“In Heike Mozer, we have found a competent managing director for Film- und Medienfestival gGmbH who, thanks to her expertise and many years of experience, is perfectly familiar with the animation and culture scenes in the region. I am certain that she will fill the motto ‘We are the heart of animation, where public and creators meet’ with life and thus further strengthen the ITFS in the future,” says Dr. Walter Rogg, Chairman of the Supervisory Board of Film- und Medienfestival gGmbH and Managing Director of Wirtschaftsförderung Region Stuttgart GmbH (WRS).
Heike Mozer has a degree in administration and has been working at Filmakademie Baden-Württemberg since 1991, where she took over the commercial management of Animationsinstitut in 2002. At the same time, she contributed to the Stuttgart International Festival of Animated Film in the field of event management from 1991 to 1998 and was project manager of FMX – Film & Media Exchange between 2015 and 2020. She is thus experienced in the realisation of large-scale events and very well-connected in the regional, national, and international animation scenes.
“To welcome the world of animated film in all its facets and to create personal encounters between audiences and artists – that is what I am looking forward to. With the competent team at my side, I am also looking forward to further develop the ITFS and guide it into the future,” says Mozer.
Jan Pinkava, new head of the Animationsinstitut at Filmakademie Baden-Württemberg as of 1 June 2023: “I am very happy for Heike Mozer and the entire Film- und Medienfestival gGmbH. This is not only great news for the FMF, but also a good basis for stronger cooperation between ITFS, FMX and of course Animationsinstitut, as together we want to further cultivate and expand the culture of animation in the region. The Film- und Medienfestival gGmbH could not be in better hands and I look forward to working with Heike Mozer in the months and years to come. The heart of animation is beating strong in Stuttgart and Ludwigsburg!“
Bringing the real world into a virtual environment
The Container City at Stuttgart’s Nordbahnhof, an area used by creative professionals with studios, rehearsal rooms and stages, will be demolished at the end of 2023. Our HEROES from the Research & Development department of Filmakademie Baden-Württemberg’s Animationsinstitut and b.rex GmbH have teamed up with Third Picture GbR and digitally captured the Container City as part of a research project to make it accessible through VR technology in the digital world and to preserve it as a cultural site. A groundbreaking project to help bring real and fantasy worlds into the metaverse!
The TV magazine NANO reported about it on the 3Sat channel in their issue of April 25, 2023. Watch it here!
April 29, 2023
The AMCRS HEROES @ ITFS on Sunday, April 30, 2023!
ITFS Trickstars (Photo: Reiner Pfisterer)
The last day of a week full of events and inspiration, great meetings with old and new friends, an incredible amount of new background knowledge about current developments in art, technology and research, hopefully many new project ideas and collaborations and above all films, games and other media projects and experiences has almost arrived! We hope you’ve made it this far – here come the events our AMCRS HEROES are involved in at the ITFSon Sunday, April 30, 2023. We are keeping our fingers crossed for all nominees for the grand ITFS 2023 award ceremony!
Prof. Thomas Schadt, Jan Pinkava (Photo: Animationsinstitut, FABW)
Source: Press Release Animationsinstitut, April 26, 2023
At FMX 2023 in Stuttgart, the Animationsinstitut of the Filmakademie Baden-Württemberg introduced its new head: Jan Pinkava. The British-Czech-American animator, director, screenwriter, and Oscar® winner will take over as head of the institute in June 2023, succeeding Prof. Andreas Hykade.
State Secretary Arne Braun, Prof. Thomas Schadt, Jan Pinkava, Lord Mayor of Ludwigsburg Matthias Knecht (Photo: Animationsinstitut, FABW)
Pinkava: “I am beyond honored to have been appointed Head of the Animationsinstitut. The school has an extraordinary reputation, dedicated staff, brilliant teachers, outstanding graduates, and highly talented students. What could be more worthwhile than to build on this legacy?”
Arne Braun, State Secretary in the Ministry of Science, Research and Arts Baden-Wuerttemberg, elaborates: “With Jan Pinkava, a superb industry expert joins the Animationsinstitut. His film RATATOUILLE, which he created in collaboration with Brad Bird, is one for the hall of fame of animated film. I am sure that he will foster the Animationsinstitut’s reputation as regional pioneer for innovation, as well as international educational institution. Jan Pinkava is keen to contribute his international experience to a new and young environment and thus, will shape the future of the institute.”
Jan Pinkava has worked in the animation industry for thirty years and won numerous awards with his films. During his time at the animation studio Pixar, he won an Oscar® for his short film GERI’S GAME in 1998. As creator and co-director, Pinkava was also instrumental in RATATOUILLE‘s Oscar® win for the best animated feature film in 2008. In addition, Pinkava was involved in the creation of the innovative format Google Spotlight Stories as co-founder and creative director. There, he developed new forms of interactive storytelling.
For Prof. Thomas Schadt (Managing Director Filmakademie Baden-Wuerttemberg), Pinkava’s versatility is particularly remarkable: “His unique career as an artist perfectly complements his many years of experience in leading industry positions. Jan Pinkava will not only be able to guide the students, but inspire them as well.”
“The Person Is More Important than the Project.”
Since fall 2022, Prof. Andreas Hykade has been working as Head of Animation Directing at the Animationsinstitut. Before dedicating his focus to this position, Prof. Hykade headed the Animationsinstitut for eight years and contributed greatly to the institute’s reputation and success. “The person is more important than the project”—Andreas Hykade made sure to emphasize this principle throughout his tenure. The Animationsinstitut is built on the cooperation of students, lecturers, and employees, he said.
Jan Pinkava wants to remain faithful to this philosophy: “I like people much more than machines. Our job is to give our students the tools to create great art with real values.”
The AMCRS HEROES @ ITFS on Saturday, April 29, 2023!
ITFS Open Air (Photo: Reiner Pfisterer)
Hands up, it’s weekend! Enjoy your time at ITFS and check here to see which of our HEROES (or their works) will also be there on Saturday, April 29, 2023.
20:30 CET ITFS Gloria 2 Best of Animation – Homemade Highlights 2 Films by Regina Welker, Thomas Meyer-Hermann, Anselm Pyta, Angela Steffen, Kiana Naghshineh, Shoko Hara, Studio Filmbilder, Animationsinstitut Alumni et al., curated by Förderverein ITFS e.V. https://www.itfs.de/en/events/best-of-animation-homemade-highlights-2/
21:30 CET Weltcafé, Charlottenplatz 17, Stuttgart The ITFS Booster Club Party Förderverein ITFS e.V., sponsored by Studio Seufz et al.
ITFS (Photo: Reiner Pfisterer)
April 27, 2023
The AMCRS HEROES @ ITFS, FMX and APDs on Friday, April 28, 2023!
APDs (Photo: Reiner Pfisterer)
Find out where our HEROES can be found or are involved especially at ITFS on Friday, April 28! Many of the FMX presentations can be viewed online via VOD (starting) today (more info here and tickets here). At APDs today, there are mainly non-public one-on-one meetings which set the course for future projects.
15:30 CET FMX Turm Aalen (online) Technical Directing, Setextension and VFX Graduation Project Speakers are TD students in their second year of project studies at Animationsinstitut. Fynn Frederick Aurich: Creature Rigging & Simulation, Autorigger, Research: USD Rigging and Character Pipeline, Paul Golter: Pipeline for final year project, Research: Asset Transformation Framework https://fmx.de/en/program-2023/detail/event/27134
10:00 CET FMX König-Karl-Halle Realtime Worlds: Tips and Tricks for Creating Stunning Visuals in Camera and Post Nathan Larouche, VFX Supervisor, Mark Dauth, Compositor, Pixomondo https://fmx.de/en/program-2023/detail/event/26096
12:30 CET FMX Bertha-Benz-Saal & VIDEO ON DEMAND (from April 28) VFX Team Sustainability: Growing and Retaining Talent Marian Dobrunz, Head of HR, RISE | Visual Effects Studios, Jasmin Hasel, Vice President & Executive Producer European Operations, Scanline VFX https://fmx.de/en/program-2023/detail/event/26112
12:30 CET FMX Turm Aalen Challenging Productions for Web/TV/Cinema: TALES OF ZALE and HUI BUH 2 Peter Lames, Accenture Song / Associate VFX Supervisor, Animationsinstitut Alumnus, Roland Petrizza, Senior Digital Compositor at Accenture Song, Accenture Song Content Germany GmbH, Filmakademie Alumnus, Sveta Yuferova, Director, Animationsinstitut Alumna https://fmx.de/en/program-2023/detail/event/26132
13:05 CET FMX Raum Mannheim, The Houdini Suite Our Solaris experience so far at RISE Bernhard Esperester, Head of Lighting, Oliver Markowski, Head of 3D, Fuat Yüksel, Head of FX, RISE | Visual Effects Studios https://fmx.de/en/program-2023/detail/event/27376
13:30 CET FMX School Campus Meet up with all Fresh Vision talents & European Animation Development Lab „Animation Sans Frontières“ (ASF). Animationsinstitut
14:30 CET FMX Bertha-Benz-Saal & VIDEO ON DEMAND (from April 28) Is the (current) VFX Business Model Sustainable? Panel hosted by Heiko Burkardsmaier (VFX Executive Producer, Accenture song VFX) https://fmx.de/en/program-2023/detail/event/26694
14:30 CET FMX Turm Aalen & Video on Demand (from April 28) From VR to animated installations: THE FAMILY PORTRAIT and TALES FROM SODA ISLAND Dan Franke, VR Artist & Co-Founder and Director of Studio Syro, Animationsinstitut Alumnus https://fmx.de/en/program-2023/detail/event/26133
15:45 CET FMX Raum Heilbronn, The Autodesk Suite & VIDEO ON DEMAND (from April 28) Bad Ghouls: A look at the award-winning workflow behind A Calling. From the Desert. To the Sea Animationsinstitut Students & Alumni: Lennard Fricke, VFX Producer, Lukas Kapp, Creature TD, Lukas Löffler, Lead Compositor, Mario Bertsch, VFX Supervisor, Till Sander-Titgemeyer, Character Artist https://fmx.de/en/program-2023/detail/event/27310
18:15 CET FMX Meidinger-Saal & Video on Demand (from April 28) Fully Immersive Adaptations: Hölderlin’s Echo VR and ShakesVR Professor Susanne Marschall, University of Tübingen https://fmx.de/en/program-2023/detail/event/26055
19:00 CET FMX, FMX Square in front of Haus der Wirtschaft Thursday GET-TOGETHER sponsored by RISE | Visual Effects Studios
14:00-15:30 CET APDs L-Bank Rotunde (available as VoD to all APD accredited participants) APDs Conference Part 1, Case Study 1 From Film School to Industry with “Ich kenne ein Tier / I know an animal” – A Launchpad for Young Animators Prof. Andreas Hykade, Head of Animation Directing, Animationsinstitut/Filmakademie https://www.animationproductiondays.de/programme/conference-2023/
14:30 CET FMX Bertha-Benz-Saal & Video on Demand (from April 28) Evolving Research & Technology for a Minimized Footprint Prof. Jan Adamczyk, Hochschule der Medien, Professor Susanne Marschall, Professor, University of Tuebingen, Volker Helzle, Head of Research and Development, Animationsinstitut https://fmx.de/en/program-2023/detail/event/26120
14:30 CET FMX Raum Heilbronn, The Autodesk Suite & VIDEO ON DEMAND (from April 28) No turning back because I deleted the folders – the early adopter USD journey at RISE Kolja Hübschmann, Oliver Markowski, (RISE I Visual Effects Studios) https://fmx.de/en/program-2023/detail/event/26871
15:00 CET ITFS Gloria 2 Tricks for Kids 1 Trudes Tier – Glückshof (Klaus Morschheuser, Studio Soi), Katze (Julia Ocker, Studio Filmbilder) https://www.itfs.de/events/tricks-for-kids-1/
16:15 CET FMX Raum Reutlingen & VIDEO ON DEMAND (from April 28) Accenture Song Recruiting Presentation Michael Bergmann, Recruiting Senior Specialist, Gus Martinez, Compositing and VFX Supervisor, Carina Thomiczny, 3D Senior Realtime Artist, Accenture Song Content Germany GmbH https://fmx.de/en/program-2023/detail/event/26249
17:30 CET ITFS Open Air Best of Animation 1 – Homemade Highlights 1 Films by Tine Kluth, Julia Ocker, Andreas Hykade, Marc Schleiss, Gottfried Mentor, Volker Engel, Johannes Weiland et al., Hochschule der Medien, Studio Filmbilder, Animationsinstitut Alumni, curated by Förderverein ITFS e.V. https://www.itfs.de/en/events/best-of-animation-1-homemade-highlights-1/
17:00 CET FMX König-Karl-Halle & VIDEO ON DEMAND (from April 28) Creating Visual Effects for STRANGER THINGS, Season 4 Overall VFX Supervisor and Emmy Award winner Jabbar Raisani, Additional VFX Supervisor Marion Spates, Jan Burda, VFX Supervisor, Accenture Song Content Germany GmbH https://fmx.de/en/program-2023/detail/event/26072
17:00 CET FMX Turm Aalen & Video on Demand (from April 28) A Calling. From The Desert. To The Sea. Animationsinstitut Students & Alumni: Lennard Fricke, VFX Producer, Lukas Kapp, Creature TD, Lukas Löffler, Lead Compositor, Mario Bertsch, VFX Supervisor, Till Sander-Titgemeyer, Character Artist https://fmx.de/en/program-2023/detail/event/27094
11:15 CET FMX Bertha-Benz-Saal & VIDEO ON DEMAND (from April 28) Green Shooting – The Ecological Standards as a Funding Requirement Marian Bendix Metzner, Project Manager Film Funding / Green Shooting, MFG Baden-Württemberg mbH https://fmx.de/en/program-2023/detail/event/27299
14:30 CET FMX Meidinger-Saal & VIDEO ON DEMAND (from April 28) Kleo Matthias Backmann, Compositing Supervisor, Pascal Bußmann, VFX Supervisor, LAVAlabs https://fmx.de/en/program-2023/detail/event/26431
14:30 CET FMX Raum Tübingen & VIDEO ON DEMAND (from April 28) EMIL – European Media and ImmersionLab Volker Helzle, Head of Research and Development, Dr. Alexander Kreische, Jonas Trottnow, Software Developer, Animationsinstitut, Filmakademie https://fmx.de/en/program-2023/detail/event/26727
14:30 CET FMX Turm Aalen & VIDEO ON DEMAND (from April 28) Little Heroes / LEVEL UP / Petrushka / Mine Diamonds – A minecraft parody / Grandpa tell me about the climate change Presented by Alexandra Joshi (International Network Animationsinstitut, Filmakademie) and Mark Szilagyi (International Office Filmakademie) https://fmx.de/en/program-2023/detail/event/26069
15:45 CET FMX Turm Aalen& VIDEO ON DEMAND (from April 28) Roots / Rooms Inside Out / Vessel /Take a deep breath / Peach – Royal Enfield / The Artist‘s Workshop Presented by Alexandra Joshi (International Network Animationsinstitut, Filmakademie ) and Mark Szilagyi (International Office Filmakademie) https://fmx.de/en/program-2023/detail/event/26070
17:00 CET FMX König-Karl-Halle & VIDEO ON DEMAND (from April 28) Making Of THE BEAUTY (Trailer FMX 2023) Pascal Schelbli, Director & CG Artist, Marc Angele, Animation & VFX Artist, Aleksandra Todorovic, Producer, Noel Winzen, Character Rigger, Animationsinstut Alumni https://fmx.de/en/program-2023/detail/event/26072
18:00 CET Mittelstraße 9/1, Stuttgart LAVAlabs BBQ
ITFS Open Air (Photo: Reiner Pfisterer)
March 5, 2023
TechTalks Stuttgart, March 28, 2023
The TechTalks Stuttgart event series presents technical topics from the fields of visual effects (VFX) and animation for scientists, creative professionals, students and the interested public. After the keynote speeches, people can spontaneously take to the microphone on their own behalf. The next event will take place on March 28, 2023, at 18:00 CET at Das Gutbrod, Friedrichstr. 11, 70174 Stuttgart. Admission is free!
Please register in advance at contact@amcrs.de. Please note: The event will be recorded, but is not hybrid.
Program Schedule:
„Winkelauflösung einer simulierten Lichtfeldanzeige. (Angular resolution of a simulated light field display.)“ | Sophie Kergaßner, Audiovisual Media (M. Eng.) at Stuttgart Media University
Sophie Kergaßner is currently working on her master’s thesis at Stuttgart Media University. In this context, she recently published a paper on “Bewertung der Winkelauflösung einer simulierten Lichtfeldanzeige im Hinblick auf Dreidimensionalität, Bewegungsparallaxe und Seherlebnis (Evaluating the angular resolution of a simulated light field display with regard to three-dimensionality, motion parallax and visual experience)“, which she will present to us.
„VFX Creature Rigging und Simulation. (VFX Creature Rigging and Simulation.)“ | Lukas Kapp, Freelance Creature TD // Student at Filmakademie Baden-Württemberg
Lukas Kapp studies Technical Directing at Filmakademie Baden-Württemberg’s Animationsinstitut. He presents his work on creature rigging and simulation for the Ghoul project (VES Award 2023 for “Outstanding Visual Effects in a Student Project”). As part of his research at Filmakademie, he is also working on the use of artificial intelligence for rigging tasks.
TechTalks Stuttgart is an initiative of the following institutions:
