2022
I am not afraid!
Synopsis
A film for the youngest children about fears in the dark and the discovery that there are many things you need not be afraid of, if you know what they are.
During a game of hide and seek Vanja leaves the bright living room and enters a dimly lit courtyard, which has far too many dark corners, weird shadows and strange noises. To overcome their fear, Vanja turns into a dangerous tiger!
Festivals
Monstra Animation Festival
Beirut Animation Nights
Providence Children's Film Festival
Cardiff Animation Festival
Rhode Island International Film Festival
Rolan Children's and Youth Film Festival
Animation Dingle
IndieJunior
JEFF Antwerp
Cinelebu
Anima Brussels
Monstra Animation Festival
PLAY Kids Film Festival Lisbon
Reel 2 Real Youth Film Festival
Filmfest Dresden
Animatricks
Golden Kuker Animation Festival
Big Eyes, Big Minds
Kecskemét Animation Film Festival
Cleveland Film Festival
Kurzfilmtage Winterthur
Big Cartoon Festival
POFF Tallinn Black Nights
interfilm Berlin KUKI
REX Animation Festival
Ale Kino Children's Film Festival
Chicago Children's Film Festival
Cinema in Sneakers Festival
Olympia Children's Film Festival
Kinderfilmfestival Vienna
Kuandu Animation Festival
Mission
"I Am Not Afraid!" is a 2022 animated short film directed by Marita Mayer, co-produced with the German animation company Fabian&Fred.
The film is designed for young children, addressing common fears of the dark and the unknown.
Through the character of Vanja, who transforms into a tiger to confront their fears, the film encourages children to face and overcome their anxieties by understanding and reimagining them.
The film employs digital 2D animation to create a visually engaging narrative that resonates with its young audience.
By portraying Vanja's imaginative approach to fear, the film aims to empower children to confront their own fears with creativity and courage.
"I Am Not Afraid!" has been selected for several international film festivals, including Berlinale - Generation KPlus in Germany and Animac Animation Festival in Spain, reflecting its global appeal and relevance.
About the film
"I Am Not Afraid!" (Norwegian: "Jeg er ikke redd!") is a 2022 animated short film written and directed by Marita Mayer. This 7-minute digital 2D animation is a co-production between Norway's Trollfilm AS and the German animation company Fabian&Fred.
The film is designed for young children, addressing common fears of the dark and illustrating how understanding can alleviate these anxieties. The narrative follows Vanja, who, during a game of hide and seek, ventures from a well-lit living room into a dimly lit courtyard filled with dark corners, strange shadows, and unfamiliar noises. To conquer these fears, Vanja imagines becoming a fierce tiger.
Marita Mayer, born in 1976 in Hamburg, Germany, has a background in Cultural Management and Education from the University of Hildesheim. She specialized in drawn animation at the Animation School Hamburg. Her graduation film, "Be Nice," was screened at various international festivals and won audience awards at Flensburg Short Film Festival and Wiesbaden Short Film Festival in 2010. Mayer has worked on several 2D and stop-motion productions and served as the program manager for five editions of the Fredrikstad Animation Festival in Norway. In August 2018, she relocated to Dovre, Norway, to work on Anita Killi’s short film "Mother Didn’t Know." "I Am Not Afraid!" marks her directorial debut.
2022
Zlín International Film Festival for Children and Youth
Spectator Prize Award for Best Animated Film
Nominee
Awards
Year
Prize
Award
Result
Credits
Written and directed by: Marita Mayer
Produced by: Fabian Driehorst
Co-produced by: Anita Killi and Lillian Løvseth
With the support of
Moin Filmförderung
Hamburg Schleswig-Holstein
Bundesregierung für Kultur und Medien
Filmförderungsanstalt
Kuratorium junger deutscher Film
Fond for Lyd og Bilde
Voices
Vanja – Frede Mayer-Culliksen
Thea – Katharina Weizl Alma Eline Valseth
Tarek – Justus Raphael Velte Boris Rogachev
Dad – Jens Jonathan Gulliksen
Art department
Art direction – Friedrich Schäfer
Layout & backgrounds – Katharina Rival
Character design – Alba Dragonetti
Storyboard & animatic – Marcos Valín
Visual development – Alba Dragonetti, Camille Bozec, Katharina Rival
Animation
Head of animation & compositing – Carlo Palazzari
Animation – Alba Dragonetti Florian Maubach Friedrich Schäfer Hero Hendel Lena Frauendienst Sinéad Nolan Yann Le Bot
Voice recording
Dubbing engineer – Mattis Sørum Krister Johnson
Dubbing studio – Lydbilde Studio Ambolt Audio
Voice coach – Maja Bekken
Dialogue editing – Aline Lande
Sound & music
Sound design & sound mix – Simon Bastian
Music – Marius Kirsten
Original kitchen song – Dario Klaus
Sound studio – Zeigermann Audio
Production & legal
Production manager – Frédéric Schuld
Line producer – Ela Duca
Assistant to director – Alba Dragonetti
Interns – Anne Sawall Lara Ennickert
Legal advisor – Christian Füllcraf Lisa Dicernes, Bull & Co.
Thank you
Antonio Monescillo – Ingebjørg TorgersenBarbro Bekken – Kim NguyenBirgit Korneiussen – Kristian KühlChristina S. Nerland – Ilan Mayer-CulliksenDinny Mayer-Vaughan – Lisa NeubauerFrederike Munack – Mao PérèsseHanna Rival – Manfred BehnHauk Wolf – Rike RotheIna Novotny – Thomas SchmidiYahel Nicolaisson Lenz
Funded by
Filmförderung Hamburg Schleswig-Holstein – Arne Sommer, Julia Gläsker , Sabine Schmidt
Bundesregierung für Kultur und Medien – Leonie Albrecht Marian Tobsing
Filmförderungsanstalt – Jessica Deyssenroth
Kuratorium junger deutscher Film – Julie Kania
Østnorsk Filmsenter – Maria Kluce Terje Nilsen
Fond for Lyd og Bilde – Hilde Vistnes