In 2026, the TALENT Meet-up BW will once again offer young professionals the opportunity to experience the Stuttgart Animated Week (FMX – Film & Media Exchange (May 5 to 7, 2026), Stuttgart International Festival of Animated Film (May 5 to 10, 2026), and the APD Conference (May 5, 2026))with a free combi ticket. The program supports participants in networking, provides personalized program recommendations, and creates a framework for optimal exchange – both among participants and within the international industry. In addition, attendees will get to know regional support services and contact persons.
The program is aimed at individuals who are at the beginning of their own startup journey, currently developing animation-based content such as games, XR, VFX, or animation, or who are from related but non-industry fields, such as students in (humanities) sciences seeking to network with professionals from the animation, film, and games sectors. The offer is free of charge.
Applications are open until February 23, 2026, with responses provided by March 19, 2026. Apply now via the online form!
(European) Producers with a new animation project looking for partners (Registration/Submission Deadline: February 4, 2026, Early Bird Deadline: January 15, 2026) –> Producer Accreditation
Emerging European talents (up to 35 years old) with a project of their own (Registration/Submission Deadline: February 4, 2026) –> Talent Accreditation
Broadcasters, streamers, distributors, investors and sales agents interested in fresh content, and film and media funding institutions (Registration/Submission Deadline: February 4, 2026, Early Bird Deadline: January 15, 2026) –> Investor Accreditation
APD 2025 Best of Trailer
June 18, 2025
German Reception at Annecy Festival 2025
A few days ago, the Festival d’Animation Annecy (June 8 to 14, 2025) came to a close, with numerous people and projects from the AMCRS in attendance.
What a wonderful afternoon it was! Our heartfelt thanks go to everyone involved and present for the great organization and all the amazing conversations!
Impressions Annecy 2025, German Reception, all photos: Louis Nauche
May 25, 2025
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.
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
Thank you for your inspiring work, your creativity, expertise, and incredible dedication. But most of all, thank you for the many enriching encounters and conversations – it was truly a pleasure!
May 6, 2025
Animation Media Lounge on May 7, 2025
STUTTGART ANIMATED WEEK 2025 is in full swing! Thanks to the event trio of FMX – Film & Media Exchange (May 6-9, 2025), the Stuttgart International Festival of Animated Film (May 6-11, 2025) and the Animation Production Days (May 6-8, 2025), the capital of Baden-Württemberg is currently the global hotspot for the animation and VFX industries. To make sure there’s also time to celebrate, we’re inviting all participants of the three events to a very special party – the “MASSIVE MEGALOMANIAC ROCKSTARLICIOUS MONSTER PARTY“ aka Animation Media Lounge 2025 on May 7, 2025! Come by!
When: May 7 2025, starting at 21:30 CET Where: Die Note, Berliner Platz 1, 70174 Stuttgart
14:30 FMX, Bertha-Benz-Saal & VOD The Rise of African Animation, VFX and Content Development – How Cultural Differences are fueling Industry Growth Panel “Managing Change” curated by Imke Fehrmann, RISE | Visual Effects Studios https://fmx.de/en/program/program-2025/list?t=1810
18:15 FMX, Bertha-Benz-Saal & VOD Story Telling for War Children: Extremist and counter-Extremist Narratives Panel “Managing Change” curated by Imke Fehrmann, RISE | Visual Effects Studios https://fmx.de/en/program/program-2025/list?t=1810
18:15 FMX, Turm Aalen & VOD School Presentations: Flamin‘ Hot / Beyond Boundaries / The Goo / Lonely / Cyclus / FATIMA Mariana Mendes dos Santos, Alex Ferstl, Merz Akademie (Panel “School Presentations” presented by Alexandra Joshi, Animationsinstitut / FABW, Mark Szilagyi, FABW) https://fmx.de/en/program/program-2025/detail/event/31835
18:00 ITFS, White Noise, Eberhardtstr. 35 Exhibition: It’s Just a Whole Exhibition by Animationsinstitut / FABW graduate Bianca Scali / Winner ITFS 2024 “Student Competition“ https://itfs.de/en/show/exhibition-its-just-a-whole-4
21:30 Die Note, Berliner Platz 1 Animation Lounge by AMCRS
May 5, 2025
Our Creators @ FMX, ITFS and APD on Tuesday, May 6, 2025!
Let’s dive into STUTTGART ANIMATED WEEK 2025! Animation, VFX and games fans, professionals, and students from around the world are coming together in Stuttgart to explore the latest trends, cutting-edge technologies, stunning projects, and the most exciting stories. With FMX – Film & Media Exchange (May 6-9, 2025), the Stuttgart International Festival of Animated Film (May 6-11, 2025) and the Animation Production Days (May 6-8, 2025), there’s a lot to look forward to!
And of course, our CREATORS are part of it, too! Let’s take a look at how they’re contributing during these inspiring days: the talks, presentations, and workshops they’re leading, where you can meet and chat with them in person, what they’ve curated — and which of their projects you can see on site or even try out for yourself. We’re kicking things off on Tuesday, May 6, 2025!
FMX
9:00-12:15 APD, Landesmuseum Württemberg – Altes Schloss, Schillerplatz 6 Co-Production and Financing Market (pre-arranged one-to-one meetings) 3 CAPTAINS (Studio FILM BILDER), 48ers (The M.A.R.K.13™ – Group), A Trip with a Drip (gretels gold) https://animationproductiondays.de/projects-2025/
10:00 FMX, Turm Aalen Founding and funding an indie game studio Iris Harr, MFG, Dominik Schön, Kaleidoscube (Panel “LÄND-made” curated by Christian Müller, Animationsinstitut / FABW) https://fmx.de/en/program/program-2025/detail/event/33034
10:00 FMX, Turm Aalen Creativity and Artificial Intelligence – How to Use Cutting Edge Technology in Creative Projects Panel “LÄND-made” curated by Christian Müller, Animationsinstitut / FABW https://fmx.de/en/program/program-2025/list?t=1891
14:00 APD, Festival Centre, Haus der Katholischen Kirche, Eugen-Bolz-Saal Conference Part 1 / Panel Discussion “Crisis, Change, Resilience: Filmmaking in Times of Transformation” Curator and Host: Lilian Klages https://animationproductiondays.de/programme/conference-2025/
17:00 FMX Turm Aalen & VOD An Examination of Grey Characters: How to Write Them and What to Learn from Them Panel “Fresh Visions” curated by Christian Müller, Animationsinstitut / FABW https://fmx.de/en/program/program-2025/list?t=1829
18:00 ITFS, White Noise, Eberhardtstr. 35 Exhibition: It’s Just a Whole Exhibition by Animationsinstitut / FABW graduate Bianca Scali / Winner ITFS 2024 “Student Competition“ https://itfs.de/en/show/exhibition-its-just-a-whole-2/
19:00 FMX, in front of Haus der Wirtschaft Get-Together sponsored by Houdini
May 3, 2025
Diploma Showroom 2025
The team of Filmakademie Baden-Württemberg’s Animationinsinsitut cordially invites you to its Diploma Showroom 2025 on Thursday, May 8, 15:00 to 19:00 CET at the Animationsinstitut. You’ll have the chance to meet the graduates behind the the newest creations, learn first-hand how they were made, watch films and trailers on the big screen and play-test the interactive experiences. Look forward to ten individually designed project rooms offering exclusive glimpses behind the scenes.
Diploma Showroom 2025, Animationsinstitut / FABW, Illustration: Daniel Almagor
Location: Animationsinstitut, Filmakademie Baden-Württemberg, Akademiehof 10, 71638 Ludwigsburg
For visitors of Stuttgart Animated Week (ITFS, May 6-11, 2025 / FMX, May 6-9, 2025 / APD, May 6-8, 2025) they will offer guided tours by public transportation (14:15 CET Meeting points FMX: Speakers Counter / APD: Farewell Lunch / ITFS: Welcome Desk).
April 22, 2025
Event Series “Mittendrin” – Sind wir „FilmLänd“?
ITFS, Photo: Reiner Pfisterer
In the upcoming edition of its “Mittendrin” event series, the Stuttgarter Zeitung turns the spotlight on Baden-Württemberg’s film industry. Titled “Sind wir „FilmLänd“?”(“Are we ‘FilmLänd’?”), the event will take place on Monday, April 28, 2025, at 19:00 CET at the SpardaWelt Eventcenter (Am Hauptbahnhof 3, Stuttgart) – just one week ahead of the Stuttgart Animated Week (ITFS, May 6-11, 2025 / FMX, May 6-9, 2025 / APD, May 6-8, 2025).
