Accenture Song VFX have received an EMMY nomination for their work on the third season of the series “Foundation”!
In the category “Outstanding Special Visual Effects in a Season or a Movie,”Stephan Schaefholz, VFX Supervisor at Accenture Song VFX, can look forward to the possibility of taking home an Emmy Award, alongside numerous other team members, including Stefan Schorer, David Anastácio Ferreira, Uwe Majer, Nico Klein, Bernd Nalbach, and Jörg Wohnsiedler from Accenture Song VFX).
The series is produced for Apple TV+ (Skydance Television in association with Apple) and was funded by MFG Baden-Württemberg.
Congratulations from all of us! We’re keeping our fingers crossed for the awards ceremony on September 14, 2026, in Los Angeles.
Student projects from Filmakademie Baden-Württemberg’s Animationsinstitutare in the running for prestigious awards. Congratulations to the teams – we’re keeping our fingers crossed!
The interactive experience LICHTUNG(Director: Aria Wolf; Producers: Cyril Fischer and Christoph Mohr) has been selected as a finalist for the BAFTA Student Awards 2026 in the “Immersive” category. In the interactive VR game (developed by third-year Interactive Media students), players enter a quiet, mysterious world that gradually comes to life as they explore and interact with it – revealing its light and hidden beauty. The BAFTA Student Awards 2026 will be presented on July 17, 2026.
Among the semifinalists for the Student Academy Awards 2026 are THE PANIC INSIDE (Director: Matthias Strasser) and SEND NUDES (Director: David Sick) in the “Animation” category. In addition, the project DREAMS OF A SLEEPING DRAGON(Director: Johann Schilling) has been selected in the “Documentary” category.
More information and team THE PANIC INSIDE: Animationsinstitut | More information and team SEND NUDES: Animationsinstitut | All Student Academy Awards Semifinalists: List
Still THE PANIC INSIDE, Filmakademie Baden-Württemberg
Still SEND NUDES, Filmakademie Baden-Württemberg
May 10, 2026
ITFS 2026 – Winners announced
ITFS 2026, photo: Reiner Pfisterer
For one week, Stuttgart was immersed in animation fever as ITFS invited both the national and international industry as well as a broad regional audience to discover and experience the very best of animation on screen across around 150 events. The Award Ceremony took place on Saturday evening, May 9, 2026, at Gloria 1. Six film awards and one project award were presented across the various competition categories.
The ITFS International Competition Grand Prix, endowed with € 10,000, went to the short film WITH TAPES AND TOASTS IN THE CAR by Stuttgart-based filmmaker Kiana Naghshineh, a graduate of Filmakademie Baden-Württemberg’s Animationsinstitut. The award automatically qualifies the film for the Academy Awards. The French-German co-production also impressed audiences and additionally received the Audience Award, sponsored by SWR. The graduation film SENSUAL by Tanja Nuijten, a graduate of Filmakademie Baden-Württemberg’s Animationsinstitut, recieved a Special Mention at the Lotte Reiniger Promotion Award.
WITH TAPES AND TOASTS IN THE CAR, Kiana Nagshineh
Kiana Nagshineh receives the Trixie statue, photo: ITFS, Reiner Pfisterer
Kiana Nagshineh, photo: ITFS, Reiner Pfisterer
SENSUAL, Tanja Nuijten, FABW
ITFS INTERNATIONAL COMPETITION Grand Prix (Animation Award of the State of Baden-Württemberg and the City of Stuttgart in the amount of 10,000 euros) and Audience Award (Award for the Best Animated Film voted by the Audience in the amount of 6,000 euros, sponsored by SWR):
WITH TAPES AND TOASTS IN THE CAR (IM AUTO TAPES UND BUTTERBROT) Germany, France 2025 Director: Kiana Naghshineh | Production: Laïdak Films, ManicMonday | Producers: Antoine Liétout, Henrik von Müller, Ivan Zuber, Kiana Naghshineh | World Sales: Miyu Distribution
Jury: Hisko Hulsing, Melanie Beisswenger, Vera Neubauer
Special Mention at the Lotte Reiniger Promotion Award (Award for the Best Animated Graduation Film in the amount of 10,000 euros, sponsored by MFG Film Funding Baden-Württemberg)
Earlier in the festival, on Thursday evening, the German Animation Screenplay Awards and the Trickstar Business Award were presented during the AniX Awards ceremony at the Festival Centre. The festival’s final award was presented on Sunday afternoon on the Open Air stage: the Kids’ Jury honoured the best lm in the ITFS Tricks for Kids Competition in front of an eagerly awaiting audience.
Save the Date: The 34th Stuttgart International Festival of Animated Film will take place from 27 April to 2 May 2027.https://itfs.de/
May 8, 2026
The Winners of the AniX Awards at ITFS 2026!
The first award winners of the Stuttgart International Festival of Animated Film (ITFS)2026 can be announced: In a joint awards ceremony – the AniX Awards – the German Animation Screenplay Award and the Trickstar Business Award were presented on the evening of May 7, 2026 at the Festival Centre in the Haus der Katholischen Kirche.
The Award for the Best German Screenplay for an Animated Feature Film in the amount of € 2,500 sponsored by the Animation Media Creators Region Stuttgart (AMCRS), goes to EMMI & EINSCHWEIN – EINHORN KANN JEDER! (EMMI & UNIPIG – ANYONE CAN BE A UNICORN!) by Anna Böhm (Producer: Stephan Wagner, Production: Carte blanche Media)
From the jury statement: The jury honours a screenplay whose powerful storytelling demonstrates just how vibrant, witty, and at the same time moving contemporary animated films for the whole family can be. “Emmi & Unipig – Anyone can be a Unicorn!” creates a world brimming with imagination without relying on mere cuteness. Instead, the story uses its wealth of magical creatures to explore very real emotions: shame, exclusion, the longing for belonging—and the courage to accept oneself, even when that doesn’t fit with the shiny expectations of others.
The Special Mention goes to PETRONELLA APFELMUS – DER FILM (PETRONELLA APPLEWITCH)by Claudio Winter and Seraina Nyikos (Producer: Dirk Beinhold, Valentin Greulich, Production: Akkord Film Produktion, Co-Producer:SERU Animation, funded by MFG)
Stefanie Larson, Sophia Bierend, Solveig Langeland, Silke Wilfinger, Stephan Wagner, Matthias Drescher and Jørn Precht (left to right), photo: ITFS, Reiner Pfisterer
Stefanie Larson, Seraina Nyikos, Claudio Winter and Sebastian Runschke (SERU) (left to right), photo: ITFS, Reiner Pfisterer
The Award for the German Screenplay with the Biggest International Market Potential in the amount of € 2,500, sponsored by SOLA MEDIA – and the winner is DREAMERS – THE HUNT FOR SHADOWCLAW by Jörg Ihle, Dominik Hochwald, Christopher Jenkins, Robert Moreland, and Alison James (Producers: Ulrich Schwarz, Ivy Stein, Production: parapictures filmproductions).
From the jury statement: DREAMERS is a wonderfully humorous, action-packed, and heartwarming screenplay featuring charmingly anthropomorphized animals who embrace their disabilities and use them as special, valuable abilities. This is done in an effortless, exciting, and highly entertaining way for all ages. Important messages such as tolerance, friendship, and inclusion are conveyed playfully. Because in the end, we are all Dreamers—a little bit normal, a little bit quirky, and each one special. The jury of this year’s screenplay award sees all the ingredients and potential for a successful international release in this emotional story.
The Special Mention goes to TRÜFFEL by Sonja Knyssok.
The jury consisted of Matthias Drescher, Sophia Bierend, Solveig Langeland, Jørn Precht and Silke Wilfinger.
Stefanie Larson, Solveig Langeland, Ulrich Schwarz, Jørn Precht, Ivy Stein, Silke Wilfinger, Sophia Bierend, Matthias Drescher and Robert Moreland (left to right), photo: ITFS, Reiner Pfisterer
Sonja Knyssok, photo: ITFS, Reiner Pfisterer
The Trickstar Business Award, the award for the Best Innovative and Groundbreaking Business Model for a Project or a Company in the Field of Animation in the amount of € 7,500 sponsored by Verband Region Stuttgart, goes to Atomedge(CEO: Guy van der Walt).
Start-ups with innovative business models for the content industry can apply for the CONTENTshift innovation program until April 30.
Over the past ten years, CONTENTshift has established itself as a key innovation platform for the publishing and media industry. Since 2026, the program has been organized by the Börsenverein des Deutschen Buchhandels Baden-Württemberg, under the umbrella of the strong publishing hub Baden-Württemberg. The program promotes innovative business models, provides industry knowledge, and connects start-ups across sectors with established companies and experts from the publishing and media industry in Baden-Württemberg and beyond.
Start-ups selected by a distinguished jury receive mentoring and coaching, as well as the chance to win the CONTENTshift Award, endowed with €10,000. They also gain a spot as co-exhibitors at the state booth “THE LÄND” at the Frankfurter Buchmesse 2026 (October 7-11), organized by MFG Baden-Württemberg with support from regional partners. Under the motto “Future Publishing – Future Content,” the Baden-Württemberg booth at the Frankfurter Buchmesse 2026 offers a unique stage for innovative business models and forward-looking applications for the book market.
“Lena’s Farm” has been awarded a Grimme Award 2026! The series by Studio FILM BILDER and MINYA Film for ZDF (broadcast on KiKA) received the Audience Award from the Marler Gruppe.
We congratulate the entire team – Director: Elena Walf, Producer: Thomas Meyer-Hermann, and many more (you can find the full list of contributors here: https://filmbilder.de/lenas-farm/)! The series was funded, among others, by MFG Baden-Württemberg.
The award ceremony will take place on April24, 2026.
About the Grimme Award, presented by the Grimme-Institut: The Grimme Award honors television programs and achievements that serve as exemplary and model contributions to broadcasting. The guiding principle of the television critique institutionalized in the Grimme Award is to encourage a comprehensive engagement with television as a central and significant medium that has diverse societal connections and impacts. This critical examination encompasses all topics and forms of television.
March 13, 2026
Cartoon Movie 2026
Director Reza Memari was honored with the Cartoon Tribute for Director of the Year at the European animation forum Cartoon Movie in Bordeaux. He received the award for the animated film “The Last Whale Singer.”
“The Last Whale Singer” is Memari’s second animated feature film following „Überflieger – Kleine Vögel, großes Geklapper“ (“Richard the Stork”). An animated fantasy for family audiences, the film follows Vincent, the orphaned son of the last Whale Singer, who must overcome his fears and discover his own voice to help save the oceans.
The award is presented annually by the attending industry professionals and recognizes outstanding achievements in the European animation industry. The ceremony took place at the Palais des Congrès in Bordeaux, concluding the 28th edition of the international pitching and co-production forum. The project was presented at Cartoon Movie at different stages – from concept in 2018 to development in 2020 and production in 2025 – and is an international co-production between Germany, the Czech Republic, and Canada. The film has already been sold to more than 30 territories worldwide and was funded by MFG.
“Monster Mia” (directed by Verena Fels), with co-producer Peng-Boom-Tschak Films (The M.A.R.K.13™ – Group, Holger Weiss, Dominique Schuchmann), among others, and sales agent Sola Media – more information
“A Sparrow’s Song“ team at the Annie Awards: Vincent Maurer, Tobias Eckerlin, Lilli-Luisa Heckmann (Photo (c) private)
“A Sparrow’s Song” won the award in the Best Student Film category at the 53rd Annie Awards! We congratulate the team behind this diploma project from Filmakademie Baden-Württemberg‘s Animationsinstitut:
Student Director / Student Producer: Tobias Eckerlin, Lead Technical Director: Vincent Maurer, Lead Character Artist: Elias Weber, Lead Animation: Lilli-Luisa Heckmann, Lead Animation: Jiro Magracia, Lead Groom/Feathers Artist: Rebecca Liebelt – and many more!
In the category Best TV/Media – Children, “The Wonderfully Weird World of Gumball – Episode: The Rewrite” by Hanna-Barbera Studios Europe won the award. Our CREATORS from Studio Soi were also involved in the production of the animated series.
Animationsinstitut alumni – center Tobias Eckerlin, Vincent Maurer and Lilli-Luisa Heckmann, framed by Oscar Jacobson and Franz Rügamer (nominated for The Undying Pain of Existence) (Photo (c) private)
Lilli-Luisa Heckmann, Tobias Eckerlin, Vincent Maurer (Screenshot Live Stream Annie Awards (ASIFA Hollywood))
January 30, 2026
Grimme Award Nomination for Lena’s Farm
The nomination committees of the 62nd Grimme Awardsconvened in early January and, across the categories Information & Culture, Fiction, Entertainment, and Children & Youth, selected 71 productions and individual achievements from more than 750 submissions for nomination. A total of eleven nominations went to commercial broadcasters and streaming platforms, including two in Information & Culture, four in Fiction, three in Entertainment, and two in the Children & Youth category.
The series “Lena’s Farm” is nominated in the “Children” section of the competition category “Children & Youth”. The series – created by our CREATORS at Studio FILM BILDER and MINYA Film for ZDF – is broadcast on KiKA.
Lena’s Farm, Still: Studio FILM BILDER
The team includes Elena Walf (director and writer), Simon Thummet and Barbara Kuznetsova (writers), Ingo Weis and Jens Ripke-Desaules (editors), as well as Thomas Meyer-Hermann and Miljana Dragicevic (producers), and many more.
The winners of the 62nd Grimme Awards will be announced in March. Fingers crossed for all nominees!
A Sparrow’s Song, Credits: Filmakademie Baden-Württemberg
The Visual Effects Society has announced the nominations for the 24th VES Awards. The prestigious annual celebration recognizes outstanding visual effects artistry and innovation worldwide and the VFX supervisors, VFX producers and hands-on artists who bring this work to life. Also in the running are the visual effects from projects by AMCRS members.
In the category OUTSTANDING VISUAL EFFECTS IN A STUDENT PROJECT, “A Sparrow’s Song” has made it onto the list of nominees. The project was created by Tobias Eckerlin, Vincent Maurer, Elias Weber, and Lilli-Luisa Heckmann (and many more) as a diploma project at Filmakademie Baden-Württemberg’s Animationsinstitut. The film has already won a Student Academy Award in Gold, is currently shortlisted for the 2026 Academy Awards, and was recently nominated for the 2026 Annie Awards.
RISE FX can celebrate a nomination in the category OUTSTANDING ENVIRONMENT IN A PHOTOREAL FEATURE for “The Lost Bus” – Feather River Canyon by the Pulga Bridge – (nominated team: David Schulz, Mareike Loges, Björn Markgraf, and Philipp Hafellner).
Congratulations to everyone involved! Fingers crossed for the VES Awards ceremony on February 25, 2026, at The Beverly Hilton in Los Angeles.
