Together with the Film- und Medienfestival gGmbH (organizer of Stuttgart International Festival of Animated Film) and the AMCRS, MFG organizes the Pre Fixe with Animation Lounge as a prelude to the monthly network meeting of the film industry (Jour Fixe). Speakers from the animation film scene present practical examples of current projects and provide insights into their work.
The next Animation Lounge will take place on Monday, November 10, 2025, 18:00 CET. Under the title “Making Meaningful Games – Social Impact without the Seriousness,” the founders ofMucks! Games will talk about their studio and the games they create.
About Mucks! Games:We are a weird bunch of creatives located in Ludwigsburg, Germany. After working together on games and interactive installations during our studies at Animationsinstitut in Ludwigsburg, we decided to start something all our own. A place to show our unique visual style, to tell stories that go deep and create experiences with an impact. We want to make meaningful, beautiful games that stay with you, long after you have turned off the screen.
The event will take place at the Kulturzentrum Merlin, Augustenstraße 72, 70178 Stuttgart. Admission is free.
All participants are cordially invited to attend the subsequent MFG Jour Fixe from 19:00 CET. The Jour Fixe offers a unique opportunity for exchange and networking with colleagues from the MFG Film Funding Unit.
MFG Baden-Württembergand Stuttgart International Festival of Animated Filmpresent the Baden-Württembergpremiere of “Alles voller Monster“ (“Stitch Head”), as ITFS Animation Special on Saturday, October 18, 15:00 CET, in the EM 1 (Innenstadtkinos Stuttgart). Following the screening, there will be a discussion with director and screenwriter Steve Hudson, producer Sonja Ewers and further guests.
Stitch Head
The ITFS is closely connected with the development of “Alles voller Monster”. At the ITFS 2020, the screenplay received the German Animation Screenplay Award – the award for the best screenplay for a feature film, sponsored by AMCRS. At the ITFS 2025 at the beginning of May, director Steve Hudson presented a making-of – from illustrated children’s book to fully rendered animated feature.
Our CREATORS from LAVAlabs and PIXOMONDO were also involved in the creative process. The production was carried out by Gringo Films (Sonja Ewers), Fabrique d’Images, Senator Film Produktion, Traumhaus Studios, Mia Wallace Productions, and Senator Film Köln.
Synopsis: In a castle, a mad professor brings monstrous creatures (almost) to life… and promptly forgets about them. Who will take care of the castle and the monsters, who will teach them NOT to be monstrous? Stitch Head – the professor’s very first creation. He does all the work until one day the “Travelling Fair of Unnatural Wonders” run by the shady circus director Fulbert Freakfinder arrives in town. In desperate need of a new attractions, he promises Stitch Head fame, fortune – and love.
They are currently offering several job opportunities:
Head of Communication and Marketing (f/m/d)(Leitung Kommunikation und Marketing (m/w/d)), starting no later than November 1, 2025, part-time (75–80%), initially limited to 2 years – Job Posting (German)
Trainee for Print Logistics & Program Organization (f/m/d)(Volontär Kopienlogistik & Programmorganisation (m/w/d)), starting October 1, 2025, initially limited to 2 years – Job Posting (German)
Working Student in IT & Application Support (f/m/d) (Werkstudent IT- & Anwendungsbetreuer (m/w/d)) – Job Posting (German)
Together with the Film- und Medienfestival gGmbH (organizer of Stuttgart International Festival of Animated Film) and the AMCRS, MFG organizes the Pre Fixe as a prelude to the monthly network meeting of the film industry (Jour Fixe). Speakers from the animation and film scene present practical examples of current projects and provide insights into their work.
The next Pre Fixe will take place on Monday, July 14, 2025, 18:00 CET. Guest: Dr. Andreas Bareiß has been Director of the Filmakademie Baden-Württemberg since May 1. In the Pre Fixe, he will share his perspective on the Filmakademie, where he identifies fields of action, and what strategy he is pursuing to make the Filmakademie and its students fit for the future in a rapidly changing media industry.
The event will take place at the Kulturzentrum Merlin, Augustenstraße 72, 70178 Stuttgart. Admission is free.
Dr. Andreas Bareiß, (c) FABW / Anja Fellerhoff
All participants are cordially invited to attend the subsequent MFG Jour Fixe from 19:00 CET. The Jour Fixe offers a unique opportunity for exchange and networking with colleagues from the MFG Film Funding Unit.
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 10, 2025
Our Creators @ ITFS on Sunday, May 11, 2025!
The final day of the STUTTGART ANIMATED WEEK 2025 is here – after a week full of events and inspiration, amazing encounters with old and new friends, tons of input on the latest developments in art, technology, and research, hopefully lots of new project ideas and collaborations – and, of course, a celebration of films, games, and all kinds of media projects and experiences! We hope you made it this far and had an incredible time!
Here’s where you can find out how our CREATORS are involved with ITFS on Sunday, May 11, 2025.
Schlossplatz, photo: ITFS, Reiner Pfisterer
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-2/
18:00 ITFS, White Noise, Eberhardtstr. 35 Exhibition: It’s Just a Whole Exhibition aby Animationsinstitut / FABW graduate Bianca Scali / Winner ITFS 2024 “Student Competition“ https://itfs.de/en/show/exhibition-its-just-a-whole-12/
Lenas Hof – Das mutterlose Ei
May 9, 2025
Our Creators @ ITFS on Saturday, May 10, 2025!
Hands up, it’s the weekend – and Day 5 of the STUTTGART ANIMATED WEEK 2025! Enjoy your time at ITFS and check out which of our CREATORS – and which of their projects – you can catch on Saturday, May 10. In the evening, the big ITFS Awards Ceremony will take place – fingers crossed for all the nominees!
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-10/
May 9, 2025
The Winners of the AniX Awards at ITFS 2025!
The first award winners of the Stuttgart International Festival of Animated Film (ITFS)2025 have been chosen: 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 8, 2025 at the Festival Centre in the Haus der Katholischen Kirche.
Award winners and nominees, juries, and sponsors AniX Award ITFS 2025, Photo: Reiner Pfisterer
The prize 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 “Fräulein Dezember und die Mondschein-Bande“ (“Miss December and the Moon Clan”) by Lisa Fechner (Producer: Peter Keydel, Production: Mistral Filmstudio GmbH)
From the jury statement: Miss December is a loving, exciting, and funny Mary Poppins story, paired with magic and scary moments. Based on an Italian children’s book by Antonia Murgo, Lisa Fechner succeeds in crafting the dialogues in a fresh yet profound way. The plot is exciting, humorous, quirky, and has the necessary nostalgic feel, reminiscent of Charles Dickens’ stories and quirky families à la Wednesday and Hotel Transylvania.
The Award for the Screenplay with the Greatest International Market Potential is endowed with €2,500, sponsored by SOLA MEDIA – and the winner is Nessie Junior (Authors: Matthias Drescher, Jens Opatz, Producer: Matthias Drescher, Production: FFL – Film und Fernsehlabor Ludwigsburg GmbH & Co. KG)
From the jury statement: The story of the young sea monster Fin, who teams up with 13-year-old Kellina to uncover long-buried secrets about his origins, impresses with emotional depth, narrative strength, and a compelling sense of storytelling. […] Nessie Junior addresses universal themes such as friendship, identity, family, and the search for belonging – topics that resonate across cultures and are relevant to audiences worldwide. The legendary figure of Nessie is internationally recognized and sparks curiosity and empathy across generations, especially among family viewers. […] With Nessie Junior, Jens Opatz and Matthias Drescher have crafted a heartfelt, original, and internationally accessible story with the potential to become a beloved favorite among audiences worldwide.
The jury consisted of Solveig Langeland (Founder and Managing Director, Sola Media GmbH, Stuttgart), Jørn Precht (Author, Screenwriter, Professor for Storytelling, Hochschule der Medien, Stuttgart), Ron Segal (Author, Screenwriter, Berlin), Holger Weiss (CEO & Founder, Executive Producer, M.A.R.K. 13 Group, Stuttgart) und Silke Wilfinger (Founder & Owner, SILKWAYFILMS, Munich).
Stefanie Larson (AMCRS), Winner Peter Keydel Matthias Drescher, Jens Opatz, Solveig Langeland (Sola Media), Silke Wilfinger (Silkway Films), Peter Keydel, Holger Weiss (M.A.R.K. 13), Jørn Precht (Hochschule der Medien), Ron Segal
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 SYNK by ThePack (CEO: Jan Hameeuw) – a real-time content generator and workflow management system that creates synergies and enables a huge increase in the efficiency of 3-D productions.
