(various, 2023-25, various, 58 minutes)

The Stuttgart International Festival of Animated Film (ITFS) is one of the largest and most important festivals for artistic animated film in Europe and worldwide and it is an Oscar-qualifying film festival.

Our children‘s jury made their choice, and the best short films of the ITFS 2025 are setting off on tour with Best of Tricks for Kids. Why are all the birds in Paris so chic? And can the little hummingbird save family sloth? Join us on a cinematic journey around the world: a family holiday at the beach, a monster in the swimming pool or pigs in a monastery – there’s so much to discover. To ensure children everywhere can enjoy the programme, all films are suitable for all ages and contain no dialogue.

Co-presented with St. Louis Filmworks.

Hello Summer (Ahoj Leto)

directed by: Martin Smatana, Veronika Zacharova // 10:50 // Czechia, France, Slovakia 2024 // producers: Jean-François Le Corre, Kamila Dohnalova, Martin Smatana, Martin Vandas // production: Studio Bororo, Vivement Lundi!, Last Films, MAUR film // world sales: Bear With Me Distribution

Sea, sun, beaches and family holidays. But what if the hotel isn’t as stellar as promised, the dinner tastes weird and your luggage travels independently? Then you’ll experience a turbulent journey on which you can also discover all sorts of things.

A Dream Takes Flight (Un Sogno in Volo)

directed by: Chiara Helm // Italy 2024 // 5:32 // producers: Pietro Pinetti, Rossella Mercurio // production: Studio Bozzetto, Videocittà // world sales: Studio Bozzetto

Ugo, the little penguin, desperately wants to fly, just like the big eagle who delivers the mail every day. To make his dream come true, Ugo invents a flying machine and his friends help together.

De-Sastre

directed by: Constanza Melio, Kuang-Yi Lee, Maria Fernández, Marolyn Ávila, Tomasso Mangiacotti // Spain 2024 // 8:12 // producer: Gerard Vidal // school: Escola De Cinema De Barcelona // production, world sales: Producciones Dosmentes

Daniela moves into her new flat in the city. Soon, all her clothes have holes in them and little animals in pretty outfits appear everywhere. What mystery lies behind all this?

The Legend of the Hummingbird (La légende du colibri)

directed by: Morgan Devos // France 2025 // 9:29 // producer: Reginald de Guillebon // production, world sales: Folimage

A fire breaks out in the Amazon rainforest, and frightened animals flee to the other bank of the river. Only a little hummingbird persists in fighting the fire to rescue a sloth and its young trapped in the flames.

Civilization of Equality

directed by: Ibrahim Albuainain // Qatar 2023 // 4:17 // producer, world sales: Ibrahim Albuainain

Every animal in the world has its own habitat and its own voice. In this film, the different calls of all these animals come together to form a common song that shows us that we can live together peacefully and in kindness.

Monster

directed by: Eric Giessmann, Piers Goffart // Germany, USA 2024 // 5:51 // producers: Eric Giessmann, Goro Fujita, Jonathan Gleit, Nicole Jankowski, Piers Goffart // production: Lavamachine, Meta Quest // world sales: Lavamachine

Whenever the monster goes to the swimming pool, it wears its human costume because it doesn‘t want to attract any attention. However, this time, a minor accident occurs and the disguise is lost.

Lenas Hof: Der Stachel im Po (Lena's Farm: A Pain in the Butt)

directed by: Elena Walf // Germany, Croatia 2024 // 6:40 // producer: Thomas Meyer-Hermann // production, world sales: Studio FILM BILDER

Lena‘s farm is located right in the middle of the forest, far away from the rest of the world. Many animals live here. In this episode, the hedgehog is about to go into hibernation. But wait, one of his quills is missing... Of course, he has to get it back.

Amen

directed by: Avril Zundel, Bettina Demarty, Kimié Maingonnat, Laurène Perego, Louise Poulain, Orphée Coutier // France 2024 // 6:46 // producer: Julien Deparis // production, school: École Nationale Supérieure d’Ingénieurs de Poitiers // world sales: Miyu Distribution

A group of pigs are raised peacefully in a monastery. One day, one of them discovers what the monks really need them for and decides to escape and free his friends.