31st Stuttgart International Festival of Animated Film calls for entries!
Photo: Stuttgart International Festival of Animated Film, Reiner Pfisterer
The 31st Stuttgart International Festival of Animated Film (ITFS) will take place from April 23 to 28, 2024. The festival (organized by Film- und Medienfestival gGmbH) focuses on artistic animated film as well as innovative interactive and transmedia works. Comprehensive film and competition programs as well as curated supporting programs guarantee exciting and extraordinary inspirations and insights.
Films completed after October 1, 2022 can now be submitted to the following competitions:
Submission Deadline: December 1, 2023: International Competition – International competition for animated short films Young Animation – International student film competition for animated short films Tricks for Kids – International competition for animated short films and series for children Trickstar Nature Award – Competition for animated short films that deal with the topics of climate protection, biodiversity, the environment and sustainability
Submission Deadline: January 17, 2024: AniMovie – International competition for animated films of feature length
The Annecy Festival 2023 (June 11-17, 2023) is currently taking place – and the Animationsinstitutof the Filmakademie Baden-Wuerttemberg is right in the middle of it! A large number of students of the institute is on site, talking to industry professionals and colleagues, and attending screenings.
This year, the short films DODO(Producer: Jiayan Chen, Director: Yi Luo, Animation: Oscar Bittner, Sarah Schulz, Laura Staab, Sabine Volkert) and MAKULATOUR(Director/Score: Tim Markgraf), produced at the Animationsinstitut, are part of the official student competition. Fingers crossed!
Makulatour, image: FABW
The new Head of the Animationsinstitut, Jan Pinkava, is attending Annecy Festival. At this year’s German Reception (Tuesday, June 13, 18:00-20:00 CET, by invitation, organized by AG Animationsfilm, AG Kurzfilm, Animation Germany, AMCRS, Animations Production Days, Animationsinstitut, FMX, German Films, ITFS, Mitteldeutsche Medienförderung, MFG Baden-Wuerttemberg), he will give an introductory speech.
On Wednesday, June 14, starting at 15:00 CET, there will be an Animationsinstitut picnic at Jardins de l’Europe, Annecy. Come around!
June 8, 2023
Head of Organization (m/f/d) wanted for Film und Medienfestival gGmbH!
Tasks include : Overall control of the organization of the ITFS, taking into account different venues and program points (cinema, open air, tricks for kids, supporting programs, etc.) Control of service providers, staff and cooperation partners Budget responsibility and personnel management Control of the conception and realization of graphic and print products Coordination of evening events/galas such as opening ceremonies and award ceremonies
“In Heike Mozer, we have found a competent managing director for Film- und Medienfestival gGmbH who, thanks to her expertise and many years of experience, is perfectly familiar with the animation and culture scenes in the region. I am certain that she will fill the motto ‘We are the heart of animation, where public and creators meet’ with life and thus further strengthen the ITFS in the future,” says Dr. Walter Rogg, Chairman of the Supervisory Board of Film- und Medienfestival gGmbH and Managing Director of Wirtschaftsförderung Region Stuttgart GmbH (WRS).
Heike Mozer has a degree in administration and has been working at Filmakademie Baden-Württemberg since 1991, where she took over the commercial management of Animationsinstitut in 2002. At the same time, she contributed to the Stuttgart International Festival of Animated Film in the field of event management from 1991 to 1998 and was project manager of FMX – Film & Media Exchange between 2015 and 2020. She is thus experienced in the realisation of large-scale events and very well-connected in the regional, national, and international animation scenes.
“To welcome the world of animated film in all its facets and to create personal encounters between audiences and artists – that is what I am looking forward to. With the competent team at my side, I am also looking forward to further develop the ITFS and guide it into the future,” says Mozer.
Jan Pinkava, new head of the Animationsinstitut at Filmakademie Baden-Württemberg as of 1 June 2023: “I am very happy for Heike Mozer and the entire Film- und Medienfestival gGmbH. This is not only great news for the FMF, but also a good basis for stronger cooperation between ITFS, FMX and of course Animationsinstitut, as together we want to further cultivate and expand the culture of animation in the region. The Film- und Medienfestival gGmbH could not be in better hands and I look forward to working with Heike Mozer in the months and years to come. The heart of animation is beating strong in Stuttgart and Ludwigsburg!“
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!
Trudes Flatmate – Glückshof, Studio Soi
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!
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.
The AMCRS HEROES @ ITFS on Sunday, April 30, 2023!
ITFS Trickstars (Photo: Reiner Pfisterer)
The last day of a week full of events and inspiration, great meetings with old and new friends, an incredible amount of new background knowledge about current developments in art, technology and research, hopefully many new project ideas and collaborations and above all films, games and other media projects and experiences has almost arrived! We hope you’ve made it this far – here come the events our AMCRS HEROES are involved in at the ITFSon Sunday, April 30, 2023. We are keeping our fingers crossed for all nominees for the grand ITFS 2023 award ceremony!
On April 26 we had our annual party, the Animation Media Lounge, at “Die Note”, on the occasion of the event trio FMX, ITFS and APDs 2023, and musically accompanied by the Caligari Band.
Thank you all for coming – we hope you had as much of a blast as we did!
April 28, 2023
The AMCRS HEROES @ ITFS on Saturday, April 29, 2023!
ITFS Open Air (Photo: Reiner Pfisterer)
Hands up, it’s weekend! Enjoy your time at ITFS and check here to see which of our HEROES (or their works) will also be there on Saturday, April 29, 2023.
20:30 CET ITFS Gloria 2 Best of Animation – Homemade Highlights 2 Films by Regina Welker, Thomas Meyer-Hermann, Anselm Pyta, Angela Steffen, Kiana Naghshineh, Shoko Hara, Studio Filmbilder, Animationsinstitut Alumni et al., curated by Förderverein ITFS e.V. https://www.itfs.de/en/events/best-of-animation-homemade-highlights-2/
21:30 CET Weltcafé, Charlottenplatz 17, Stuttgart The ITFS Booster Club Party Förderverein ITFS e.V., sponsored by Studio Seufz et al.
ITFS (Photo: Reiner Pfisterer)
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)
German Animation Screenplay Award
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”).
