April 24, 2024

Our CREATORS @ FMX and ITFS on Thursday, April 25, 2024

STUTTGART ANIMATED WEEK 2024 – Day 3: Where will you find our CREATORS on Thursday, April 25, at FMX and ITFS? Let’s find out!

9:30-19:00
FMX List-Saal Marketplace
MFG / AMCRS, RnDeep
https://fmx.de/en/program/program-2024/detail/event/29878

9:30-19:00
FMX Max-Eyth-Saal Recruiting Hub
Pixomondo, Recom, Rise
https://fmx.de/en/program/program-2024/detail/event/29876

9:30-19:00
FMX Steinbeis-Saal School Campus
Animationsinstitut / FABW, Hochschule der Medien, Merz Akademie
https://fmx.de/en/program/program-2024/detail/event/29867

10:30-19:30
ITFS Königsbau-Passagen GameZone
„The Bear – A Story from the WORLD OF GRA“ (by ITFS/FMX/APD Trailer Team)
Animationsinstitut Alumni (Mucks! Games)
https://www.itfs.de/en/events/gamezone-2/

10:00
FMX Bertha-Benz-Saal, VOD
Vocation by Chance
Track “Raw & Relevant” curated by Andreas Hykade, Animationsinstitut / FABW
https://fmx.de/en/program/program-2024/detail/event/28892

10:00
FMX Raum Reutlingen
Workshop: Texturing lessons from House of the Dragon
Claudia Marvisi, Pixomondo
https://fmx.de/en/program/program-2024/detail/event/29710

10:00
ITFS Haus der Katholischen Kirche, Königstr. 7, Stuttgart
Filmmakers’ Talk: International Competition 2
Dodo (Yi Luo), Mariupol. A Hundred Nights (Sofiia Melnyk), Animationsinstitut / FABW alumni
https://www.itfs.de/en/events/filmmakers-talk-international-competition-2-2/

11:15
FMX Bertha-Benz-Saal
A Passion for Puppets
Track “Raw & Relevant” curated by Andreas Hykade, Animationsinstitut / FABW
https://fmx.de/en/program/program-2024/detail/event/28893

12:30
FMX Bertha-Benz-Saal
Panel Discussion: How to pull it off?
Jan Pinkava, Andreas Hykade, Animationsinstitut / FABW (Andreas Hykade also curator of the Track “Raw and Relevant”)
https://fmx.de/en/program/program-2024/detail/event/28894

12:30
ITFS Gloria 1
International Competition 2: Welcome to the Dark Side!
Dodo (Yi Luo), Mariupol. A Hundred Nights (Sofiia Melnyk), Animationsinstitut / FABW alumni
https://www.itfs.de/en/events/international-competition-2-welcome-to-the-dark-side-3/

12:30
ITFS Cinema
Workshop-Talk: VeDRA Dialogue – The Nominees of the German Animation Screenplay Award
German Animation Screenplay Award sponsored by the AMCRS
https://www.itfs.de/en/events/workshop-talk-vedra-dialogue-the-nominees-of-the-german-animation-screenplay-award-2/

12:45
FMX Raum Mannheim, Houdini Suite
Crafting the Wasteland: Adventures with USD in the Fallout series
Andreas Giesen, RISE | Visual Effects Studios
https://fmx.de/en/program/program-2024/detail/event/29982

13.00
ITFS Gloria 2
German Animation 1: Don’t Look Back
it’s just a whole (Bianca Scali, Animationsinstitut / FABW), Scrubby (Paul Vollet, Animationsinstitut / FABW)
https://www.itfs.de/en/events/german-animation-1-dont-look-back/

14:00
ITFS Schlossplatz
The Magic of Animation
Moody Booty (Kathrin Kuhnert, Mareike Keller, Lena-Carolin Lohfink, Animationsinstitut / FABW alumni)
https://www.itfs.de/en/events/the-magic-of-animation-2/

14:00
Animationsinstitut of Filmakademie Baden-Württemberg, Akademiehof 10, 71638 Ludwigsburg
Animationsinstitut Diploma Showroom 2024 at FABW campus in Ludwigsburg
https://animationsinstitut.de/en/beyond-study/diplomashowroom

15:45
FMX Meidinger-Saal, VOD
The Sound of DUNE Part Two
Track “Sound Design” curated by Nami Strack, Animationsinstitut / FABW
https://fmx.de/en/program/program-2024/detail/event/28847

15:45
FMX Bertha-Benz-Saal, VOD
Socials Augmented Reality Tech
Track “Tech Talks” curated by Volker Helzle, Animationsinstitut / FABW
https://fmx.de/en/program/program-2024/detail/event/28855

17:00
FMX Bertha-Benz-Saal, VOD
The Challenge of Developing Software for VFX
Track “Tech Talks” curated by Volker Helzle, Animationsinstitut / FABW
https://fmx.de/en/program/program-2024/detail/event/28854

17:00
FMX Turm Aalen
Preparing your Business for Growth
Sabrina Christoforidis, Pixomondo
https://fmx.de/en/program/program-2024/detail/event/29791

18:15
FMX Bertha-Benz-Saal
Rethinking Compositing
Track “Tech Talks” curated by Volker Helzle, Animationsinstitut / FABW
https://fmx.de/en/program/program-2024/detail/event/28856

18:15
FMX Meidinger-Saal
YU YU HAKUSHO: A Japanese Local Production and its Global VFX
Ryo Sakaguchi, Scanline VFX
https://fmx.de/en/program/program-2024/detail/event/28842

18:45
FMX Raum Reutlingen
RISE against the machine.- RISE Recruiting Presentation
Marian Dobrunz, RISE | Visual Effects Studios
https://fmx.de/en/program/program-2024/detail/event/29247

19:00
ITFS Haus der Katholischen Kirche, Königstr. 7
AniX Awards (with German Animation Screenplay Award)
AMCRS German Animation Screenplay Award sponsored by the AMCRS
https://www.itfs.de/en/events/anix-awards/

January 19, 2024

Grimme Award Nominations for Projects involving AMCRS HEROES!

Still from “**The Ogglies – Welcome to Smelliville**” | Image: WunderWerk

Two projects, involving animation studios from AMCRS in their production, have been nominated for a Grimme Award 2024! Congratulations!

Nominated in the Children & Youth category is the series „Neue Geschichten vom Pumuckl“ (NEUESUPER for RTL+/RTL). The beloved kobold was animated by studio soi, based on the illustrations from the children’s books by Ellis Kaut.

Additionally, nominated for a Grimme Award in the Children & Youth category is the animated film “The Ogglies – Welcome to Smelliville” (WunderWerk for ZDF/KiKA), which was created with the collaboration of M.A.R.K. 13.

Pumuckl, Screenshot Official Teaser https://youtu.be/7Ofee7jwc1M

Complete list of Grimme Award Nominations 2024

Sources: MFG Bad en-Württemberg, Grim me Award

July 23, 2023

Filmakademie diploma film JUICE in Student Academy Awards 2023 semifinals!

Film still “Juice”, Filmakademie Baden-Württemberg

Last week, the semi-finalists for the Student Academy Awards 2023 were announced in four categories. Among them is a diploma film from Filmakademie Baden-Württemberg‘s Animationinstitut! In the “Alternative/Experimental” category “SAFT” (“JUICE”) has made it to the next round.

The animated short film (Animation Director: Mona Keil, Producer: Isabella Braun, Concept/Design: Nele Seifert, Technical Directing: Paulo Scatena, Editing: Revan Sarikaya, Animation: Arne Hain, Production Design: Nele Seifert, Production Company: Filmakademie Baden-Württemberg) is about a bunch of round succulent and moist creatures that share their world with pesky little bugs, but one day, they squash them all. In response the creatures start to run dry. More about the film

We keep our fingers crossed! The Student Academy Awards 2023 finalists will be announced in mid-August, with the ceremony taking place in October.

Announcement on oscars.org

July 15, 2023

EMMY Nominations for Accenture Song and Pixomondo!

“Shadow And Bone” | Image: Accenture Song

There was great excitement among our AMCRS HEROES Accenture Song and Pixomondo – and among us, too – at the announcement of the 2023 Emmy Awards nominations on July 12!

In the “Outstanding Special Visual Effects In A Single Episode” category Accenture Song got a nomination for “The Nevers – It’s A Good Day” (with Visual Effects Supervisor Emmanuel Fuchs) and for “Shadow And Bone – Rusalye” (with their former VFX Supervisor Juri Stanossek).

In the “Outstanding Special Visual Effects In A Season Or A Movie” category Pixomondo was nominated for “House Of The Dragon” (with Sven Martin, Sebastian Meszmann, Mark Spindler, Mark Dauth and others).

All three projects were funded by MFG Medien- und Filmgesellschaft Baden-Württemberg mbH. MFG Press Release (German)

The 75th Emmys will be awarded on Monday, September 18, 2023, in Los Angeles. We are keeping our fingers crossed!

All nominations on the Emmy Awards website

April 30, 2023

Studio Soi’s “Trudes Flatmate – Glückshof” receives Special Mention at ITFS 2023

The winners of the Tricks for Kids competition for animated short films for children at the 30th Stuttgart International Festival of Animated Film have been announced! The prize was awarded at the TREFFPUNKT ROTEBÜHLPLATZ of vhs stuttgart on Saturday, April 29. The winning film was chosen by a children’s jury. In addition, the audience favourite of the Tricks for Kids competition was honoured with the Tricks for Kids Audience Award.

The Award for the best children’s animated film (with a cash prize of 4,000 €, sponsored by Studio 100 Media) went to Elegy of Elefant, Director: Sergio Lu, China 2022.

Our HEROES from Studio Soi received a Special Mention for Trudes Tier – Glückshof by Klaus Morschheuser!

Trude and the flatmate are going on a picnic trip. The flatmate already pilfers some sausages from the picnic basket. When the two of them get stuck in a traffic jam and halt next to a cattle truck, the flatmate is struck by pity for the porr pigs. And when Trude explains to him, what sausages are made of, the flatmate makes up his mind: He has to do something about this!

More about Trudes Flatmate

The Award for the audience’s favourite of the ITFS Children’s Film Festival (with a cash prize of 1,500 €, sponsored by L-Bank) was won by Les Astres Immobiles (Immobile Stars), Directors: Noémi Gruner, Séléna Picque, France 2022.

Congratulations to everyone involved!

Source: Press Release ITFS

April 27, 2023

The Winners of the Trickstar Professional Awards at ITFS 2023

Press release ITFS, April 26, 2023

The first award winners of the 30th Stuttgart International Festival of Animated Film (ITFS) have been chosen: In a joint awards ceremony – the Trickstar Professional Awards – the German Animation Screenplay Award, the Animated Games Award Germany, the Trickstar Business Award, and the Honorary Trickstar of the ITFS 2023 were presented on the evening of April 26, 2023 at the L-Bank Rotunde.

The prize for the best German screenplay for an animated feature film in the amount of € 2,500 sponsored by the Animation Media Cluster Region Stuttgart (AMCRS), goes to:

CLARISSA, Screenplay: John Chambers, Production: XFilme Creative Pool GmbH, Producer: Uwe Schott

The jury found: Based on the popular IP and German board game KAKERLAKAK, Clarissa’s journey from hated underdog insect to rising star shows how rewarding it can be to pursue your dreams without fear rather than hiding in the shadows and doing what’s expected of you because it has always been so. The story is also a modern appeal for equality, inclusion, and acceptance of gender diversity, supported by lots of humour, songs, and dance. CLARISSA – The Musical is born.

Host Anja Lange, John Chambers (ITFS/Reiner Pfisterer)

The prize for the German screenplay with the greatest international market potential in the amount of € 1,500 sponsored by Pink Parrot Media goes to: PIRATE MO AND THE LEGEND OF THE RED RUBY, Screenplay: Richie Conroy, Production: Ulysses Filmproduktion GmbH, Producer: Emely Christians.

The jury consisted of: Peter Keydel (Producer Mago Production, Barcelona/Düsseldorf), Tania Pinto de Cunha (President and Director of Int. Sales and Acquisitions, Pink Parrot, Media, Madrid), Lilian Klages (CEO & Executive Producer, Zooper Film, Ludwigsburg), Holger Weiss (CEO & Founder, M.A.R.K. 13 Group, Stuttgart), and Silke Wilfinger (Founder, SilkWayFilms, Munich).

The Animated Games Award Germany, the prize for the best and most innovative animation-based computer game from Germany in the amount of € 5,000 sponsored by MFG Medien- und Filmgesellschaft Baden-Württemberg, goes to:

SIGNALIS, Developer: Barbara Wittmann, rose-engine, Publisher: Humble Games

From the jury statement: “Signalis” convinced us with a particularly strong visual language that honors the 90s art style, but does not limit itself to it and skillfully mixes genres. Inspired by pop culture it uses familiar elements and through technical innovation, this develops into a modern aesthetic. While playing the game, one can feel the passion for storytelling in an immersive, meticulously crafted game world that captivates not only visually. The reduced but skillful use of sound and music underlines the thrilling atmosphere of this classic survival horror game.

The jury consisted of: Anna Katharina Brinkschulte (Senior Lecturer Interactive Media, Filmakademie Baden-Württemberg – Animationsinstitut, Ludwigsburg), Stephan Jakob (Professor for Game Design and Development, Darmstadt University of Applied Sciences (h_da) & Founder, BiteTheBytes, Darmstadt), and Lea Schönfelder (Co-Founder, Fein Games, Frankfurt am Main).

The Trickstar Business Award, the prize for the best innovative and forward-looking business model in the animation sector in the amount of € 7,500 sponsored by Verband Region Stuttgart, goes to PentoPix Inc., Founders: Volha Paulovich, Amid Pate, United Kingdom.

The Honorary Trickstar of the ITFS 2023 goes to Latvian animation artist Signe Baumane (“My Love Affair with Marriage”, “Rocks in my Pockets”).

We congratulate all the winners!

Click here for the full press release.

February 16, 2023

VES AWARD for Filmakademie Baden-Württemberg Production!

Press Release Animationsinstitut, Ludwigsburg, February 16, 2023

THE GHOUL PROJECT from A CALLING. FROM THE DESERT. TO THE SEA. Animationsinstitut, Filmakademie Baden-Württemberg

The production A CALLING. FROM THE DESERT. TO THE SEA by the Filmakademie Baden-Württemberg wins the VES Award 2023 in the category “Outstanding Visual Effects in a Student Project“. Students of the Animationsinstitut created the visual effects (VFX) of the short film. Mario Bertsch (VFX Supervisor), Max Pollmann (VFX Producer), Lukas Löffler (Compositing Lead), and Till Sander-Titgemeyer (Creature Lead) accepted the award last night in Los Angeles on behalf of the entire team.

A CALLING. FROM THE DESERT. TO THE SEA tells the story of the sisters Ahlam and Yasmin, who defy the set boundaries and customs of their father. In order to reach a mystical sea, however, they first must face an enemy from within.

The visual effects team, which also includes Pascal Schober (Technical Director), Lukas Kapp (Rigging TD) and Lennard Fricke (VFX Producer), created the monster “The Ghoul” for the film. It took over two years to design the computer-animated creature, for which the team drew inspiration from the anatomy of humans, ostriches, caimans and dinosaurs. In addition, the students simulated the monster’s hair, spit and muscles.

The VFX team particularly praises the spirit within the project team: “Not only did we achieve our goal of seamlessly integrating a photorealistic creature into the film, but we are also incredibly happy to have worked with so many talented VFX artists. Of course, this holds true for the fantastic main production team around director Murad Abu Eisheh and producer Malin Krüger as well.”

Murad Abu Eisheh (Writer and Director), winner of the Student Academy Award in Gold, adds: “In this film, I wanted to create a mix of reality and fantasy that usually only exists in a child’s imagination. In doing so, I wanted to deal with my own experiences growing up in a society that tries to control your choices and free will from a young age.“

The excitement at the Filmakademie in Ludwigsburg is obviously enormous. Professor Juri Stanossek, senior lecturer for Visual Effects at the Animationsinstitut, emphasizes: “The VES Award is highly deserved. Congratulations to a great team that stands out for its excellent synergy, diligence, and talent.“

The VES Awards are considered the most important award in the VFX sector after the Oscars.

With the triumph of A CALLING. FROM THE DESERT. TO THE SEA, a total of ten productions with the direct involvement of the Animationsinstitut have now won a VES Award. The Animationsinstitut and the Filmakademie Baden-Württemberg congratulate the entire team on this great success.

Link to Press Release

VES Awards 2023 Nominierungen related to AMCRS

We are very happy for everyone involved and congratulate from the bottom of our hearts!

January 22, 2023

Annie Awards 2023 Nomination for “The Most Boring Granny in the Whole World”!

The Most Boring Granny in the Whole World (Image: Filmakademie Baden-Württemberg)

“The Most Boring Granny in the Whole World” is nominated in the “Best Student Film” category at the Annie Awards 2023! Congratulations to the makers of the diploma film at Filmakademie‘s Animationsinstitut – Damaris Zielke (director), Jiayan Chen (producer) and all the others involved!

We have our fingers crossed for the ceremony at the 50th Annual Annie Awards on February 25, 2023! List of all nominees

The film premiered at Berlinale 2022 and has already won awards at ITFS 2022 and Goldener Spatz 2022.