A “Hatto” for FABW's student commercial
The stop-motion film WHAT WAS I MADE FOR? has received the Best Student Commercial award at the German Advertising Film Awards 2025. Director Anja Giele accepted the coveted “Hatto” (named after Hatto Kurtenbach) on March 28 at Kampnagel in Hamburg. The German Advertising Film Academy honored an outstanding creative achievement in the German advertising film industry.
Three productions by students at Filmakademie Baden-Württemberg were nominated in the category: in addition to WHAT WAS I MADE FOR?, these were AJUMMA ENERGY (director: Sandro Rados) and THROUGH MY EYES (director: Leve Kühl), a social spot that Kühl made outside of his studies. Ultimately, WHAT WAS I MADE FOR? convinced the jury and won the award.
WHAT WAS I MADE FOR? – The winning film
In a world where only perfect vegetables count, the ad follows pea plant Stevie, who strives for perfection. An accident at the gym changes everything. In her search for meaning and support, Stevie meets a muscular tomato and an elegant cauliflower doctor. The humorous stop-motion film uses metaphor to address issues such as sustainability and food waste.
Director and award winner Anja Giele, born in Taiwan, moved six times before the age of 16 – on three continents and in seven different cities. Her international experiences as well as her work in the Berlin advertising industry shape her artistic style, which is characterized by high visual standards, strong art direction and topics such as the search for identity and sensory crises.
Successful FABW alumni
In addition to the current successes of young talent, former students of FABW were also involved in award-winning productions. Eugen Merher (Mercedes-Benz – Dreamer, Best Costume Design/Anette Guther) and Dorian & Daniel (O2 MONEYPHONE, Best Sound Design/Gregory Caron) directed the aforementioned award-winning commercials. The directors celebrated their first successes while still studying at the FABW and are now continuing their careers in the international advertising film industry.
About the German Advertising Film Award
The German Advertising Film Award is presented by the independent German Advertising Film Academy. It was founded in 2013 by the advertising film and post-production producers organized in the association. Its goal is to ensure quality, promote talent, honour outstanding work, drive innovation and promote interdisciplinary exchange.
The German Advertising Film Award is the successor to the vdw Award. It was created by Hatto Kurtenbach, who died in 2004, a long-standing lecturer in advertising film at FABW and the namesake of the new award.
Photo: (c) Andreas Schlieter