Filmmakers can submit their entries for the 32. Filmschau Baden-Württemberg and the 23. Jugendfilmpreis until August 31, 2026. The festival, taking place in Stuttgart from December 2-6, 2026, is accepting submissions in the categories feature film, short film, documentary, animated film, VFX (by students or professional filmmakers), and commercial.
All submissions must have a connection to the state of Baden-Württemberg, for example, by having been filmed in the region, supported by the MFG Filmförderung, produced by SWR, or created at one of the state’s media universities.
Entries must be submitted using the application forms available for download on the Filmschau BW and Jugendfilmpreis websites www.filmschaubw.de and www.jugendfilmpreis.de.
Jury Animation:Nina Prange (Creative Producer, graduate of Filmakademie Baden-Württemberg’s Animationsinstitut), Regina Welker (Creative Director, first feature film “Latte Igel und der magische Wasserstein”, graduate of Filmakademie Baden-Württemberg’s Animationsinstitut), and Sveta Yuferova (Director and Animator, “Little Fan”).
Jury VFX Studios:Jan Adamczyk (VFX Supervisor, credits include “The Dark Knight”, “Sherlock Holmes”, lecturer in VFX and Animation at Hochschule der Medien Stuttgart), Johanna Manz (VFX Producer, including at RISE FX, credits include “Stranger Things 3”, “Avatar: The Last Airbender”), and Julia Smola (credits include “Oblivion”, “Hugo Cabret”, including at Scanline, Pixomondo).
Jury VFX Students: Heiko Burkardsmaier (VFX Executive Producer and Head of Business & Legal Affairs at Accenture Song VFX, credits include “Hugo Cabret”, “Game of Thrones”, recipient of the Baden-Württemberg Honorary Film Award in 2024), Johanna Manz (VFX Producer, including at RISE FX, credits include “Stranger Things 3”, “Avatar: The Last Airbender”), and Julia Smola (credits include “Oblivion”, “Hugo Cabret”, including at Scanline, Pixomondo).
Further information about the juries is available here.
All submissions will first be reviewed by the festival’s head of program. Based on this selection process, the films selected for the Filmschau BW program and those nominated for the Baden-Württemberg Film Awards and the Jugendfilmpreis competitions will be announced. At the conclusion of the festival and the Jugendfilmpreis, all award winners will be revealed and honoured. The Filmschau BW is organized by the Filmbüro Baden-Württemberg.
Learn more about the nominees and winners from the AMCRS network at the 2025 Filmschau BW.
In the “Best Visual Effects” category at the Deutscher Filmpreis 2026 (German Film Awards 2026), Michael Wortmann (RISE) and Frank Schlegel won the LOLA for “Momo.” Michael Wortmann is a graduate of Filmakademie Baden-Württemberg’s Animationsinstitut. Also nominated in this category were VFX supervisors Max Riess and Mona Mohr (PIXOMONDO) for “Woodwalkers 2,” as well as Tomer Eshed, Dennis Rettkowski, and Frank Kaminski for “Die Schule der magischen Tiere 4” – both productions funded by MFG Baden-Württemberg.
Michael Wortmann, Frank Schlegel (not there) · MOMO I BESTE VISUELLE EFFEKTE at DEUTSCHER FILMPREIS 2026 in Berlin. Copyright: Eventpress Fuhr
The film “In die Sonne schauen”(“Sound of Falling”) received the Golden Lola for Best Feature Film and won a total of ten Lolas. Numerous alumni of the Filmakademie Baden-Württemberg were involved in the production. The awards spanned nearly all creative and technical disciplines – from directing and screenwriting to cinematography, editing, production design, costume design, makeup, and sound design. Back in 2023, directors Mascha Schilinski and Louise Peter had already received the Thomas Strittmatter Award from MFG Baden-Württemberg for the screenplay of “In die Sonne schauen”.
Our Creators @ FMX, ITFS and APD on Tuesday, May 5, 2026!
Let’s dive into STUTTGART ANIMATED WEEK 2026! Animation, VFX and games fans, professionals, and students from around the world are coming together in Stuttgart to explore the latest trends, cutting-edge technologies, stunning projects, and the most exciting stories. With FMX – Film & Media Exchange (On Site: May 5-7, Online & On Campus: May 8, On Demand: May 9 – June 9), the Stuttgart International Festival of Animated Film (May 5-10) and the Animation Production Days (May 5-7), there’s a lot to look forward to!
FMX, Photo: Dominique Brewing
Alongside numerous highlights, of course our CREATORS are on board as well! Let’s take a look at how they’re contributing during these inspiring days: the talks, presentations, and workshops they’re leading, where you can meet and chat with them in person, what they’ve curated – and which of their projects you can see on site or even try out for yourself. You can find more information via the links. We’re kicking things off on Tuesday, May 5, 2026!
9:00-12:15 APD, Landesmuseum Württemberg – Altes Schloss Co-Production and Financing Market, Tailored One-to-One Meetings gretels gold “The Little Dormouse” https://animationproductiondays.de/programme/market/
In the category “Best Visual Effects,” VFX supervisors Max Riess and Mona Mohr from PIXOMONDOare nominated for “Woodwalkers 2.” Max Riess will present “How to Turn Actors into Animals: The VFX Behind Woodwalkers S2” at FMX on May 5, 2026.
Also nominated in this category are Michael Wortmann from RISEand Frank Schlegel for “Momo.” Michael Wortmann is a graduate of Filmakademie Baden-Württemberg’s Animationsinstitut.
“Woodwalkers 2,” as well as the third nominee in the “Best Visual Effects” category, “Die Schule der magischen Tiere 4,” received funding from MFG.
The Lola winners will be announced on May 29, 2026, at the Palais am Funkturm in Berlin. We’re keeping our fingers crossed for all the nominees!
Pre Fixe with Animation Lounge – with Amelie Dillig
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, March 9, 2026, 18:00 CET. Under the title “Creating the VFX Of THE PENGUIN,”Amelie Dillig, Producer at Accenture Song Content Germany, talks about what it takes to create the visual effects for an award-winning show like “The Penguin.” In her presentation, Amelie Dillig explains how the VFX are produced from start to finish. Together with her, you can explore menacing cityscapes and examine how they were designed to fully immerse the audience in the world of Gotham City.
Amelie Dillig studied Audiovisual Media at HdM in Stuttgart from 2011 until 2015. She then started her career as a VFX Coordinator at Pixomondo and worked her way up to VFX Producer over the years. After more than six years, Amelie left Pixomondo and joined Accenture as a VFX Producer in 2023. Her credits include “Stranger Things,” “The Penguin, Avatar – The Last Airbender,” “The Mandalorian,” “Game Of Thrones.”
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.
Filmschau Baden-Württemberg (December 3 to 7, 2025)
The 31. Filmschau Baden-Württembergwill take place from December 3 to 7, 2025, in Stuttgart’s Innenstadtkinos, letting the film region of Baden-Württemberg shine.For five days, 130 current films from the southwest, glamorous premieres, and exciting guests await visitors. The Filmschau Baden-Württemberg, the state film festival in Stuttgart, was launched in 1994 on the initiative of the state of Baden-Württemberg and is organized by the Filmbüro Baden-Württemberg e.V. It was held for the first time in November 1995 as an independent event and attracts more than 6,000 visitors each year.
In the competition for the Baden-Württembergischer Filmpreis, the best productions are selected by expert juries in the categories Best Feature Film, Best Documentary, Best Short Film, Best Animated Film, and Best Commercial, Best VFX Studio, and Best VFX Students.
The program also features a strong presence of AMCRS members, including numerous projects by alumni and students from Baden-Württemberg’s film and media schools.
Animationsinstitutof the Filmakademie Baden-Württemberg: LINIE 12 (Director: Sarah Schulz), Germany Premiere; SURVIVOR (Director: Leszek Plichta), World Premiere; THE AMAZING KITSUVERSE (Director: Leo Neumann), World Premiere; THE SKY WAS CANDY (Director: Anh Tú Nguyen), Baden-Württemberg Premiere; EVER ENDING SUMMER (Director: Nikki Girod, Sylvia Jorde), World Premiere; GAÏA (Director: Gwenola Heck), World Premiere; THE UNDYING PAIN OF EXISTENCE (Director: Oscar Jacobson), Baden-Württemberg Premiere; SPARK (VFX; Director: Zoi Naum); IF I COULD FLY (VFX; Marco Henn, Alex Kühn (Director), Jan David Gunther & David Gesslbauer); STIGMA (VFX; Aaron Eisel, Sören Schmidt-Clausen (Lead VFX Artists); DRECK (VFX; Konstantin Meidenbauer, Anna Mors, Melissa Öztürk)
Hochschule der Medien: UNGENIESSBAR (Directors: a team of nine students), World Premiere; Habt ihr Den geseh (VFX; David Schubert (VFX Supervisor), Katrin Wohnhas (Compositing Supervisor), Lia Bauer (CG Supervisor); HIRAETH (VFX: Jan Schubert (VFX Supervisor), Marvin Kampa (CG Supervisor), Alina Wahl (Compositing Supervisor)
Merz Akademie: OBSCURA (Director: Luna Wagner Rodriguez), World Premiere; OBLATIO (Director: Felix Remmen), World Premiere; MYKOLAIV, MARCEL, MY MOM AND I (Director: Ulana Drashchenko); IRON LOVE (Director: Ruta Vasiliauskaite), Weltpremiere; RITMICA (Director: Ekaterina Gradoboeva), World Premiere; SCHWERTER UND GÖFFEL – TRANSMASKULINE EUPHORIE (Director: Florentine Fritz)
Studio FILM BILDER: 3 KAPITÄNE (Director: Julia Ocker), World Premiere; VOLLES NEST (Director: Elena Walf); TOMS GEBURTSTAGSKINO (Director: Andreas Hykade); DR. DR. THEMEFART (Director: Andreas Hykade); THE WAY YOU LOOK TONIGHT (Director: Christoph Horch), Baden-Württemberg Premiere; PASTA! (Director: Gottfried Mentor)
Accenture Song Content Germany: THE PENGUIN (VFX; Emanuel Fuchs (VFX Supervisor), Peter Lames (VFX Supervisor), Amelie Dillig (VFX Producer)); DUNE: PROPHECY (VFX; David Anastacio (VFX Supervisor), Peter Lames (VFX Supervisor), Apollonia Hartmann (VFX Producer); LEBEN – DER FILM (VFX; Adam Wesierski (VFX Supervisor, VFX Producer), Jan Burda (VFX Supervisor, VFX Producer)
Pixomondo/ LAVAlabs: WOODWALKERS (VFX; Max Riess (VFX Supervisor Pixomondo), Martin Jurado (VFX Supervisor LAVAlabs), Sven Martin (VFX-Supervisor Pixomondo))
LAVAlabs: THE DEAD OF WINTER (VFX; Juri Stanossek (VFX Supervisor), Alexandra Stautmeister (VFX Producer)
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.
We are deeply saddened to learn of the passing of Tonio Freitag.
Most recently working as a freelance Visual Effects Artist and VFX Supervisor, he contributed his talent to Rise FX, Pixomondo, Chasing Carrots, and Unexpected.
Moreover, Tonio Freitag was engaged at the Animationsinstitut of the Filmakademie Baden-Württemberg, working as a Technical Artist for Research & Development and teaching as a lecturer in Visual Effects.
In 2011, he graduated with a diploma from the Animationsinstitut. His diploma project “We Miss You“ was nominated for a VES Award in the category “Outstanding Visual Effects in a Student Project.”
As Head of 3D at Pixomondo in Stuttgart, he worked on international productions such as “Furious 7“, “Bridge of Spies,“ and “Game of Thrones“. At Rise FX in Stuttgart, he worked as CG Supervisor on projects including “Captain Marvel“, “Avengers: Endgame“, and “Doctor Sleep“.
He was also a long-standing member of the Visual Effects Society.
Our heartfelt condolences go out to the family and friends of Tonio Freitag. Our thoughts are with them, and we wish them strength in this difficult time.
Accenture Song VFX and Pixomondo were honored at the First Night of the 2025 Creative Arts Emmy Awards! They received an Emmy Award in the category “Outstanding Special Visual Effects in a Single Episode” for their work on “Bliss”, an episode of the hit U.S. crime drama “The Penguin“, streaming on HBO Max.
Congratulations to all team members at Accenture Song VFX and Pixomondo, as well as everyone else involved in this achievement!
Copyright: Accenture Song VFX Germany
Copyright: Accenture Song VFX Germany
The Emmys are the most prestigious awards recognizing achievements in the American television and streaming industry, with significant international impact. The ceremony, hosted by the Television Academy on the evening of September 6, 2025, was the first of two Creative Arts Emmy® Awards events honoring outstanding artistic and technical accomplishments in television. This event also marked the opening of the 77th Emmy Awards.
MFG Baden-Württemberg supported the involvement of both companies in “The Penguin” through a special Line Producer funding, which benefits studios and companies in Baden-Württemberg whose work focuses on digital post-production, visual effects (VFX), and animation.
Carl Bergengruen, Managing Director of MFG, commented on the Emmy success: “This Emmy once again proves that the two Stuttgart-based production companies are among the world’s leaders in their field. It is a tremendous achievement for everyone involved and a testament to the targeted support provided by MFG, which has helped establish Baden-Württemberg as a leading hub for VFX and animation.”
PIXOMONDO, Accenture Song VFX, and RISE FX are nominated for the prestigious EMMYs for their work on the series “The Penguin”, “Dune: Prophecy”, “House of the Dragon”, and “The Last of Us”!
Category “Outstanding Special Visual Effects In A Season Or A Movie“:
“Dune: Prophecy“ (HBO | Max) – Visual Effects Supervisor Accenture Song VFX Germany: Peter Lames
“House Of The Dragon“ (HBO | Max) – Visual Effects Supervisor PIXOMONDO: Sven Martin | Associate Visual Effects Supervisor PIXOMONDO: Fausto Tejeda
“The Last Of Us“ (HBO | Max) – Visual Effects Supervisor, RISE FX: Andreas Giesen
Category “Outstanding Special Visual Effects In A Single Episode“:
