Rift:
- a fissure, crevasse,
- a clear space or interval,
- Estrangement.
„RIFT“ is an animated short which tells the story of a mountain climber named Walther and his inner struggles. It’s a master’s degree project by animation students of the University of Applied Sciences Salzburg.
Synopsis
Walther’s pressure grows more and more as the hazardous surroundings become tougher and tougher and his innermost fear splits from his own self and transmutes into a demon. This creature invisibly influences Walther’s actions and decisions and tries to prevent him from reaching his goal.
His journey ultimately comes to a halt as he faces a breach in the mountainscape. The climber is about to give up, but realizes that an even bigger “rift” in his past led to the birth of his demon. He has to face his inner fears and finish his journey to come to a close.
To illustrate the melodramatic topics and the picturesque mountainscape the film uses animated characters with realistic proportions but abstracts them by using expressionistic textures and frayed outlines, forming its own style to oppose the light-hearted tone of western mainstream animation. Through visual means Walther’s world of thought blends between delusion, memory and reality.
Awards
Austrian Independent Film Festival 2017 – Vienna – Official Selection
Under the Radar Award 2017 – Vienna – Official Selection
Juvinale Salzburg Film Festival 2017 – Salzburg – Official Selection
Shortynale – Klosterneuburg – Official Selection (Klosterneuburg Competition)
Stills
