The festival will take place again in Silent Green and City Kino Wedding from September 26th to 28th and there is a lot to do: The best animated films of the past two years are shown. A total of 131 contributions from 33 countries can be admired in Berlin next weekend. In addition to a handful of long films, the FAB once again devotes itself to the short shape and thus the preferred playground of young, aspiring talents. The entire variety and range of the animated film can be experienced: 2D, 3D, stop motion, handdrawn, mixed media and much more
The films presented compete in six competitions: international and German animated film, new talents (works by students), animated feature film, Pink Panda (works for a younger audience, divided into: preschool, elementary school and secondary school) as well as animated order work, which is devoted to animations in advertising, image film, music video etc.
The focus of the FAB 2025 is a country with Japan, which considers animation art as part of its cultural DNA. Unlike in the western world, in which cartoon films – at least in the general public – were long seen as “children’s stuff” (as if that was something bad or less substantial), animation in Japanese culture always had an outstanding status. Drafts like Hiroshigen or Hokusai are among the most important Japanese artists of the 19th century. Their reduced, minimalist art later inspired the French Impressionists and the first western comic artists. Japanese comics, the mangas, have enjoyed great popularity in their homeland since the beginning of the 20th century and have also conquered the western market since the 1960s. At about the same time, the anime’s triumphal march, the Japanese cartoon, begins.
The West only learns that the anime not only has cute stories for children, but is at home in all genres and, for example, also talks hard gangsteps, horror stories, science fiction or eroticism. Today the anime is very popular and is part of a modern global pop culture. The FAB dedicates a whole series of workshops and presentations to the anime, which is as independent and influential. The classics Whisper of the Heart (Mimi O Sumabesa/1995) by Yoshifumi Kondô are shown and how the wind rises (Kaze Tachinu/2013) of the two -time Oscar winner Hayao Miyazaki. The legendary Studio Ghibli is responsible for both films. In addition, on-gaku: Our Sound (2019/r: Kenji Iwaisawa) is presented with another anime voice. This part of the program was curated by the animated director Linda Machida, who is also responsible for the festival trailer, and Sawako Kabuki. At the opening of the festival there will also be a concert by the Animanga Chor, the focus of which is the interpretation of anime soundtracks.
In addition to numerous workshops, master classes and presentations, the supporting program also offers a special screening for the 65th anniversary of the Association Internationale Du Film D’Animation (Asifa), which has been dedicated to promoting and maintaining the animated film since 1960 and has been awarding the Annie Award, the highest award in Hollywood since 1972. In Berlin on September 28th. The ASA25, awarded ASIFA student Award 2025. In addition, a best of this year’s Factual Animation Film Festival is shown and industry representatives can make or expand contacts via various networking events.
Here are the tips from the program:
CONTRADICTION OF EMPTINESS
Table of Contents
That’s what it’s about:
Desperation in view of its own language, which no longer sings peaceful sail songs, but was corrupted as an instrument of justification for the murder.
What you need to know about the film:
Equely, powerful aesthetics distinguishes earlier films Irina Rubinas. Her new work, which has been seen at numerous festivals (including DOK Leipzig) since last year, deals with its own identity and the question of how poetry is possible in the face of violence. The film designed with the nail board screen l’Alpine changes between the colors white, black and red, whereby the motifs are reminiscent of the abstract aesthetics of Alexander Rodschenkos and Soviet constructivism.
Date at the 8th Festival of Animation Berlin:
26.9.2025, 7.30 p.m., City Kino Wedding (German competition)
DULL SPOTS OF GREENISH COLOR
That’s what it’s about:
Sasha Svirsky’s film is also an examination of the Ukraine conflict. Above all, the focus here is on the overwhelming of a flood of information that no longer promotes knowledge, but rather serves to cover up and reinterpret facts and finally ends in bewilderness and resignation about a stolen future.
What you need to know about the film:
The Russian propaganda war, internet trolled armies, fake news etc. prepare the downfall of a free information society, which ultimately leads to tyranny and dictatorship. Aesthetically, Svirsky translates Putin’s overwhelming strategy as an audiovisual tour de force: exhausting, but fascinating. This film also ran at some festivals and was awarded the Grand Prize of the World Festival of Animated Films and in Vienna with the ASIFA Austria Award at the Vis Vienna Independent Shorts.
Date at the 8th Festival of Animation Berlin:
26.9.2025, 7.30 p.m., City Kino Wedding (German competition)
Heaven like silk. Full of oranges
That’s what it’s about:
A lot is more peaceful in Betina Kuntzsch’s memories of the first customs summer in 1990. The wall has fallen and GDR citizens compete for their first journey of Mallorca and still pays half in East Mark. The miracle (s) of the new time and amazement over the world mix with awkwardness and inferiority complexes.
What you need to know about the film:
This charming, but not at all nostalgic review is designed by Kuntzsch as a collage as a collage of overarching postcard and private photo motifs and underlaid with a amiable off-comment. The film was shown at several festivals and won the prize for the best short film at the Attention Berlin Film Festival.
Date at the 8th Festival of Animation Berlin:
26.9.2025, 7.30 p.m., City Kino Wedding (German competition)
S THE WOLF
That’s what it’s about:
Hair as a means of identification or rebellion? A young Muslim experiences the trials and effects of his youth as a story of his main hair that sprouts, lured, shaved and suddenly completely disappeared. Friseur trauma and first love are also topics. Above all, however, the changing and complicated relationship with your own father is the focus of the film.
What you need to know about the film:
For the Egyptian Sameh Alaa, this minimalist, stealing drawings are already the fifth film told about youth and their relationship with the older generation and was already running at some festivals, including in Nashville and Lisbon.
Date at the 8th Festival of Animation Berlin:
28.9.2025, 6.30 p.m., City Kino Wedding (competition for international animated film IV)
SPEECHLESS
That’s what it’s about:
A young man spends a lot of time in his apartment or in the club. No matter where he is – techno definitely his life. Whether in the intoxication of the parties or alone at home over headphones – the booming music is its constant companion. Life passes him. But drugs mix into the monotony of dancing, drinking. A baby looks at him, children play football or great around him. His (self) perception changes and maybe his life soon.
What you need to know about the film:
Samuel Patthey’s dialogue -free cartoon is an almost 15 -minute intoxication of colors and drawings, cut rapidly and underlaid with a rousing technoscore. Sometimes visually abstract, but he never gets completely lost in the surreal. The film ran at various festivals and was awarded three prizes in Locarno, including for the best Swiss short film and the Regard – Saguenay International Short Film Festival as the best animated short film.
Date at the 8th Festival of Animation Berlin:
September 27, 7 p.m., City Kino Wedding (Competition for International Animation Film III)
LESBIAN SPACE PRINCESS
That’s what it’s about:
Princess Saira, introverted daughter of the queens of the planet Clitopolis, has to free her hot friend, the bounty hunter Kiki from the claws of the Straight White Maliens. The problem: Kiki just broke up with Saira. But that’s not all. To save Kiki, Saira has to leave the Safe Space of Queer Space and get involved with a hair-raising inter-gay-lactic adventure.
What you need to know about the film:
Lesbian Space Princess has a clear addressee, is peppered with numerous allusions and does not lay LGBTQIA+cliché. The fact that the squeaky -colored spectacle also gives great pleasure outside of this target group is due to the outrageously funny dialogues that do not leave a gag and no objection. The film by Emma Hough Hobbs and Leela Varghese is camp, but with announcement. A queer fun that was very popular at several festivals. Awarded the Young Lovers Award in Locarno, celebrated in Adelaide and in Sydney with the audience award, the film won the Teddy Award in spring.
Date at the 8th Festival of Animation Berlin
28.9.2025, 6.30 p.m., City Kino Wedding (competition animated long film)
