23^rd International Animation
Film Festival, Baden/Switzerland
2 – 7 September 2025

DE FR

This Is a Story Without a Plan, Cassie Shao, US 2023

Sections

The heart of Fantoche are the competitions for animated short films. Since its first edition in 1995, the international competition has been held, and in 2009 the Swiss competition and the children’s film competition were added. Find out what other sections and programmes Fantoche has to offer.

The Sunset Special 2, Nicolas Gebbe, DE 2024

International competition

This year, Fantoche is once again presenting a diverse selection of films in every respect. The selection team chose 25 animated short films to screen in the four competition programmes: Films that inspire, surprise and broaden horizons.

Un trou dans la poitrine, Alexandra Myotte, Jean-Sébastien Hamel, CA 2023

International Competition 2023

This year, Fantoche presents diverse programmes in every sense of the word. Out of a total of 26 films, our selection team compiled four different programmes that will inspire, surprise, and broaden your horizons.

Mouvement, sur le toit de la ville béton, Valentine Moser, CH 2022

Swiss Competition 2023

A fish is attacked by seagulls (“Pond”), a young woman searches for clues in Armenia (“Armat”), and a plumber ends up in a gay fetish club (“Pipes”) – the diversity of stories in the Swiss Competition is vast, ranging from films with and about animals to political family stories and the confrontation of one’s own fears.

Sans voix, Samuel Patthey, CH 2024, Sans voix, Samuel Patthey, CH 2024

Swiss Competition

This year’s entries in the Swiss Competition are extremely varied, being both thought-provoking and poignant, and at times shocking. From over 70 films submitted, 17 works were selected for screening in the two competition programmes.

What's in That Crate?, Bram Algoed, BE 2023

Kids Film Competition 2023

Although animated film is an incredibly diverse genre, it is often rashly equated with humorous cartoons. Without a doubt, well-timed punchlines and, above all, caricature-like exaggeration are frequently key features of animation.

Upside Down, Dace Riduze, LV 2023, Upside Down, Dace Riduze, LV 2023

Kids Film Competition

The two children’s programmes clearly demonstrate what animated film is capable of and are thus an ideal introduction to this highly diverse genre.

Ikimono-san: Turtle, Atsushi Wada, JP 2023

Panorama 2023

In the four “Panorama” programmes, we showcase current short films that are not being screened in competition. They may provoke you, but they will also prompt you to reflect, dream and laugh.

Best of Fantoche 2023

Four panels of judges and the audience have evaluated and selected their favourite films in this year’s competition. A selection of the award-winning films will be shown after the prize-giving ceremony – don’t miss it!

Carrotica, Daniel Sterlin-Altman, DE 2024

Panorama

In the three “Panorama” programmes, we showcase current short films that are not screened in competition. They may get under your skin, but they will also inspire you to reflect, to dream and to laugh.

Latest feature Films

Fantoche presents a selection of current feature films, some of them as Swiss premieres. Whenever possible, Fantoche invites filmmakers and producers to personally present their films to the audience.

I Like Girls, Diane Obomsawin, CA 2016

All we need is love

In a time characterised by social, cultural and ecological challenges, Fantoche would like to focus on the essentials with its “All We Need Is Love” programme: the power of love and humanity.

In Her Boots, Kathrin Steinbacher , AT 2019, In Her Boots, Kathrin Steinbacher , AT 2019

Focus Austria

Austria, with its vibrant animation film scene, is this year’s guest country at the Fantoche Festival. A warm welcome!

Chantlings Iorama [Eran Hilleli, Finn Ericson], 2023

Animation goes multimedia

We are expanding our horizons and pushing the boundaries of animation and beyond: "Animation multimedial" is home to various events that deal with the interface between animation and games. New this year: the Game Pop-Up on Saturday, which offers up-and-coming game developers a platform to present their games to a wider audience.

Incomplete Woman, Su-young Huh, KR 2020

Focus South Korea

Korean independent animation aspires to create a better world – a desire echoed in the directors’ voices and the messages conveyed through their animated work.

For professional audiences

The Artists’ Brunch takes the form of a relaxed morning discussion with animation filmmakers. Moreover, Swiss producers will have a chance to network with filmmakers at the “Find a Producer” event. The motto of this year’s Industry Day is “Root to Rise”.

El Mar Animado de Los Mangos, div., MX 2023

For Kids and Teens

The selected programme for children and young people includes curated short and feature films and a screening of films created in Fantoche workshops at schools and various workshops. Since 2022, the Talent Industry has also been held in collaboration with the “Schweizer Jugendfilmtage” (Swiss Youth Film Festival), where future animated filmmakers can network.

Artists' Present

High-calibre animated film makers will once again be guests at Fantoche this year. Regina Pessoa and Osbert Parker will be giving insights into their work. In the making-of "Kizazi Moto: Generation Fire", Tendayi Nyeke presents her work on the Disney + series and two retrospectives look at the work of Paul Bush and the productions of Sacrebleu Productions.

Extras

The Fantoche Grab Bag: the film programme at Bagno Popolare, the Royal Fish, the beloved Music Video Darlings and the Ciné-Concert with Georges & Louis Schwizgebel – everyone will find a favourite here!

Never shake a Baby, Guillaume Mégroz, CH 2023

Swiss Animation Industry Award

Since 2018, Fantoche has presented the shortlist of the best animated commissioned works in Switzerland every year together with the SWISSFILM ASSOCIATION. The film selected by a top-class jury wins a nomination for the Edi. Award.

Exhibition

In cooperation with local museums such as the Aargauer Kunsthaus, the Gluri Suter Huus in Wettingen, the Badener Kunstraum and other partners, Fantoche presents various exhibitions and creates crossovers between art, animation and illustration.

Best of Fantoche 2024

Punk Is Not Dead

“Punk Is Not Dead” – this year, Fantoche focuses on courageous movements for freedom, justice and democracy. What can we learn from the past to help us today, when democratic processes are increasingly being put to the test?