If we look at the situation of animation outside Austria, for instance in other European countries, it soon becomes obvious that numerous examples can be found, to the West as well as to the East of Vienna, of how this important department of audio-visual art form can be supported and made known with specifically targeted schemes. In Austria, quite contrary to the (also internationally obvious) immensely expanding production in the independent sector, there is a notable disappearance of the term “animation”: while up until about 1995 there were always programmes specifically reserved for animation at Austria’s film festivals, the notion of animation disappeared with the Diagonale in Salzburg as a programme-defining terminus of Austrian film festivals (with the exception of Tricky Women since 2001) – the term “animation” is totally absent in the national state-run promotion of short films.

VIS Vienna Independent Shorts has striven towards rehabilitating the term animation since its founding year. Up to now this was demonstrated through separately defined programmes for experimental as well as animated films. However, one of the central concerns of the newly installed competition section Animation Avantgarde is to create a reservoir for innovative production from the most diverse areas in order to enable and boost mutual inspiration and influence. This stance, apart from answering the cries for reform with regard to the Austrian situation, is meant to be perceived as a master plan for the exclusive presentation of animation at the international animation film festivals. The panel discussion with Thomas Renoldner (curator of Animation Avantgarde) and further guests will critically examine this positioning and substantiate many a legitimate demand.