Pre-Berlinale Panel Discussion – Animation & VFX in Baden-Württemberg
Invitation to the Pre-Berlinale panel discussion on Animation & VFX in Baden-Württemberg, taking place on Wednesday, February11, 2026 on the eve of this year’s Berlinale (February 12 to 22, 2026), at the Vertretung des Landes Baden-Württemberg beim Bund
Over the past years, Baden-Württemberg has developed into one of Europe’s leading hubs for animation and visual effects. International successes, renowned studios, and excellent training and educational institutions have turned the region into a hotspot of creative innovation.
Under the theme “Zurück in die Zukunft: Wohin steuert Deutschlands führender Animations- und VFX-Standort?” (“Back to the Future: Where Is Germany’s Leading Animation and VFX Hub Heading?”), the discussion will focus on key questions shaping the future of the industry: How can Baden-Württemberg maintain its leading position? What conditions are needed to foster an innovative, resilient, and internationally competitive sector? And what role do politics, education, networks, and funding structures play in this context?
On the eve of the Berlinale, these questions will be addressed by the panel guests Arne Braun, State Secretary at the Ministerium für Wissenschaft, Forschung und Kunst des Landes Baden-Württemberg, Carl Bergengruen, Managing Dirctor of the Medien- und Filmgesellschaft Baden-Württemberg (MFG), Stefanie Larson, Manager of the Animation Media Creators Region Stuttgart (AMCRS), Gerd Nefzer, special effects artist and multiple Academy Award winner, and Wiebke Wiesner, Deputy Managing Director of the Produktionsallianz.
The panel discussion will be moderated by Dr. Andreas Bareiß, Director of the Filmakademie Baden-Württemberg.
Date: Wednesday, February 11, 2026, 18:00 to 21:30 CET Venue: Vertretung des Landes Baden-Württemberg beim Bund, Tiergartenstraße 15 in 10785 Berlin Organized byAnimation Media Creators Region Stuttgart (AMCRS) and FMX – Film & Media Exchange
Filmakademie BW establishes the Carl Laemmle Institute for Research & Media Innovation (CLI)
Filmakademie Baden-Württemberg GmbH (FABW) is sharpening its profile as an internationally leading institution for education and research in film and media: with the establishment of the new Carl Laemmle Institute (CLI), the academy will consolidate its activities in artistic-technological research, digital innovation, and forward-looking production methods.
The centrally anchored institute within the Filmakademie will be headed by Professor Volker Helzle, who has long served as a key driver at FABW’s Animationsinstitut, where he coordinated research and development. Under his leadership, the institute is set to function as an interdisciplinary platform for applied research and development and to foster knowledge transfer between art, science, and industry.
Andreas Bareiß, Volker Helzle, Photo: Filmakademie Baden-Württemberg
About the Carl Laemmle Institute (CLI): The Carl Laemmle Institute (CLI) consolidates the research and development activities of Filmakademie Baden-Württemberg GmbH (FABW) into a centrally embedded research and development department and serves as a key interface between education, applied research, and industry partnerships. The institute emerges from the former research and development department of FABW’s Animationsinstitut and advances its work structurally, conceptually, and strategically.
The institute’s research fields include, among others, virtual production methods, extended reality, AI-supported creative and production processes, cross-innovation, new forms of human–machine interaction, as well as sustainable and resource-efficient production models for film, games, and immersive media.
With the naming of the institute, FABW deliberately connects to the legacy of Baden-Württemberg–born pioneer Carl Laemmle. In 1912, he founded the film studio Universal Pictures in Los Angeles, played a decisive role in the rise of Hollywood, and significantly shaped the international film industry. The reference to Laemmle stands for a spirit of innovation, visionary entrepreneurship, and the courage to create new structures for creative work. At the same time, it underscores the institute’s ambition to rethink film as a cultural, technological, and social force – with an international perspective and openness to radically new ideas.
Full announcement by the Filmakademie Baden-Württemberg (FABW) with further information and quotes from Dr. Andreas Bareiß, Director of the Filmakademie Baden-Württemberg, Professor Volker Helzle, Petra Olschowski, Minister of Science, Research and the Arts of Baden-Württemberg, and Rosemary Laemmle Hilb, great-grandniece of Carl Laemmle.
May 8, 2025
Our Creators @ FMX and ITFS on Friday, May 9, 2025!
STUTTGART ANIMATED WEEK 2025 – Day 4: Where will you find our CREATORSon Friday, May 9, at FMX and ITFS? Let’s find out!
11:00-17:00 ITFS, Staatsgalerie, Konrad-Adenauer-Str. 30-32, GameZone Hochschule der Medien, Animationsinstitut / FABW, Merz Akademie https://itfs.de/en/show/gamezone-8/
10:00 FMX, Turm Aalen How to start and succeed as a Creator in the Creative Industries Panel “Fresh Visions” curated by Christian Müller, Animationsinstitut / FABW https://fmx.de/en/program/program-2025/list?t=1829
10:30 ITFS, Festival Centre, Veronika-Saal Making of: The Light of Aisha Shadi Adib (Animationsinstitut / FABW graduate), Holger Weiss, Dominique Schuchmann (The M.A.R.K.13™ – Group) https://itfs.de/en/show/making-of-the-light-of-aisha-2/
14:30 FMX, Raum Reutlingen WHY SO SERIOUS? Fun, Action and Humor in Educational Gaming. Jonas Kirchner, Christoph Rasulis, Pixelcloud (Panel “LÄND-made” curated by Christian Müller, Animationsinstitut / FABW) https://fmx.de/en/program/program-2025/detail/event/32901
15:45 FMX, Raum Reutlingen DARK SCIENCE – realtime renderings instead of reenactment Manuel Hummer, Alina Fromm, Alex Schuster, Recom Film (Panel “LÄND-made” curated by Christian Müller, Animationsinstitut / FABW) https://fmx.de/en/program/program-2025/detail/event/32902
17:00 FMX, Bertha-Benz-Saal Filming in the Metaverse: Real Time Distributed Virtual Production Panel “Tech Talks” curated by Volker Helzle, Animationsinstitut / FABW https://fmx.de/en/program/program-2025/list?t=1818
18:15 FMX, Bertha-Benz-Saal & VOD Building a State-of-the-Art Multifunctional VFX Studio for Advanced Educational and Training Purposes “Tech Talks” curated by Volker Helzle, Animationsinstitut / FABW https://fmx.de/en/program/program-2025/list?t=1818
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-8/
20:00 FMX/ITFS, Gloria 2 ITFS/FMX Joint Screening of FLOW To attend the screening, pick up your ticket at the ticket counter on Haus der Wirtschaft / Level 0 starting on Wednesday, May 7 at 15:00! https://fmx.de/en/program/program-2025/detail/event/32894
20:30 Kulturwerk, Ostendstr. 106 A Night of Shame Studio Seufz, Animationsinstitut / FABW https://www.nightofshame.com/
