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CONTENTshift 2026

(c) MFG Baden-Württemberg

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.

Application CONTENTshift 2026 until April 30, 2026 | Further information (MFG)

Photos: THE LÄND stand Frankfurter Buchmesse 2025
(c) MFG Baden-Württemberg

Berlinale Warm-Up

On February 11, 2026, the Vertretung des Landes Baden-Württemberg beim Bund – represented by the host at the Landesvertretung and State Secretary Rudi Hoogvliet – in cooperation with the Animation Media Creators Region Stuttgart (AMCRS) and FMX – Film & Media Exchange, invited to the Berlinale Warm-Up.

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, addressed – moderated by Dr. Andreas Bareiß, Director of the Filmakademie Baden-Württemberg – the question of “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 focus was on the investment package of the Bundesregierung, which strengthens the German film industry with €250 million annually, as well as the new Film Funding Act (FFG), which combines public funding with investment obligations for streaming services. The panelists largely agreed that reducing bureaucracy is a key factor in remaining internationally competitive.

Read more:

The Spot: „The Länd setzt aufs Land“, February 12, 2026: https://the-spot-mediafilm.com/news/kinonews/the-laend-setzt-aufs-land

Staatsministerium Baden-Württemberg, February 11, 2026: https://stm.baden-wuerttemberg.de/de/service/media/mid/berlinale-warm-up-zurueck-in-die-zukunft-wohin-steuert-deutschlands-fuehrender-animations-und-vfx-standort

(c) Landesvertretung Baden-Württemberg
Andreas Bareiss, Wiebke Wiesner, Gerd Nefzer, Arne Braun, Stefanie Larson, Carl Bergengruen, (c) Landesvertretung Baden-Württemberg
Andreas Bareiss, Arne Braun, Stefanie Larson, (c) Landesvertretung Baden-Württemberg
Wiebke Wiesner, Gerd Nefzer, Carl Bergengruen, (c) Landesvertretung Baden-Württemberg
Recur by Kaleidoscube, (c) Landesvertretung Baden-Württemberg
(c) Landesvertretung Baden-Württemberg

TALENT Meet-up BW 2026

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!

Program coordinators are MFG Baden-Württemberg, Animation Media Creators Region Stuttgart (AMCRS), Wirtschaftsförderung Region Stuttgart (WRS), Film Commission Region Stuttgart, Wirtschaftsförderung der Stadt Stuttgart and the Animationsinstitut of Filmakademie Baden-Württemberg.

Source and further informations: MFG Baden-Württemberg

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, February 11, 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 by Animation Media Creators Region Stuttgart (AMCRS) and FMX – Film & Media Exchange

Further information and registration

https://stm.baden-wuerttemberg.de/de/vertretung-beim-bund/veranstaltungen-und-gaestehaus/veranstaltungskalender

Please note that seating is limited.

GGJ goes THE LÄND: Kokolores Ludwigsburg

Global Game Jam goes THE LÄND 2026 – From January 26 to February 1, 2026, it’s time to design, code, and create amazing things once again: the Global Game Jam, the world’s largest game event, is coming to THE LÄND! Game studios, companies, universities, associations, and (cultural) institutions in Baden-Württemberg are organizing their own “sites” – locations where local game jams take place – often in collaboration with other stakeholders from their region. GGJ goes THE LÄND is coordinated by MFG Baden-Württemberg & Games BW and funded by the Ministerium für Wissenschaft, Forschung und Kunst Baden-Württemberg, in partnership with game – Verband der deutschen Games-Branche e.V. Baden-Württemberg. The goal: to strengthen cooperation and expertise in game development, game design, and game art – regionally, interdisciplinarily, and across university and company boundaries.

The Kokolores Creative Collective e.V., in cooperation with the Filmakademie Baden-Württemberg and the Wirtschaftsförderung Ludwigsburg, is also taking part. GGJ goes THE LÄND: Kokolores Ludwigsburg will take place from Monday, January 26 to Wednesday, January 28, 2026, at the Filmgalerie of the Filmakademie Baden-Württemberg, Akademiehof 10, 71638 Ludwigsburg.
There are still free spots available. Registration and further information can be found here.

Poster GGJ goes THE LÄND – Kokolores Ludwigsburg

Further sites of GGJ goes THE LÄND (including Heilbronn, Karlsruhe, Heidelberg, and the Lake Constance region) can be found here: https://hola.mfg.de/

In addition, GGJ26 @ Stadtbibliothek Stuttgart will take place at the Stuttgart City Library with Chasing Carrots from Friday, January 30 to Sunday, February 1, 2026. Further information and registration can be found here.

Unreal MegaMeetup #11 at b.Rex on February 4, 2026

Unreal Engine has quietly become a serious industrial tool: from high-fidelity CAD visualization and VR design reviews to production-ready automotive HMI prototyping. If you’re in engineering or automotive – especially in the Mittelstand – this meetup is designed to be practical: real pipelines, real constraints, and what actually works in day-to-day product development.

Expect a short, focused evening with four expert talks and plenty of time to network with engineers, product teams, innovation leads, and Unreal creators working on industrial use cases.

The topic of the Unreal MegaMeetup #11 on February 4 (organized by our CREATORS from b.Rex) is “Unreal in Engineering, Automotive HMI & CAD Workflows“, the program includes four talks:

Arjun Rai Gupta | Virtual Dimension Center (VDC), Fellbach
Talk focus: A big-picture introduction: how Unreal is showing up in industrial contexts (engineering + automotive), and how initiatives like CyberLÄND support collaboration, knowledge transfer, and cross-company innovation in immersive tech.

Dennis Basgier | Threedy (instant3Dhub)
Talk focus: CAD → Unreal without pain. Threedy will show how their Unreal Plugin streams complex CAD models into Unreal without preprocessing or simplification, while keeping engineering context/metadata.

Jouni Leino | Siili Auto (Siili)
Talk focus: “Our journey with Unreal Engine” – how real-time 3D is reshaping automotive experiences: in-car interfaces, visualization tools, and next-gen UX.

Tillman Staffen & Tim Völker | B.REX / Bruce B.
Talk focus: “AI-based Avatars in Corporate Communication” – how intelligent, real-time avatars are reshaping how organizations communicate with customers, employees, and stakeholders.

Participation is free! As always, there will be both meat and vegetarian dishes, as well as a selection of drinks. Register early to secure your spot! Registration and details here (communities.unrealengine.com) and here (meetup.com)

Date: Wednesday, Februar 4, 18 to 23 CET | Venue: at b.Rex, Reinsburgstraße 96/1, 70197 Stuttgart

The event is powered by the “NEW.STUTTGART” initiative.

The Creators Pitch Lab on January 21, 2026

Are you working on an idea for a game, an animated series, or an animated short film? Are you convinced of its potential and wondering when the right people will finally listen? Do you live in Baden-Württemberg?

Then the Creators Pitch Lab is your chance! On January 21, 2026, you can present your idea to experienced industry professionals, gain valuable insights from their expertise, and receive honest feedback to help you develop your vision and move it forward professionally. Plus, you’ll have the opportunity to make valuable connections within the industry.

Secure your slot for the pitch now – we can’t wait to hear your idea!

Register by January 16, 2026 via contact@amcrs.de (time slots will be assigned).

Venue: MFG Medien- und Filmgesellschaft BW, Breitscheidstr. 4, 70174 Stuttgart

Organized by the AMCRS.

Download Flyer

Calls for Entries ITFS 2026 – German Animation Screenplay Award, Animated Games Award and Trickstar Business Award

The Stuttgart International Festival of Animated Film (ITFS) 2026 will take place from May 5 to 10, 2026. It focuses on artistic animated films and the promotion of young talent. In addition to the feature film competition (submission deadline January 15, 2026), additional categories are now open for submissions: the German Animation Screenplay Award, the Animated Games Award Germany, and the Trickstar Business Award.

The German Animation Screenplay Award recognises outstanding screenplays for feature-length animated films. The goal of the competition is to honor the central role of professional screenwriters in the creation of outstanding films and to encourage the development of exceptional stories for animated films.

The Award for the Best Screenplay for a Feature-Length Animated Film comes with €2,500, sponsored by the Animation Media Creators Region Stuttgart (AMCRS).

The Award for the Screenplay with the Greatest International Market Potential is endowed with €2,500, sponsored by our CREATORS from SOLA MEDIA.

For the best screenplay award submissions are possible in German and English, for the market potential award submissions are only possible in English. 
Submission Deadline: February 1, 2026 | Regulations | Submit here

The two awards will be presented on May 7, 2026, as part of the AniX Awards.

Stefanie Larson with Peter Keydel, Producer of the Best Screenplay at ITFS 2025, “Miss December and the Moon Clan”
Jens Opatz (Authors) and Matthias Drescher (Author, Producer): Winner Screenplay with the Greatest International Market Potential ITFS 2025, “Nessie Junior“

The Animated Games Award Germany is endowed with €5,000 and is sponsored by MFG Baden-Württemberg. It targets developers of high-quality video games who have their primary or secondary residence in Germany.

Eligible for submission are completed games for commercially available platforms that were released after January 1, 2025. The top five games will be nominated for the GameZone and showcased to the public during the event.
Submission Deadline: February 15, 2026 |  Regulations | Submit here

The Trickstar Business Award honours the best innovative and groundbreaking business model for a particular project or a company in the field of animation. The prize of €7,500 is sponsored by the Verband Region Stuttgart and will be awarded on May 7, 2026, as part of the AniX Awards.

Submission Deadline: February 25, 2026 | Regulations | Submit here

Winner Animated Games Award ITFS 2025: Slow Bros. GmbH with “Harold Halibut“
Winners AniX Award ITFS 2025, all photos: Reiner Pfisterer

Start-up Monday in Ludwigsburg

On 17 November 2025 from 17:00 CET, the Wirtschaftsförderung Stadt Ludwigsburg, together with the agency Pulsmacher, invites everyone to a new edition of the Start-up Monday in Ludwigsburg – an event for aspiring founders, young start-ups, entrepreneurs, and everyone interested in the start-up scene and the creative industries.

At the next Start-up Monday, the impulses will come directly from one of Ludwigsburg’s key creative hubs: Pulsmacher’s neo.Office.

The evening’s topic will be something all founders know all too well: mistakes with consequences – also known as “fuck-ups”. Stories of failure will take center stage and aim to inspire learning as well as laughter. Anyone who would like to share their own story on stage is welcome to contact Max Höllen (m.hoellen@ludwigsburg.de) with their failure story.

Program:
17:00 CET: Admission
18:00 CET: Welcome and introduction of the neo.AI Lab
18:30 CET: Keynote by Katharina Aguilar, founder of UpVisit: “Heulen im Hoodie – Was wir aus dem Scheitern unserer Träume über Zukunft, Führung und Mut lernen können”
Katharina Aguilar offers a radically honest look at entrepreneurship – the tears between term sheets, the weight of responsibility, the quiet moments after the noise, and why it is often exactly there that something new begins.
19:00 CET: Fuck-up Pitches

Venue: pulsmacher GmbH, Kammererstr. 18, 71636 Ludwigsburg

Please register here: Registration

Sources and more information: Stadt Ludwigsburg | Pulsmacher

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

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