Stuttgart Animated Week 2025 – Programs and Trailers
Image: ITFS
Only a few weeks to go until the Stuttgart Animated Week 2025 – and we can’t wait! The teams behind the conference FMX – Film & Media Exchange(May 6–9, 2025), the Stuttgart International Festival of Animated Film (May 6–11, 2025), and the industry platform Animation Production Days (APD, May 6–8, 2025) are in the midst of preparations to once again turn Stuttgart into a global hotspot for the animation and VFX industry this spring.
The FMX recently released its program, which contains the large variety of topics the conference stands for and adresses the latest and hottest in VFX, animation and digital media production. Program | Speakers | Ticket Shop(Early Bird until March 20!) | Get their newsletter
The ITFS competition films have been selected, and the first highlights of the supporting program have already been announced. Nominated films | Website | Ticket Shop(Early Bird until March 20!) | Get their newsletter
The Filmakademie Baden-Württemberg invites you to the symposium INPUT/OUTPUT – Impulses, Exchange, Story Market on April 7 and 8, 2025.
This two-day event combines an impulse session (Input) with a story market (Output), providing a platform for exchange between technology and film. The focus will be on the highly relevant and forward-thinking topic of Artificial Intelligence (AI).
The symposium will take place at the Caligari Cinema of the Filmakademie in Ludwigsburg and is open to students, alumni, external guests, and students from other film schools. Its goal is to foster dialogue and initiate collaborative projects.
The event will be moderated by Gerhard Maier, Artistic Director of the Seriencamp Festival & Conference.
Participation is free of charge, and the symposium will be conducted primarily in English. Pitching sessions will take place in both German and English.
Event „Virtuelle Welten – Chancen im Metaverse erleben“
On Thursday, May 8, 2025, the Ministerium für Wirtschaft, Arbeit und Tourismus Baden-Württemberg (Ministry of Economic Affairs) invites you to the conference “Virtuelle Welten – Chancen im Metaverse erleben” (Virtual Worlds – Experiencing Opportunities in the Metaverse) at the Hans-Martin-Schleyer-Halle and the Porsche-Arena in Stuttgart. From 9.00 to 17.00 CET, the focus will be on the latest developments and applications in the Metaverse. Participation is free of charge!
The first program highlights and speakers have been confirmed, and the full program will be published soon. Among the speakers will be Maximilian Schmierer, CEO of our HEROES from b.Rex.
The MFG Baden-Württemberg is organizing the THE CREATIVE LÄND exhibition area on behalf of the Ministry of Economic Affairs. This space will feature live demos, an open stage, and interactive experience labs. Companies from the creative industries – such as games, animation, VFX, and UX – can showcase their innovative XR applications and provide insights into the opportunities and possibilities of Metaverse technologies. They have the opportunity to exhibit in THE CREATIVE LÄND area free of charge. Interested companies and institutions can register on the official website and select the option „Ich möchte im THE CREATIVE LÄND Bereich ausstellen“ at “Standwunsch”. For any questions regarding THE CREATIVE LÄND area please contact Ulrich Winchenbach (E-mail: winchenbach@mfg.de, Phone: 0711-90715313).
The event is organized by the Ministerium für Wirtschaft, Arbeit und Tourismus Baden-Württemberg in cooperation with the XR Expo of the Virtual Dimension Center Fellbach (VDC). The XR Expo takes place alongside the Metaverse conference from May 8 to 9. More information
March 7, 2025
Four Projects from Baden-Württemberg at Cartoon Movie 2025!
Cartoon Movie is an annual pitching and co-production forum aimed at strengthening the production and distribution of animated feature films in Europe. This year, it took place from March 4 to 6 in Bordeaux. A total of 55 new projects from 16 countries were presented – and of the six projects from Germany, four came from Baden-Württemberg alone! Members of the AMCRS are also involved!
ValentinoCondenaditos: Matisse Gonzales Jordán, Nidia Santiago (Co-Producer Ikki Films), Stefan Michel (Studio Seufz)
February 28, 2025
Pre-Fixe with Animation Lounge – with Kaleidoscube
Together with the Film- und Medienfestival gGmbH (organizer of Stuttgart International Festival of Animated Film) and the AMCRS, MFG organizes the Pre Fixe with Animation Lounge as a prelude to the monthly network meeting of the film industry (Jour Fixe). Speakers from the animation film scene present practical examples of current projects and provide insights into their work.
The next Animation Lounge will take place on Monday, March 10, 2025, 18:00 CET. Dominik Schön, Managing Director, Founder & Game Designer of the Stuttgart-based game studio Kaleidoscube, presents the newly announced video game RECUR, which they are currently developing, and shares insights into the biggest challenges of the development process. A wild journey to the end of the world and back – in RECUR, time is linked to the player’s position. By running and jumping, players must manipulate time to save a city from an endlessly recurring catastrophe.
The event will take place at the Kulturzentrum Merlin, Augustenstraße 72, 70178 Stuttgart. Admission is free.
Dominik Schön, Kaleidoscube
Artwork RECUR
Screenshot RECUR
Screenshot RECUR
All participants are cordially invited to attend the subsequent MFG Jour Fixe from 19:00 CET. The Jour Fixe offers a unique opportunity for exchange and networking with colleagues from the MFG Film Funding Unit.
We, the Animation Media Creators Region Stuttgart, are beyond excited and very proud to be a GOLD PARTNER of FMX 2025! This year, from May 6 to May 9, 2025, FMX – Film & Media Exchange will offer an outstanding program on-site at the Haus der Wirtschaft in Stuttgart – this time under the motto “RHYTHM OF CHANGE”. A large portion of the presentations will also be available online on demand from May 10 to June 10.
The FMX Program will go public in early March. You can find the first FMX program informationhere (we recommend subscribing to their newsletter!).
EIT Culture & Creativity: Open Calls for the Cultural and Creative Sectors
EIT Culture & Creativity is a EU-funded Knowledge and Innovation Community that’s bringing creatives from all walks of life together to rethink how we live as Europeans. It aims to fundamentally change the Cultural and Creative Sectors and Industries (CCSI) towards new understandings of competitiveness, sustainable economic growth coupled with positive social and environmental impacts. It embraces all forms of innovation to generate prosperity, positive environmental and social impacts, and fair conditions for creatives and cultural workers.
EIT Culture & Creativity publishes open calls for funding regularly. They support all players in the Cultural & Creative Sectors and Industries byopen calls for proposals for innovative higher education, professional training, products and services, as well as to start and accelerate businesses. This empowers stakeholders to excel in competitiveness, resilience, and sustainable economic growth.
Education Call: Continuous Professional Development (CPD) Courses 2025 This call aims at continuous professional development (CPD) courses, designed to upskill professionals in the cultural and creative sectors and industries (CCSI), address critical skills gaps and foster innovation in all EIT CC priority areas (Fashion, Architecture, Cultural Heritage, Audio-Visual Media, and Gaming) in support of Europe’s green, digital, and social transitions. Call closure: April 11, 2025 at 17.00 CET | More information and application: https://eit-culture-creativity.eu/education-call-cpd-courses-2025/
Innovation Call: Main Innovation Projects 2025 This call seeks to foster groundbreaking innovations in Fashion, Architecture, Cultural Heritage, Audio-Visual Media, and Gaming, helping stakeholders navigate the challenges of globalisation, digital transformation, emerging technologies (such as AI), and environmental sustainability. Call closure: April 11, 2025 at 17.00 CET | More information and application: https://eit-culture-creativity.eu/innovation-call-2025/
Innovation Call: Short Innovation Projects 2025 This call aims at supporting high-impact initiatives that address pressing challenges in the Cultural and Creative Sectors and Industries and focuses on fast-paced, results-driven innovation projects with a maximum duration of 6 months, delivering tangible and market-ready solutions within a short timeframe. Call closure: March 11, 2025 at 17.00 CET | More information and application: https://eit-culture-creativity.eu/short-innovation-projects-2025/
EIT Culture & Creativity consists of numerous partners across Europe. In our region, this is the Media Solution Center Baden-Württemberg e.V.. For any questions, please contact Matthias Hauser via e-mail.
February 20, 2025
The Filmakademie is looking for a Coordinator Artificial Intelligence!
The AI coordinator (m/f/d) is the central point of contact for the entire FABW on all topics related to artificial intelligence. He/she should act as a central advisor, multiplier and mediator for AI topics. He/she should stay up to date with established, new and emerging toolsets as well as the latest trends in AI and be able to contextualize them in terms of their impact on media production, evaluate them in terms of ethical and legal standards, and integrate them accordingly into the FABW’s production pipelines.
Responsibilities (among others):
Central point of contact for AI topics at the FABW
Advising on adapting teaching methods and curricula to maintain relevance in a media industry that uses artificial intelligence in production
Close collaboration with research activities of the R&D department and AI-related projects at the FABW and Animationsinstitut in particular with regard to fair and sustainable use of AI
Initiation of regional (IPAI, AI Alliance, Cyber Valley…) and international contacts with relevant AI initiatives to address the needs of the FABW and enable potential future collaborations
GAMESCOM 2025: Apply now for the THE LÄND joint booth!
From August 20 to 22, 2025, the booth “THE LÄND – Games & Gamification Made in Baden-Württemberg” will showcase companies, games, interactive media, and apps at Gamescom 2025 in Cologne. To achieve this, MFG Baden-Württemberg is looking for the best games and interactive VR and XR applications – from entertainment to smart automotive industry and training solutions – made in Baden-Württemberg. The goal is to present the innovative strength of Baden-Württemberg’s gaming industry to an international trade audience at the world’s largest trade fair for computer and video games.
THE LÄND joint booth 2024, Photo: MFG Baden-Württemberg
Companies, developers, and institutions from the games, media, and digital industries – especially those with VR/AR/XR/UX projects – are invited to apply. Spots are limited, and selection will be made by a jury. The THE LÄND booth in the Business Area of Gamescom offers a prime location alongside other international exhibitors. In collaboration with Baden-Württemberg International and the K³ Kultur- und Kreativwirtschaftsbüro Karlsruhe, a diverse program will be provided, including networking opportunities and visits from political representatives.
Until April 4, 2025, companies, professional designers, as well as startups, newcomers, and emerging talents from all over the world have the opportunity to submit their current and innovative design solutions for the FOCUS OPEN 2025 Baden-Württemberg International Design Award.
The FOCUS OPEN is an important component of the economic and design promotion in the state of Baden-Württemberg. It rewards the innovation and design quality of new products, services, and concepts, and stands out with moderate costs while offering very high visibility.
New this year are the categories IMMERSIVE MEDIA (conceptualization, development, or design of multisensory experiences using digital media such as Virtual Reality (VR), Augmented Reality (AR), Mixed Reality (MR), game design, immersive film productions, etc.) and CIRCULAR DESIGN (products or systems whose design strategies aim to efficiently use raw materials and return them to the biological material cycle with minimal quality loss).
Festive award ceremony and exhibition opening that focus public attention on all the winning products
An exhibition lasting several months in Haus der Wirtschaft Baden-Württemberg, Stuttgart (impressions 2024)
Publication in a yearbook that is distributed to the major international markets via a publishing house renowned for its books on design
Extensive online communication
The Baden-Württemberg International Design Award FOCUS OPEN 2025 is organized by the Design Center Baden-Württemberg and funded by the Ministry of Economics.
