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Filmschau Baden-Württemberg (December 3 to 7, 2025)

The 31. Filmschau Baden-Württemberg will take place from December 3 to 7, 2025, in Stuttgart’s Innenstadtkinos, letting the film region of Baden-Württemberg shine. For five days, 130 current films from the southwest, glamorous premieres, and exciting guests await visitors. The Filmschau Baden-Württemberg, the state film festival in Stuttgart, was launched in 1994 on the initiative of the state of Baden-Württemberg and is organized by the Filmbüro Baden-Württemberg e.V. It was held for the first time in November 1995 as an independent event and attracts more than 6,000 visitors each year.

In the competition for the Baden-Württembergischer Filmpreis, the best productions are selected by expert juries in the categories Best Feature Film, Best Documentary, Best Short Film, Best Animated Film, and Best Commercial, Best VFX Studio, and Best VFX Students.

The program also features a strong presence of AMCRS members, including numerous projects by alumni and students from Baden-Württemberg’s film and media schools.

Animationsinstitut of the Filmakademie Baden-Württemberg: LINIE 12 (Director: Sarah Schulz), Germany Premiere; SURVIVOR (Director: Leszek Plichta), World Premiere; THE AMAZING KITSUVERSE (Director: Leo Neumann), World Premiere; THE SKY WAS CANDY (Director: Anh Tú Nguyen), Baden-Württemberg Premiere; EVER ENDING SUMMER (Director: Nikki Girod, Sylvia Jorde), World Premiere; GAÏA (Director: Gwenola Heck), World Premiere; THE UNDYING PAIN OF EXISTENCE (Director: Oscar Jacobson), Baden-Württemberg Premiere; SPARK (VFX; Director: Zoi Naum); IF I COULD FLY (VFX; Marco Henn, Alex Kühn (Director), Jan David Gunther & David Gesslbauer); STIGMA (VFX; Aaron Eisel, Sören Schmidt-Clausen (Lead VFX Artists); DRECK (VFX; Konstantin Meidenbauer, Anna Mors, Melissa Öztürk)

Hochschule der Medien: UNGENIESSBAR (Directors: a team of nine students), World Premiere; Habt ihr Den geseh (VFX; David Schubert (VFX Supervisor), Katrin Wohnhas (Compositing Supervisor), Lia Bauer (CG Supervisor); HIRAETH (VFX: Jan Schubert (VFX Supervisor), Marvin Kampa (CG Supervisor), Alina Wahl (Compositing Supervisor)

Merz Akademie: OBSCURA (Director: Luna Wagner Rodriguez), World Premiere; OBLATIO (Director: Felix Remmen), World Premiere; MYKOLAIV, MARCEL, MY MOM AND I (Director: Ulana Drashchenko); IRON LOVE (Director: Ruta Vasiliauskaite), Weltpremiere; RITMICA (Director: Ekaterina Gradoboeva), World Premiere; SCHWERTER UND GÖFFEL – TRANSMASKULINE EUPHORIE (Director: Florentine Fritz)

Hochschule Offenburg: RESET (Director: Marius Mrohs, Emilie Bein)

The M.A.R.K. 13-Group: THE LIGHT OF AISHA (Director: Shadi Adib), Germany Premiere

Studio FILM BILDER: 3 KAPITÄNE (Director: Julia Ocker), World Premiere; VOLLES NEST (Director: Elena Walf); TOMS GEBURTSTAGSKINO (Director: Andreas Hykade); DR. DR. THEMEFART (Director: Andreas Hykade); THE WAY YOU LOOK TONIGHT (Director: Christoph Horch), Baden-Württemberg Premiere; PASTA! (Director: Gottfried Mentor)

Accenture Song Content Germany: THE PENGUIN (VFX; Emanuel Fuchs (VFX Supervisor), Peter Lames (VFX Supervisor), Amelie Dillig (VFX Producer)); DUNE: PROPHECY (VFX; David Anastacio (VFX Supervisor), Peter Lames (VFX Supervisor), Apollonia Hartmann (VFX Producer); LEBEN – DER FILM (VFX; Adam Wesierski (VFX Supervisor, VFX Producer), Jan Burda (VFX Supervisor, VFX Producer)

Pixomondo /  LAVAlabs: WOODWALKERS (VFX; Max Riess (VFX Supervisor Pixomondo), Martin Jurado (VFX Supervisor LAVAlabs), Sven Martin (VFX-Supervisor Pixomondo))

LAVAlabs: THE DEAD OF WINTER (VFX; Juri Stanossek (VFX Supervisor), Alexandra Stautmeister (VFX Producer)

Sources: Press Release Filmschau BW | Merz Akademie

Jobs at Filmakademie Baden-Württemberg

The Filmakademie Baden-Württemberg is one of the most renowned training institutions for film and media in Germany and also enjoys an excellent international reputation. This is ensured by a strongly team- and practice-oriented teaching concept and more than 300 guest lecturers each year. In addition, the Filmakademie includes the Animationsinstitut and is home to the Atelier Ludwigsburg-Paris. The Filmakademie is organizer of the annual international conference FMX – Film & Media Exchange.

They are currently offering the following job opportunities:

Project Manager (m/f/d) for the FMX – Film & Media Exchange: starting April 1, 2026, application no later than December 10, 2025 – Job Posting

Coordinator IT Infrastructure (m/f/d) (Koordinator*in (m/w/d) für IT-Infrastruktur): starting January 1, 2026, application no later than November 26, 2025 – Job Posting

IT-Support (1st & 2nd Level) (m/f/d) (Mitarbeiter*in (m/w/d) für IT-Support (1st & 2nd Level)): starting January 1, 2026, application no later than November 26, 2025 – Job Posting

Staff Member Communications, Social Media and Events (m/f/d) (Mitarbeiter*in (m/w/d) für Kommunikation, Social Media und Veranstaltungen): starting January 1, 2026, application no later than November 26, 2025 – Job Posting

For the Research Project “Reallabor Metaverse” at Animationsinstitut:

Pipeline TD-Engineer eXtended Reality (XR) (m/f/d): starting January 1, 2026 or later, application no later than November 30, 2025 – Job Posting

Relations and Communication Manager XR (m/f/d): starting January 1, 2026 or later, application no later than November 30, 2025 – Job Posting

Research Engineer eXtended Reality (XR) (m/f/d): starting January 1, 2026 or later, application no later than November 30, 2025 – Job Posting

Science Communication & Events Coordination (Reallabor and VISTA) (m/f/d): starting January 1, 2026 or later, application no later than November 30, 2025 – Job Posting

Software Developer (Game Engine, Web, XR) (m/f/d): starting January 1, 2026 or later, application no later than November 30, 2025 – Job Posting

User Experience (UX) and XR Application Designer (m/f/d): starting January 1, 2026 or later, application no later than November 30, 2025 – Job Posting

All open positions at Filmakademie and Animationsinstitut

Animationsinstitut Graduation film DETLEV wins German Short Film Award 2025

Press Release, Ludwigsburg, November 21, 2025

On November 20, 2025, the German Short Film Award was presented in Hamburg by Dr. Wolfram Weimer, Minister of State for Culture and the Media. In the category “Animated Film up to 30 minutes” DETLEV (Director & Producer: Ferdinand Ehrhardt, Producer: Saskia Stirn), a stop-motion short film produced by Filmakademie Baden-Württemberg (FABW), took home the prize. The German Short Film Award is the most prestigious national distinction for short films in Germany.

Still DETLEV, Credits: Filmakademie Baden-Württemberg

In DETLEV a man in his mid-forties, who is constantly freezing, drives to a lonely gas station every night to order a microwaved Toast Hawaii sandwich. Detlev indulges in this bizarre ritual because it is the only thing that gives him warmth. When a stranger observes him one night, his world begins to fall apart.

Director Ferdinand Ehrhardt is deeply grateful for the team experience he gained during the very complex production of the stop-motion film at Animationsinstitut of Filmakademie Baden-Württemberg: “Working on DETLEV taught me that it’s good to reach out to the people around me, that trusting in the work of others pays off, and that collective work can create something far greater than I could’ve ever achieved on my own.”

Dr. Andreas Bareiss, Managing Director of FABW, highlights: “What a success! Congratulations to Ferdinand and the entire DETLEV team! The award is well deserved – and joins a long list of other well-deserved awards that FABW productions have already received this year.”

After the ceremony Ferdinand Ehrhardt expresses his gratitude about the award: “This award is an amazing honour, it fills me with pride and gives me the courage to continue on my path of filmmaking. I would like to thank our huge team for pouring so much heart and soul into these thirteen minutes of film during the three years of its production. Furthermore I would like to thank the Animationsinstitut and all of Filmakademie Baden-Württemberg – there is no other film school in Europe that would have made an animation project of this magnitude possible. Thank you for allowing us to do this, and thank you for allowing me to continue doing it!” 

Dr. Jan Pinkava, Director of Animationsinstitut, adds: “At the Animationsinstitut, we’re super proud of DETLEV. Using the painstaking hand-crafted medium of stop-motion animation, Ferdi and the team have created a moving and funny story full of heart and real human feeling. A very German tale, rewarded by audiences all over the world, and now again at home. Congratulations!”

Director and Producer Ferdinand Ehrhardt, Photo: Henrike Ehrhardt
Producer Saskia Stirn, Photo: Saskia Stirn

In addition to honoring DETLEV, the German Short Film Award recognized another FABW project: The film AT HOME I FEEL LIKE LEAVING (Director: Simon Maria Kubiena) took home the award for feature film (15 to 30 minutes). 

Since 1956, the Federal Government of Germany honours and promotes filmmakers with this award. The award is generously endowed with a sum of 255,000 € that is awarded annually across nominations and gold medals in several categories, as well as an additional 20,000 € for the best medium-length film. 

Find more information about the German Short Film Award here: https://deutscher-kurzfilmpreis.de/goldene-lolas-fuer-sechs-kurzfilme#

Source: Press Release Animationsinstitut

Trailer DETLEV

TECHTALKS on November 3, 2025, at Das Gutbrod

The TechTalks Stuttgart present 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 November 3, 2025 at 18:00 CET at Das Gutbrod, Friedrichstr. 10, 70174 Stuttgart.

Admission is free! Please register in advance at contact@amcrs.de. Please note: The event is not hybrid, but will be recorded and available at YouTube afterwards.

Program Schedule:

“Node-basiertes 2.5D Rendering“ | Michael Weigl, Student Technical Directing at Animationsinstitut
Michael Weigl presents a stylized rendering framework that was developed as part of a research project and several animation productions. The prototype of this framework was implemented as a node-based toolset within Blender’s “Geometry Nodes.” The goal is to enable new, complex visual styles – both graphic and painterly – in open-source software. The framework includes, among other things, lighting nodes, algorithms for vectorization, tracking functions, as well as a novel 2.5D layer management logic that allows abstract image operations directly within the rendering process. Together with the native functions of Blender’s “Grease Pencil” engine, this enables innovative workflows that combine 2D and 3D within a single context, thus making it possible to intuitively integrate painterly techniques into a 3D production.

“Hybrid Cloud Rendering“ | Holger Schönberger, Royal Render
We will explore how the combination of local infrastructure and the flexibility of the cloud can change your rendering workflows. From accelerating production to scaling resources according to demand, hybrid cloud solutions offer the best of both worlds: efficiency, security, and cost-effectiveness. Let us embark on this journey together and discover how you can overcome your creative challenges faster and more intelligently.

Infoflyer (PDF)

TechTalks Stuttgart is an initiative of the following institutions: Animation Media Creators Region Stuttgart | MFG Baden-Württemberg | Film Commission Region Stuttgart | Hochschule der Medien Stuttgart | Filmakademie Baden-Württemberg | Animationsinstitut

TechTalks Stuttgart on Facebook

In Memoriam: Tonio Freitag

We are deeply saddened to learn of the passing of Tonio Freitag.

Most recently working as a freelance Visual Effects Artist and VFX Supervisor, he contributed his talent to Rise FX, Pixomondo, Chasing Carrots, and Unexpected.

Moreover, Tonio Freitag was engaged at the Animationsinstitut of the Filmakademie Baden-Württemberg, working as a Technical Artist for Research & Development and teaching as a lecturer in Visual Effects.

In 2011, he graduated with a diploma from the Animationsinstitut. His diploma project “We Miss You“ was nominated for a VES Award in the category “Outstanding Visual Effects in a Student Project.”

As Head of 3D at Pixomondo in Stuttgart, he worked on international productions such as “Furious 7“, “Bridge of Spies,“ and “Game of Thrones“. At Rise FX in Stuttgart, he worked as CG Supervisor on projects including “Captain Marvel“, “Avengers: Endgame“, and “Doctor Sleep“.

He was also a long-standing member of the Visual Effects Society.

Our heartfelt condolences go out to the family and friends of Tonio Freitag. Our thoughts are with them, and we wish them strength in this difficult time.

Tonio Freitag

Source: LinkedIn, https://animationsinstitut.de/de/studium/lehrende/tonio-freitag

Diploma film A SPARROW’S SONG wins Student Academy Award 2025!

Press Release Animationsinstitut, Ludwigsburg, August 28, 2025

The Student Academy Award in the Animation category goes to “A SPARROW’S SONG” – a diploma project by director and producer Tobias Eckerlin, which was created at the Animationsinstitut of the Filmakademie Baden-Württemberg. From over 3,000 submissions from 988 universities worldwide, 14 winners were selected for the 52nd Student Academy Awards. For the eighth time, the most coveted international prize among film schools goes to Ludwigsburg

A Sparrow’s Song, Credits: Filmakademie Baden-Württemberg
A Sparrow’s Song, Team (from left to right): Elias Weber, Tobias Eckerlin, Vincent Maurer & Lilli-Luisa Heckmann, FABW
A Sparrow’s Song, Credits: Filmakademie Baden-Württemberg

This is a great honour for the team: “We feel truly overwhelmed and are incredibly happy about the Student Oscar,” says Tobias Eckerlin. “This is one of the greatest accolades you could wish for!” Alongside Eckerlin, Vincent Maurer (Technical Director), Elias Weber (Lead Character Artist), Lilli-Luisa Heckmann und Jiro Magracia (Lead Animators), Rebecca Liebelt (Groom Artist), and many others contributed to the project. “Thank you to the Academy and the entire team behind A SPARROW’S SONG!”

“A SPARROW’S SONG” is a 3D animated film inspired by a true story. It deals with the story of an elderly widow who rediscovers her joy in life during World War II through an unexpected connection with an injured sparrow. Eckerlin’s work is a moving homage to the human ability to find hope even during difficult times.

Arne Braun. State Secretary in the Ministry of Science, Research and Arts Baden-Württemberg: “What a celebration not only for the new Student Academy Award winner Tobias Eckerlin and the entire team at the Filmakademie, but even for the entire film-LÄND Baden-Württemberg. Time and again, numerous great films are produced at the Filmakademie. It is only right that they celebrate outstanding successes around the world, like they are today. We can all be very proud of this. Congratulations!”

Dr. Andreas Bareiß, Managing Director of the Filmakademie Baden-Württemberg, adds enthusiastically: “What a phenomenal success! Not only for Tobias and his team but also the entire Filmakademie Baden-Württemberg. This is the eighth Student Academy Award going to Ludwigsburg. This further strengthens our top position among the world’s leading film schools – which is reflected not only, but also in the number of Academy Awards. I am absolutely delighted!”

Dr. Jan Pinkava, Director of the Animationsinstitut, is equally proud of his graduates’ success: “Congratulations to Tobi and the “Sparrow’s Song” team! To receive an Academy Award is a great honour and I am delighted for the team, the Animationsinstitut and the entire Filmakademie. Great to see such recognition for our talented students, and for the quality of our school. Good luck in New York!”

The Student Academy Award, presented by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, is considered the film industry’s most important award for student projects. The Student Academy Awards are presented in four categories: Alternative/Experimental, Animation, Documentary and Narrative. The three best films in each category receive a gold, silver or bronze award.

Tobias Eckerlin, along with other Student Academy Awards winners, will participate in a programme in New York that includes museum visits, a dinner with Academy members and a wide variety of coaching opportunities and will last several days. The programme will culminate in the awards ceremony on Monday, October 6, at the New York Film Festival. There, the team will find out whether they will receive the so-called “Student Oscar” in gold, silver or bronze. In addition, all Student Academy Award-winning films are eligible for the regular Oscars.

Source: Press Release Animationsinstitut | More about the Student Academy Awards 2025 here | More about the project and the other Animationsinsitut nominees here for even more information about the project and our other nominees

Student Academy Awards 2025 – Two Animationsinstitut Diploma Films Nominated!

Press Release Animationsinstitut, Ludwigsburg, August 5, 2025

At this year’s Student Academy Awards two animated films produced at the Animationsinstitut of Filmakademie Baden-Württemberg have been nominated as finalists. Out of more than 3,000 submissions, the diploma films “A SPARROW’S SONG” and “THE UNDYING PAIN OF EXISTENCE“, along with five other films have made it to the final round of the coveted ‘Student Oscars’ in the Animation category.

“A SPARROW’S SONG” by Tobias Eckerlin (director and producer) is inspired by a true story. A widowed air raid warden struggles to overcome her grief and rediscover joy in her life. In the midst of World War II, she finds a dying sparrow she hopes to save. As the bird slowly recovers, a deep bond forms between them, and the sparrow responds to her playing the piano – a shared language.
Trailer “A SPARROW’S SONG“

A Sparrow’s Song, Credits: Filmakademie Baden-Württemberg
A Sparrow’s Song, Team (from the left): Elias Weber, Tobias Eckerlin, Vincent Maurer & Lilli-Luisa Heckmann, FABW

In “THE UNDYING PAIN OF EXISTENCE“, written and directed by Oscar Jacobson, a nude model poses with statue-like composure at an elite art school – until a nasty mosquito bite puts his self-control to the test. Overwhelmed by the urge to itch, he spirals into an inner battle between the relentless pressure for perfection and his uncontrollable, animalistic instincts.
Trailer “THE UNDYING PAIN OF EXISTENCE“

The Undying Pain of Existence, Credits: Filmakademie Baden-Württemberg
The Undying Pain of Existence, Oscar Jacobson at his Diploma Showroom, FABW

Dr. Andreas Bareiß, Managing Director of Filmakademie Baden-Württemberg, on the nomination of the graduate films: “I am very happy for Tobias and Oscar and for everyone involved in the creation of these wonderful films. The nomination itself is a huge success, not only for the filmmakers, but also for the entire Filmakademie Baden-Württemberg. It puts focus on the fact that we are enabling the creation of outstanding work here. Now, I’m excitd for the awards ceremony and I’m keeping my fingers crossed for the teams.”

The Student Academy Award, presented by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences is considered the most prestigious honour for student projects in the film industry. The awards ceremony will take place on October 6, 2025 in New York.

Dr. Jan Pinkava, Director of the Animationsinstitut, is proud of the success of his graduates: “Congratulations to Tobi, Oscar and their brilliant teams, from all of us at Animationsinstitut! To be the only school with two finalists in the Student Academy Awards is indeed a great honour, and recognition of not only the talent of our students and our vital teaching culture, but also of the Filmakademie’s devotion and commitment to the future of animation. These enchanting films will find a delighted audience!”

Find out more about the Student Academy Awards 2025 here.

Check here for even more information about the projects.

Source: Press Release Animationsinstitut

KUNST. KI. KONTROLLVERLUST: July 31 to August 2, 2025 

The opening of KUNST. KI. KONTROLLVERLUST (ART. AI. LOSS OF CONTROL, July 31 to August 2, 2025) will be marked by a showcase on Thursday, July 31, from 17:00 CET, titled KUNST. KI. KREATION (ART. AI. CREATION). The exhibition will feature, among other works, interactive and audiovisual pieces by students of Filmakademie Baden-Württemberg’s Animationsinstitut, including the immersive AI installation “LIMBO,” which explores memory in the digital age. Additional graduation projects such as “Sensual,” based on hundreds of hand-painted watercolors, and “Gaïa,” which artistically envisions a planet-body inhabited by humans, address the theme of corporeality in visually powerful ways. The program is complemented by “UTOPIKUM,” a project by the creative lab Tinkertank, which invites visitors to actively co-create visions of the future on the Franck Areal.

On Friday, August 1, from 16:00 CET, the focus shifts to the intersection of art, technology, and entrepreneurship. Under the title KUNST. KI. KOMMERZ (ART. AI. COMMERCE), creatives, start-ups, and interested participants will gather for the “Meet-up der kreativen Intelligenz.“ During an open stage format, students, artists, and start-ups will present their projects. Guided tours of the showcase will follow. Registration for KUNST. KI. KOMMERZ is requested here.

On Saturday, August 2, from 16:00 CET, the event KUNST. KI. KAFFEE (ART. AI. COFFEE) invites visitors to participate and explore. Guided tours of the exhibitions offer deeper insights into the media art projects on display. The groups “Drink & Draw Ludwigsburg” and “Drink & Draw Stuttgart” will gather for drawing sessions and urban sketching in the industrial setting of the venue. An open discussion format titled “Auf einen Kaffee mit der KI“ will provide space to talk about artificial intelligence, the public sphere, and the future – approachable, understandable, and open to diverse perspectives.

The full program with all times and details is available online at www.ludwigsburg.de/art-ai.

The exhibited projects LIMBO, Sensual, Gaïa, and UTOPIKUM will be open to the public on all three days. No registration is required for KUNST. KI. KONTROLLVERLUST, and admission is free.

Venue: Franck-Areal, Pflugfelder Str. 31, 71636 Ludwigsburg

KUNST. KI. KONTROLLVERLUST is a joint project by the Fachbereich Kunst und Kultur der Stadt Ludwigsburg, the Wirtschaftsförderung Stadt Ludwigsburg, and the Animationsinstitut of the Filmakademie Baden-Württemberg.

Student Academy Awards 2025 Semifinalists announced!

Among the recently announced semifinalists of the 2025 Student Academy Awards are four projects from the Filmakademie Baden-Württemberg, including three from the Animationsinstitut!

“Kaulquappe (Polliwog)“ (Animation) by Julia Skala, more information
“A Sparrow’s Song“ (Animation) by Tobias Eckerlin, more information
“The Undying Pain of Existence“ (Animation) by Oscar Jacobson, trailer and more information
“Same, but different – The Image of Women in the Catholic Church“ (Documentary) by Eva-Maria Schauer

Congratulations to everyone involved, and we’re keeping our fingers crossed for the next stage of the selection process!

Complete list of semifinalists

Kaulquappe – Filmakademie Baden-Württemberg
A Sparrow’s Song – Filmakademie Baden-Württemberg
Trailer „The Undying Pain of Existence“

Annecy 2025

From June 8 to 14, 2025, this year’s Annecy Festival will take place. As part of the festival, the MIFA animation film market will be held from June 10 to 13. Numerous projects by filmmakers from our network will be featured.

Film still from “Stitch Head”. © Gringo Films

In the competition category “TV Films,” “Lena’s Farm” is represented with the episode “Volles Nest” by Elena Walf, produced by Thomas Meyer-Hermann (Studio Film Bilder). More info

The Animationsinstitut of the Filmakademie Baden-Württemberg is also represented: in the “Graduation Films” category, “Detlev” by Ferdinand Ehrhardt (director and producer) and Saskia Stirn (producer), with distribution by Fabian Driehorst, will be screened. More info
Selected for the “VR Works” category is “lichtung” by Aria Wolf and Janina Zlotos (directors), produced by Cyril Fischer and Christoph Mohr. More info

The animated feature film “Stitch Head” by screenwriter and director Steve Hudson will be shown in the “Annecy Presents” section and will celebrate its world premiere! At ITFS 2020, the screenplay received the AMCRS-sponsored award for Best German-language Screenplay for an Animated Feature Film. The film was supported by MFG and involved the studios LAVAlabs Moving Images and PIXOMONDO in its production. More info | News article by MFG

The talent panel “Shape Your Future: Moving European Animation Forward” will present the innovation network PANEURAMA, with Christian Müller from the Animationinstitut joining the discussion. More info

At the German Films booth at MIFA, representatives of our member organizations will be present on site. This year’s German Reception will take place on Tuesday, June 10 (by invitation only) – a joint event organized by German Films, Animation Germany, AG Kurzfilm – Bundesverband Deutscher Kurzfilm, AG Animationsfilm, Animation Media Creators Region Stuttgart, Animation Production Days, FMX, Animationsinstitut of the Filmakademie Baden-Württemberg, Mitteldeutsche Medienförderung, MFG Filmförderung Baden-Württemberg and ITFS