Experiencing Interruptions?

Lovely Rita

The strict traffic policewoman Rita loves control and order in her workplace. That’s why she has drawn up a rigid, rectangular road network, through which she directs the drivers with precise instructions.
But as more and more cars find their way into her narrow network and it soon threatens to burst, Rita loses control in the traffic.

A short story about stress, traffic jams and how to make the best of it.

  • Elena Madrid
    Director
    Autour l’escalier, Wenn der Wind dreht, Der Kussdieb
  • Elena Madrid
    Writer
    Autour de l'escalier, Wenn der Wind dreht, Der Kussdieb, Casa Lunatica
  • Lina Geissmann
    Producer
    Ethel, Kuap, Timber, Stalemate, Elvira
  • Jorrit Stadelmann
    Sound Design
  • Dominik Flückiger
    Music
  • Thomas Gassmann
    Sound Mix
    Only a Child, Kuap, Timber, Sauna, Sweet Nothing, Lachsmänner, Little Miss Fate, Coyote
  • Noemie Keller
    Voice over
  • Annette Brütsch
    Editing
    Ethel, Stalemate, Ich habe in Moll geträumt
  • Project Title (Original Language):
    Lovely Rita
  • Project Type:
    Animation, Short
  • Genres:
    Comedy, Stress, Job, Change Of Heart
  • Runtime:
    4 minutes 10 seconds
  • Completion Date:
    June 1, 2022
  • Production Budget:
    10,000 CHF
  • Country of Origin:
    Switzerland
  • Country of Filming:
    Switzerland
  • Shooting Format:
    DCP
  • Aspect Ratio:
    1.185
  • Film Color:
    Color
  • First-time Filmmaker:
    No
  • Student Project:
    No
  • Taiwan Int. Childrens Film Festival
    Taipei
    Taiwan
    March 28, 2024
    Taiwan Premiere
    Short Film Competition
  • ANIMAC - Mostra Int. de Cine d'Animacio
    Lleida
    Spain
    February 16, 2024
    Petit Animac 3
    Int. Competition
  • Buenos Aires Internatioanal Film Festival
    Buenos Aires
    Argentina
    February 21, 2024
    Argentina Premiere
    International Competition
  • Dublin Indie Screen Festival - WINNER for Best Comedy Animated Film
    Dublin
    Ireland
    February 23, 2024
    Irland Premiere
    WINNER for Best Comedy Animated Film
  • Greece International Film Festival
    Athen
    Greece
    January 27, 2024
    Int. Competition
  • Himalaya Int. Film Festival - WINNER for Best Animation Film
    Lhasa
    Nepal
    January 13, 2024
    Nepal Premiere
    WInner for Best Animation Short Film
  • Short Of The Year - Winter Season
    Online Event
    Spain
    January 1, 2024
    Official Selection
  • Los Angeles Animation Film Festival - Honorable Mention
    Los Angeles
    United States
    December 9, 2023
    Honorable Mention
  • ICONA - Animation Film Festival
    Corfu
    Greece
    December 2, 2023
    International Competition
  • ANNY Animation Nights New York
    New York
    United States
    December 7, 2023
    Official Selection
  • Imagina AniFest - Animation Film Festival New York
    New York
    United States
    December 2, 2023
    Official Selection
  • Annual Aarhus Film Festival
    Aarhus
    Denmark
    November 25, 2023
    Denmark Premiere
    International Selection of Animation Short Films
  • 8th Animation Marathon Online Event - 2nd AWARD WINNER
    Athen
    Greece
    November 24, 2023
    International Competition
  • Cinanima International Animated Film Festival
    Espinho
    Portugal
    November 18, 2023
    Grand Panorama: Films for schools
  • LAD - Lugano Animation Days 2023
    Lugano
    Switzerland
    November 11, 2023
    Concorso Svizzero 2
  • AniMaroolic
    Split
    Croatia
    November 7, 2023
    International Competition 2
  • International Short Film Festival Canton China
    Canton
    China
    November 3, 2023
    China Premiere
    International Competition
  • BIG CARTOON - 17th Animation Film Festival
    Moscow
    Russian Federation
    October 28, 2023
    Russia Premiere
    International Competition for Animated Films for Childrens
  • Plum! Festival internacional de animacion Buenos Aires
    Buenos Aires
    Argentina
    October 14, 2023
    Argentina Premiere
    International Competition
  • AniMaji - Animation Film Festival - AWARD WINNER
    New York City
    United States
    September 30, 2023
    New York Premiere
    AWARD WINNER Animation Film Competition
  • LIFF - Lebanese Independent Film Festival
    Beirut
    Lebanon
    September 23, 2023
    Animation Short Competition
  • Love & Hope International Film Festival - AWARD WINNER
    Barcelona
    Spain
    September 15, 2023
    AWARD WINNER for BEST ANIMATION SHORT FILM
  • Animatex - Egypts Biggest Animation Event
    Cairo
    Egypt
    September 8, 2023
    Official Selection
  • 16th International Children's Film Festival - Bangladesh
    Bangladesh
    Bangladesh
    September 7, 2023
    Bangladesh Premiere
    International Competition
  • TIFF Junior - Tromso Childrens Film. Festival
    Tromso
    Norway
    September 3, 2023
    Norway Premiere
    Animation Short Category
  • Imaginaria - The world festival of animated film
    Bari
    Italy
    August 25, 2023
    Int. Competition Animation Film for Childrens
  • Accra Indie Filmfest AiF
    Accra
    Ghana
    August 3, 2023
    Ghana Premiere
    Animated Short Competition
  • ZEBRA. - Int. Animation Film Festival
    Slovenj Gradec
    Slovenia
    July 29, 2023
    Int. Competition
  • Cinétoile - Int. Film Festival Tunisia
    Nabeul
    Tunisia
    July 20, 2023
    Tunisia Premiere
    Int. Competition Short Films
  • SFFFF - San Francisco Frozen Film Festival
    San Francisco
    United States
    July 15, 2023
    Int. Competition for Animation Film
  • Cartoonclub - Int. Animation Film Festival
    Rimini
    Italy
    July 10, 2023
    Int. Animation Competition
  • Maremetraggio Shorts - Int. Film Festival Trieste
    Trieste
    Italy
    July 3, 2023
    Int. Competition Animation Films
  • Abudhabi Int. Film Festival - AWARD WINNER for BEST ANIMATION FILM
    Abudhabi
    United Arab Emirates
    July 4, 2023
    Dubai Premiere
    AWARD WINNER for BEST ANIMATION FILM
  • Zlin Film Festival
    Zlin
    Czech Republic
    June 7, 2023
    Int. Competition for Children & Youth
  • Golden Kuker - Int. Animation Film Festival
    Sofia
    Bulgaria
    June 2, 2023
    Int. Competition up to 10 min
  • Cabriolet - Lebanese & International Short Film Festival
    Beirut
    Lebanon
    July 4, 2023
    Lebanon Premiere
    Int. Competition
  • CARIBETOONS - Festival Internacional de Animacion
    Santa Marta
    Colombia
    June 1, 2023
    Categoria Muestra Non Competitiva
  • Short on Work - Global Contest for Short Videos
    Modena
    Italy
    May 31, 2023
    Int. Contest
  • Visione Fantastiche
    Ravenna
    Italy
    May 10, 2023
    Childrens Competition 6-9 years old
  • FFAA - Festival du Film d'Animation d'Abidjan
    Abidjan
    Côte d'Ivoire
    May 5, 2023
    Côte d'Ivoire Premiere
    Int. Competition
  • Momohill Film Fair - AWARD for BEST SCREENPLAY ANIMATION
    Mendrisio
    Switzerland
    April 22, 2023
    AWARD for BEST SCREENPLAY ANIMATION
  • Animocje - International Animated Short Film Festival
    Bydgoszcz
    Poland
    April 19, 2023
    Competition: Children & Youth
  • Brno Short Film Festival -- WINNER
    Brno
    Czech Republic
    April 22, 2023
    Czech Rep. Premiere
    Jury Award Best Animation in the third season
  • Athens Animfest - International Animated Festival
    Athen
    Greece
    March 18, 2023
    Official Selection
  • AniMate - Australian Animation Film Festival - SEMI-FINALIST
    Newton
    Australia
    March 30, 2023
    SEMI-FINALIST
  • Bizarrya Short Film Festival Porto - WINNER AWARD
    Bizarrya
    Portugal
    March 15, 2023
    WINNER AWARD for BEST ANIMATION FILM
  • Brighton International Animation Film Festival
    Brighton
    United Kingdom
    April 15, 2023
    Competition Wild Characters
  • CIAF - 9th Chester International Animation Festival - FINALIST
    Chester
    United Kingdom
    March 7, 2023
    Finalist
  • Barcelona Indie Award
    Barcelona
    Spain
    March 11, 2023
    Int. Short Film Competition
  • Bridges Festival for Animation Film and Puppetry
    Mississauga, Ontario
    Canada
    March 12, 2023
    Int. Animation Film Program
  • T-Short Online Animated Film Festival
    online
    February 28, 2023
    Int. Competition: Storyline
  • Kirkuk - Int. Forum for Animation Film
    Kirkuk
    Iraq
    March 4, 2023
    Iraq Premiere
    Int. Animation Film Film
  • Apedemak - Sudan Int. Animation Film Festival
    Khartoum
    Sudan
    February 20, 2023
    Sudan Premiere
    Int. Competition
  • Alexandria Int. Short Film Festival
    Alexandria
    Egypt
    February 17, 2023
    Int. Competition Animation Film
  • Flanimation - Animation Film Festival
    Jacksonville Florida
    United States
    January 28, 2023
    Program Independent Short Animation Films
  • 33. Bamberger Kurzfilmtage
    Bamberg
    Germany
    January 25, 2023
    Germany Premiere
    Int. Short Film Competition
  • Tangier International Film Festival
    Tanger
    Morocco
    December 23, 2022
    Morocco Premiere
    Int. Animation Film Competition
  • International Moving Film Festival - SEMI-FINALIST
    Abadan
    Iran, Islamic Republic of
    December 27, 2022
    Iran-Premiere Screenings on a Ship
    Official Selection
  • Night of Comedy Shorts - AWARD for BEST ANIMATION SHORT
    Milano
    Italy
    December 29, 2022
    AWARD for BEST ANIMATION SHORT
  • International Shorts - Film Festival - Off. Selection
    Melbourne
    Australia
    December 7, 2022
    Australian Premiere
    Official Selection Animated Short Films
  • ASIFA IAD International Animation Day

    Showreel will run from Oct. 23 - Dec. 15 2022
    in multiple venues worldwide
  • WomenTime! - Festival de Cine Feminino en Canarias
    Las Palmas & Madrid
    Spain
    December 1, 2022
    Spain Premiere
    Short Film Competition
  • Animateka - International Animated Film Festival
    Ljubljana
    Slovenia
    November 30, 2022
    Slovenia Premiere
    Panorama Program
  • Animators Guild India - Animation Film Fest FINALIST
    Mumbai
    India
    November 26, 2022
    Finalist Award
  • TIAF - 5th Tbilisi International Animation Film Festival
    Tbilisi
    Georgia
    November 4, 2022
    Georgia Premiere
    Special Program: Conflicts&Relationships
  • The Animattikon Project - Int. Animation Film Festival
    Paphos
    Cyprus
    October 31, 2022
    Cyprus Premiere
    Int. Competition Childrens Category
  • Cairo Animation Film Forum - Short Film Competition
    Cairo
    Egypt
    October 26, 2022
    Africa-Premiere
    Short Film Competition
  • Kolibri - Int. Festival of Audiovisual for Children and Youth
    La Paz
    Bolivia, Plurinational State of
    October 13, 2022
    Bolivian Premiere
    International Competition
  • Sedicicorto - ANIMARE Cartoon Film Festival
    Forli
    Italy
    October 14, 2022
    Int. Competition ANIMALAB
  • Indigo Moon Film Festival - AUDIENCE AWARD for BEST ANIMATION
    Fayetteville, North Carolina
    United States
    October 8, 2022
    US-Premiere
    Audience Award for Best Animation
  • Black Panther International Short Film Festival
    Delhi
    India
    September 28, 2022
    SEMI-FINALIST
  • Fox International Film Festival - Official Selection
    Rome
    Italy
    October 28, 2022
    Official Selection
  • KINOdissea International Children Film Festival - Childrens Short Film Comp.
    Bucharest
    Romania
    September 13, 2022
    Romania-Premiere
    Short Film Comp. Children 12-15 years
  • Linoleum - Animation & Media Art Film Festival
    Kiev
    Ukraine
    September 9, 2022
    Ukraine
    category: Teens (13-16 years)
  • Chaniartoon - Animation & Cartoon Film Festival
    Chania
    Greece
    September 7, 2022
    Greece
    Official Selection
  • Serbest International Film Festival - SEMI-FINALIST
    Kishinev
    Moldova, Republic of
    September 6, 2022
    Moldova-Premiere
    SEMI-FINALIST
  • The French Duck Int. Film Festival - HONORABLE MENTION
    Paris
    France
    August 16, 2022
    France Premiere
    HONORABLE MENTION for the original character Rita
  • IMPA International Motion Picture Awards - AWARD for BEST EDITING
    Ontario
    Canada
    August 30, 2022
    Canada Premiere
    AWARD for Best Editing - Official Selection Animated Short Film
  • MoliseCinema - International Film Festival - Int. Competition
    Molise
    Italy
    August 5, 2022
    Italy
    International Competition - Paesi in Corto
  • The Tylerman International Film Festival
    Chicago
    United States
    August 7, 2022
    US-Premiere
    Animated Shorts
  • 2 11 17 Mumbai International Short Film Festival
    Mumbai
    India
    August 14, 2022
    Off. Selection Animated Shorts Film
  • Roshani Festival - International Film Fest -- WINNER
    Pune
    India
    July 26, 2022
    WINNER «Best Female Director in Animation Film»
  • Bluez Dolphins International Short Film Festival -- WINNER
    Jaipur
    India
    June 30, 2022
    Indian Premiere
    WINNER for «best orginal idea»
Distribution Information
  • Outside The Box
    Distributor
    Country: Switzerland
    Rights: All Rights
Director Biography - Elena Madrid

1969
Born in Uzwil (SG) Switzerland.
1989 - 1992
Training as graphic designer.
1993 - 1998
Study of Fine Art at HSLU in Luzern.
2003
Art and Studio Grant in Krakow (PL) - Animation and Production for the film animated short Der Kussdieb
2007
Studio Grant in Barcelona (ES) - Story Development for the film Wenn der Wind dreht
2010 - 2015
Seminars for Story Development, Character Design in the field of Animation.
Since 2000
Work as a freelance animation film maker, illustrator and art director at the studio fragola design, Zürich Switzerland.

Lives with her husband and their sons in Zürich Switzerland.

Add Director Biography
Director Statement

Hello,
I am an animation film artist, an illustrator and a creator of distinctive characters.

All my films are character-driven based on relationships and the absurdity of the daily life. The same applies for my latest work LOVELY RITA where a policewoman‘s mind is materialized by a rectangular network.