January 2, 2025

THE LÄND Global Game Jam 2025

At the world’s largest event for game development, the Global Game Jam, up to 250 gaming enthusiasts from across Baden-Württemberg will come together at the invitation of MFG Baden-Württemberg at the end of January 2025. The “THE LÄND Global Game Jam” will take place from January 24 to 26, 2025, at Karlshochschule in Karlsruhe. During this 48-hour development and programming hackathon, game design students will collaborate with game studios, passionate developers will work alongside experienced and professional coders, and disciplines such as sound, design, psychology, and communication will also find their place.

After a successful debut in January 2024, the statewide THE LÄND site is once again introducing an exclusive offering: In two side tracks, participants can collaborate with exciting challenge providers to develop game ideas and build prototypes on specific topics. How can classical music, with all its emotions and tonal colors, serve as a foundation for the creative process of game development? This will be explored live in the “Classical Game Jam” hosted by SWR, featuring an ensemble from the SWR Symphony Orchestra. In “Blame the game, not the player!”, game developers will work together with researchers from Karlshochschule to design game rules that reflect an economic system respecting social foundations and planetary boundaries. Preceding kick-off workshops will set the stage for the side tracks. Afterward, participants will join the main THE LÄND Global Game Jam for a collaborative jam session.

The THE LÄND Global Game Jam is coordinated by MFG Baden-Württemberg as part of its Games BW initiative, in partnership with Karlshochschule International University, SWR Südwestrundfunk, game Verband Baden-Württemberg, and K³ – dem Kultur- und Kreativwirtschaftsbüro Karlsruhe. The Game Jam is supported by the Ministry of Science, Research, and the Arts of Baden-Württemberg (Ministerium für Wissenschaft, Forschung und Kunst Baden-Württemberg).

Interested participants can register via this link.

More information

Source: MFG Baden-Württemberg

Impressions from THE LÄND Global Game Jam 2024:

December 7, 2024

B.REX wins prize at the CREÄTIVE LÄND CHÄLLENGE 2024

Our CREATORS from b.Rex have won THE CREÄTIVE LÄND CHÄLLENGE 2024 competition in the software/games industry category – with “INKLU GAME”!

“How does a wheelchair user board a train? How does a blind person find the right platform? INKLU GAME is a virtual, app-based game designed to create an awareness-raising experience for young people. The game incorporates a media and inclusion-focused pedagogical approach, combining innovative digital media with an inclusive education concept. Through the app, players experience an immersive journey that brings the realities of people with disabilities to life. This fusion of technology, inclusive pedagogy, and interactive storytelling represents a cultural achievement that promotes both education and empathy.”

More about INKLU G AME

The game can be downloaded for free in the App Store.

The CREÄTIVE LÄND CHÄLLENGE 2024 is a creativity competition organized by MFG Baden-Württemberg, supported by the Ministry of Economic Affairs, Labor, and Tourism of Baden-Württemberg. Under the motto “Share your values – Show your works,” cultural and creative enterprises across the state were invited to showcase their diversity and innovative potential. With over 170 submissions from all regions of Baden-Württemberg, the competition highlighted the impressive range and dynamism of the cultural and creative industries.

More about the competition and all wi nners

The award-winning works can be viewed and experienced free of charge in an exhibition at the Haus der Wirtschaft until December 18, 2024.

December 7, 2024

Minister President Winfried Kretschmann visits PIXOMONDO

On Friday, November 22, 2024, Minister President of Baden-Württemberg Winfried Kretschmann, along with State Secretary in the Ministry of Science, Research and Arts Arne Braun visited the VFX studio of our CREATORS from PIXOMONDO in Stuttgart and learned about their work on site.

Carl Bergengrün (Managing Director MFG), Sabrina Christoforidis (Head of Studio Europe Pixomondo), Muhterem Aras (President of the State Parliament of Baden-Württemberg), Winfried Kretschmann (Minister President of Baden-Württemberg), Arne Braun (State Secretary in the Ministry of Science, Research and Arts Baden-Württemberg), Christoph Malessa (CTO Pixomondo), Robert Gehring (Head of Film Funding Unit MFG) | © PIXOMONDO

PIXOMONDO offers industry-leading expertise and solutions in virtual production and premium visual effects for films and television series. Their award-winning projects include work on Martin Scorsese’s Oscar-winning film “HUGO”, the multi-Emmy-winning TV saga “GAME OF THRONES”, the series “THE BOYS”, “HOUSE OF THE DRAGON” (HBO), and “THE PALE BLUE EYE” (Netflix film).

Minister President Winfried Kretschmann: “The film and animation industry is a creative stimulus for our society. Its increasing significance is reflected not only in film and media but also as a driving force for technological developments and visual solutions in numerous other sectors of the economy. In Baden-Württemberg, the importance of the animation industry is constantly growing. Through targeted measures, we want to set the course for this sector to continue to establish itself as an important driver for the cultural and creative industries. New technologies, such as AI, open up enormous potential for the future. We are proud to have a world-leading provider of visual effects and virtual technologies in THE LÄND. Pixomondo demonstrates how creative excellence creates jobs, strengthens the industrial location, and promotes international competitiveness.”

Source: M FG Baden-Württemberg

November 18, 2024

Calls for Entries ITFS – German Animation Screenplay Award and Animated Games Award Germany

The 32nd Stuttgart International Festival of Animated Film (ITFS) will take place from May 6 to 11, 2025. It focuses on artistic animated films and the promotion of young talent. In addition to the short and feature film competitions (submission deadlines: short film competitions – November 15, 2024; feature film competition – January 15, 2024), additional categories are now open for submissions: the German Animation Screenplay Award, the Animated Games Award Germany, and the Work in Progress section.

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, 2025 | Regulations | Submit here

Winner German Animation Screenplay Award for a Feature-Length Animated Film at ITFS 2024: Das Neinhorn, Photo: Trickfilm-Festival Stuttgart, Reiner Pfisterer

Winner Animated Games Award Germany at ITFS 2024: Closer the Distance, Photo: Trickfilm-Festival Stuttgart, Reiner Pfisterer

The Animated Games Award Germany is endowed with €5,000 and is sponsored by M FG 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, 2024. The top five games will be nominated for the Ga meZone and showcased to the public during the event.
Submission Deadline: February 1, 2025 | Regulations | Submit here

The Work in Progress section provides a platform for animation projects in the concept, development, or production stages. Producers and directors have the opportunity to present their current projects in film, TV, web, games, and immersive media to an international professional audience.

Each presentation lasts approximately 20 minutes and includes initial visual insights, trailers, and a follow-up Q&A session. The audience gains exclusive behind-the-scenes access and can connect directly with the creative teams behind the projects. Submission Deadline: February 15, 2025 | Submit here

November 15, 2024

Now online – TechTalks Presentations from October 22!

The TechTalks Stuttgart event series presents 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. At the recent TechTalks on October 22, 2024, the Research & Development department of Filmakademie Baden-Württemberg’s Animationsinstitut presented two of their current projects: EMIL-XR and MAX-R in Filmakademie Baden-Württemberg’s Albrecht Ade Studio.

You can now watch the two presentations of that evening online!

EMIL-XR: Volker Helzle and Andreas Dahn introduced the European Media & Immersion Lab, featuring the R&D’s Lighthouse project FATE OF THE MINOTAUR – an immersive VR-journey designed for up to four players. EMIL – European Media and Immersion Lab (emil-x r.eu)

MAX-R Project: Simon Spielmann and Jonas Trottnow shared advancements in the Mixed Augmented and Extended Reality Media Pipeline (MAX-R), including AI-assisted tools that push high-quality XR content creation to new levels. MAX-R (UPF)

At the hands-on demos, the attendees could test the latest versions of the R&D’s Digital Locations and AnimHost. They also had a chance to step into virtual reality for an unforgettable encounter – coming face-to-face with the Minotaur.

November 8, 2024

Pre-Fixe with Animation Lounge with Dominique Schuchmann

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 event will take place on December 9, 18:00 CET. In his presentation “‘Minus Drei & Die Wilde Lucy’ – Eine 9-jährige Zeitreise zur eigenen IP” (Dinomite & Lucy – A 9-year journey through time to our own IP), Dominique Schuchmann (M.A.R.K.13™) will talk about the production of the animation and children’s series “Minus Drei & Die Wilde Lucy” (Dinomite & Lucy).

Dominique Schuchmann | © Film- und Medienfestival gGmbH

Dominique Schuchmann has been the owner and executive producer of our CREATORS at The M.A.R.K.13™ – Group in Stuttgart since 2004. He is also a member of the ADC (Art Directors Club Germany), the VES (Visual Effects Society), the Deutschen Werbefilmakademie and the Deutschen Produzentenallianz as well as Chairman of the IHK Film- und Medienausschuss in Baden-Württemberg.

The Jour Fixe offers a unique opportunity for exchange and networking with colleagues from the MFG Film Funding Unit. All participants are cordially invited to attend the subsequent J our Fixe from 19:00 CET.

The event will take place at the Kulturzentrum Merlin, Augustenstraße 72, 70178 Stuttgart. Admission is free.

More inform ation

November 8, 2024

MORIA SIX wins two prizes at DOK Leipzig 2024

The MF G-funded MORIA SIX by Filmakademie Baden-Württemberg graduate Jennifer Mallmann received two awards at the International Festival for Documentary and Animated Film DOK Leipzig (October 28 to November 3, 2024): the DEFA Förderpreis, endowed with 4,000 euros, and the Filmpreis Leipziger Ring der Stiftung Friedliche Revolution, endowed with 2,500 euros. MORIA SIX was also one of the “DOK Busters 2024”.

Producer Matthias Drescher (Film- und Fernsehlabor Ludwigsburg), Sina Diehl (Cinematography), Svenja Vanhoefer, Line Producerin (Student Producer Filmakademie Baden-Württemberg), Jennifer Mallmann (Director/Author), Carl Bergengruen (Managing Director MFG). | Photo: Film- und Fernsehlabor Ludwigsburg

In her graduation film MORIA SIX, which celebrated its world premiere in Leipzig with two sold-out screenings, director Jennifer Mallmann takes a differentiated look at the Moria refugee camp, where a devastating fire broke out in September 2020. In calm, precise images, the film addresses the mechanisms of the European policy of isolation, which treats people like criminals and locks them up in futuristic high-security camps.

MORIA SIX is a production of Filmakademie Baden-Württemberg and our CREATORS from Film- und Fernsehlabor Ludwigsburg, produced by Matthias Drescher (Film- und Fernsehlabor Ludwigsburg).

Sources and further details:
MFG Baden-Württembe rg
DOK Leipzi g
Filmakademie Baden-Württember g

October 15, 2024

TECHTALKS on October 22, 2024, at Filmakademie

The TechTalks Stuttgart event series presents 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 October 22, 2024, at 18:30 CET at Albrecht-Ade Studio (Animationsinstitut / Filmakademie Baden-Württemberg), Akademiehof 10, 71638 Ludwigsburg.

Admission is free! Please register in advance at contact@amcrs.de. Please note: The event will be recorded, but is not hybrid.

Program Schedule:

„EMIL“ | Research & Development, Animationsinstitut, Filmakademie Baden-Württemberg
The EU-funded project EMIL (European Media and Immersion Lab) aims to promote innovations and developments in cutting-edge XR technologies, as well as strengthen relationships between the creative industries and potential innovation partners across Europe. The staff of the Research & Development department at the Animationsinstitut will provide insights into the international network, the status of the diverse, funded projects after the first two years, and present their lighthouse project “FATE OF THE MINOTAUR”, a VR adventure for up to four players, which can be tested on-site afterward.
EMIL – European Media and Immersion Lab (emil-xr .eu)

„MAX-R“ | Research & Development, Animationsinstitut, Filmakademie Baden-Württemberg
The MAX-R project (Mixed Augmented and Extended Reality Media Pipeline) is a 30-month HORIZON EUROPE initiative. Eleven project partners from across Europe are developing tools for the creation and processing of high-quality XR content, based on real-time workflows. The Animationsinstitut contributes to the project with innovations such as “DIGITAL LOCATIONS,” a demonstrator of virtual replicas of real filming locations for virtual productions, and “ANIMHOST,” an AI-driven system for real-time animations. In this presentation, the Research & Development team will provide insights into the technologies and key project outcomes.
MAX-R (UP F)

Info flyer (PDF )

TechTalks Stuttgart on Facebook

September 13, 2024

Open Stage Games BW in Karlsruhe

Whether independent developer studios or large publishers, recent graduates or recruiters looking for graphic designers – the diverse players in the games industry have the opportunity to exchange ideas at Open Stage Games BW. The open stage character also gives everyone the opportunity to bring their concerns to the stage. New games can also be tried out at test stations.

The next Open Stage Games BW will take place on September 25, 2024 from 19:00 to 22:00 CET in Karlsruhe (Alte Hackerei, Alter Schlachthof 11a, 76131 Karlsruhe).

Part of the program is the keynote speech „Die neue Bundesförderung für Games: Was hat sich geändert, was muss ich beachten?“ by Dr. Matteo Riatti (DLR). After the talk, the stage will be open to everyone as usual.
Afterwards, you can network over drinks and snacks.

Participation is free of charge. Registration is required here by September 24.

Organizers of the event are MFG Baden-Württember g, CyberForu m, K ³ Kultur- und Kreativwirtschaftsbüro Karlsruhe, game Baden-Württember g, Film Commission Region Stuttgart and Netzwerk Kreativwirtschaft BW.

Source: MFG Baden-Württembe rg

August 25, 2024

Nominations for the First Steps Awards 2024 announced

First Steps Award 2023 Sara Fazilat © Clemens Porikys

The F irst Steps Awards is the most important German prize for young filmmakers. This year, the expert jury has made its choice from over 200 entries and announced the nominees. The winners will be announced on Monday, September 30 at the Theater des Westens in Berlin and broadcast as a livestream in the ARD Mediathek from 19:30 CET. The nominations alone are associated with a prize of 1,000 euros.

Among the nominees is MORIA SIX by Jennifer Mallmann, produced by our CREATORS from FFL Film- und Fernseh-Labor Ludwigsburg and funded by MFG, was nominated in the “Documentary” category. The film takes a critical look at the new European refugee policy, using the example of the controversial conviction of six refugees who were held responsible for the devastating fire in the Moria camp on Lesbos in September 2020.

Three projects created at the Animationinstitut of the F ilmakademie Baden-Württemberg can also hope to win a First Steps Award. The animated film DODO by Yi Luo has been nominated in the “Short Film” category. DODO tells the poetic story of Dodo and her father, a big blue bird. One day he flies away and never comes back. Since then, Dodo has stopped growing. The film was awarded the Lotte Reiniger Prize by the MFG as the best entry in the animated short film competition at the Stuttgart International Festival of Animated Film in April. More about DODO

PEAR GARDEN (director: Shadab Shayegan) is nominated in the “Short Steps” category and uses a purist drawing technique to sensitively tell the story of a grandmother who has lost her breasts through a mastectomy and the associated fears of her grandchild. More about PEAR GARD EN

SCRUBBY (director: Paul Vollet) is also nominated in the “Short Steps” category. The titular creature wants to live in its mother’s thick fur forever. But in his search for security, Scrubby realizes that even strong people sometimes lose their strength and need someone to lean on. More about SCRU BBY

We congratulate everyone involved and keep our fingers crossed!

Sources: M FG News, Filmakademie Baden-Württemberg Press Release

Complete List of First-Steps Awards Nominees