April 26, 2023

The AMCRS HEROES @ FMX, ITFS and APDs on Thursday, April 27, 2023!

Check out where to find our HEROES at FMX, ITFS and APDs on Thursday, April 27!

9:30-18:00 CET
FMX Marketplace
MFG Baden-Württemberg mbH/AMCRS, RnDeep GmbH
https://fmx.de/en/program-2023/category?categoryID=1587

9:30-18:00 CET
FMX, Eyth-Saal, Turm A, Turm B
Recruiting Hub
Accenture Song Content Germany GmbH, jangled nerves, Pixomondo, recomFilm, RISE | Visual Effects Studios, Scanline VFX
https://fmx.de/en/program-2023/category?categoryID=1558

9:30-18:00 CET
FMX Recruiting Booth in front of Haus der Wirtschaft
RISE | Visual Effects Studios

9:30-18:00 CET
FMX School Campus
Animationsinstitut, Hochschule der Medien, Hochschule Offenburg
https://fmx.de/en/program-2023/detail/event/27142

10:00 CET
FMX König-Karl-Halle
Realtime Worlds: Tips and Tricks for Creating Stunning Visuals in Camera and Post
Nathan Larouche, VFX Supervisor, Mark Dauth, Compositor, Pixomondo
https://fmx.de/en/program-2023/detail/event/26096

10:00 CET
FMX Raum Tübingen
Animation Schools Exchange
If you would like to join the Animation Schools Exchange please reach out to study@animationsinstitut.de. Please note: This is an invite only event.
https://fmx.de/en/program-2023/detail/event/26121

10:30 CET
ITFS Gloria 2
Young Animation 1 (Rep.)
Kolaj (Gülce Besen Dilek, Filmakademie)
https://www.itfs.de/events/young-animation-1-wdh/

12:30 CET
FMX Bertha-Benz-Saal & VIDEO ON DEMAND (from April 28)
VFX Team Sustainability: Growing and Retaining Talent
Marian Dobrunz, Head of HR, RISE | Visual Effects Studios, Jasmin Hasel, Vice President & Executive Producer European Operations, Scanline VFX
https://fmx.de/en/program-2023/detail/event/26112

12:30 CET
FMX Turm Aalen
Challenging Productions for Web/TV/Cinema: TALES OF ZALE and HUI BUH 2
Peter Lames, Accenture Song / Associate VFX Supervisor, Animationsinstitut Alumnus, Roland Petrizza, Senior Digital Compositor at Accenture Song, Accenture Song Content Germany GmbH, Filmakademie Alumnus, Sveta Yuferova, Director, Animationsinstitut Alumna
https://fmx.de/en/program-2023/detail/event/26132

13:00 CET
ITFS Cinema
Workshop: Scoring and Sound Design for Animated Short Films: A Transcultural Collaboration
Prof. Olaf Taranczewski, Musikhochschule Trossingen
https://www.itfs.de/en/events/workshop-scoring-and-sound-design-for-animated-short-films-a-transcultural-collaboration/

13:05 CET
FMX Raum Mannheim, The Houdini Suite
Our Solaris experience so far at RISE
Bernhard Esperester, Head of Lighting, Oliver Markowski, Head of 3D, Fuat Yüksel, Head of FX, RISE | Visual Effects Studios
https://fmx.de/en/program-2023/detail/event/27376

13:30 CET
FMX School Campus
Meet up with all Fresh Vision talents & European Animation Development Lab „Animation Sans Frontières“ (ASF).
Animationsinstitut

14:00 CET
ITFS Open Air
Animation connects Europe! – Kids
Mobile (Verena Fels, Animationsinstitut Alumna)
https://www.itfs.de/en/events/animation-connects-europe-kids/

14:30 CET
FMX Bertha-Benz-Saal & VIDEO ON DEMAND (from April 28)
Is the (current) VFX Business Model Sustainable?
Panel hosted by Heiko Burkardsmaier (VFX Executive Producer, Accenture song VFX)
https://fmx.de/en/program-2023/detail/event/26694

14:30 CET
FMX Turm Aalen & Video on Demand (from April 28)
From VR to animated installations: THE FAMILY PORTRAIT and TALES FROM SODA ISLAND
Dan Franke, VR Artist & Co-Founder and Director of Studio Syro, Animationsinstitut Alumnus
https://fmx.de/en/program-2023/detail/event/26133

15:00 CET
ITFS Open Air
My Fairy Troublemaker
SERU
https://www.itfs.de/en/events/my-fairy-troublemaker/

15:45 CET
FMX König-Karl-Halle
How RISE gave GHOSTED a Spin
Michael Wortmann, VFX Supervisor, RISE | Visual Effects Studios
https://fmx.de/en/program-2023/detail/event/26067

15:45 CET
FMX Raum Heilbronn, The Autodesk Suite & VIDEO ON DEMAND (from April 28)
Bad Ghouls: A look at the award-winning workflow behind A Calling. From the Desert. To the Sea
Animationsinstitut Students & Alumni: Lennard Fricke, VFX Producer, Lukas Kapp, Creature TD, Lukas Löffler, Lead Compositor, Mario Bertsch, VFX Supervisor, Till Sander-Titgemeyer, Character Artist
https://fmx.de/en/program-2023/detail/event/27310

15:45 CET
FMX Bertha-Benz-Saal & & VIDEO ON DEMAND (from April 28)
Evolving Places for a Sustainable Future
Moderator: Stefanie Larson, AMCRS
https://fmx.de/en/program-2023/detail/event/26048

16:00 CET
ITFS Gloria 1
AniMovie/Kids: Three Robbers and a Lion
Sola Media (World Sales)
https://www.itfs.de/en/events/animovie-kids-three-robbers-and-a-lion/

18:15 CET
FMX Meidinger-Saal & Video on Demand (from April 28)
Fully Immersive Adaptations: Hölderlin’s Echo VR and ShakesVR
Professor Susanne Marschall, University of Tübingen
https://fmx.de/en/program-2023/detail/event/26055

19:00 CET
FMX, FMX Square in front of Haus der Wirtschaft
Thursday GET-TOGETHER sponsored by RISE | Visual Effects Studios

21:00 CET
ITFS Gloria 1
International Competition 3
Miles Davis – What’s Love Got to Do With It (Irina Rubina, AI Alumna, FMX Trailer)
https://www.itfs.de/en/events/international-competition-3/

22:00 CET
ITFS Cinema
Best of Animation 3 – Get an Earful
Films by Andreas Hykade, Jürgen Haas et. Al, Studio Film Bilder, Animationsinstitut Alumni, curated by Förderverein ITFS e.V.
https://www.itfs.de/en/events/best-of-animation-3-get-an-earful/

April 25, 2023

The AMCRS HEROES @ FMX, ITFS and APDs on Wednesday, April 26, 2023!

APDs Conference (Photo: Reiner Pfisterer)

Find out where to find our HEROES at FMX, ITFS and APDs on Wednesday, April 26!

9:00 CET
ITFS, TREFFPUNKT Rotebühlplatz (vhs), Rotebühlplatz 28, Stuttgart, 70173
Zwergenschau 2
Katze (Julia Ocker, Studio FILM BILDER, Animationsinstitut Alumna)
https://www.itfs.de/en/events/zwergenschau-2-daycare-and-kindergarten/

9:30-19:00 CET
FMX Marketplace
MFG Baden-Württemberg mbH/AMCRS, RnDeep GmbH
https://fmx.de/en/program-2023/category?categoryID=1587

9:30-19:00 CET
FMX, Eyth-Saal, Turm A, Turm B
Recruiting Hub
Accenture Song Content Germany GmbH, jangled nerves, Pixomondo, recomFilm, RISE | Visual Effects Studios, Scanline VFX
https://fmx.de/en/program-2023/category?categoryID=1558

9:30-19:00 CET
FMX Recruiting Booth vor Haus der Wirtschaft
RISE | Visual Effects Studios

9:30-19:00 CET
FMX School Campus
Animationsinstitut, Hochschule der Medien, Hochschule Offenburg
https://fmx.de/en/program-2023/detail/event/27142

11:45 CET
FMX Raum Reutlingen
Scanline Recruiting Presentation
Simon Davies, Recruitment Manager, Europe, Scanline VFX
https://fmx.de/en/program-2023/detail/event/26243

13:45-17:15 CET
APDs L-Bank Rotunde (available as VoD to all APD accredited participants)
APD Conference: “New Voices – New Stories”
Prof Lilian Klages. Eagle Eye Filmproduktion
https://www.animationproductiondays.de/programme/conference-2023/

13:45-14:00 CET
APDs L-Bank Rotunde (available as VoD to all APD accredited participants)
APDs Conference Welcome
Carl Bergengruen, MFG, Marlene Wagener, Animation Production Days
https://www.animationproductiondays.de/programme/conference-2023/

14:00-15:30 CET
APDs L-Bank Rotunde (available as VoD to all APD accredited participants)
APDs Conference Part 1, Case Study 1 From Film School to Industry with “Ich kenne ein Tier / I know an animal” – A Launchpad for Young Animators
Prof. Andreas Hykade, Head of Animation Directing, Animationsinstitut/Filmakademie
https://www.animationproductiondays.de/programme/conference-2023/

14:30 CET
FMX Turm Aalen & Video on Demand (from April 28)
Access VFX
Kader Bagli, Lead Compositing Artist, RISE | Visual Effects Studios
https://fmx.de/en/program-2023/detail/event/26622

14:30 CET
FMX Bertha-Benz-Saal & Video on Demand (from April 28)
Evolving Research & Technology for a Minimized Footprint
Prof. Jan Adamczyk, Hochschule der Medien, Professor Susanne Marschall, Professor, University of Tuebingen, Volker Helzle, Head of Research and Development, Animationsinstitut
https://fmx.de/en/program-2023/detail/event/26120

14:30 CET
FMX Raum Heilbronn, The Autodesk Suite & VIDEO ON DEMAND (from April 28)
No turning back because I deleted the folders – the early adopter USD journey at RISE
Kolja Hübschmann, Oliver Markowski, (RISE I Visual Effects Studios)
https://fmx.de/en/program-2023/detail/event/26871

15:00 CET
ITFS Gloria 2
Tricks for Kids 1
Trudes Tier – Glückshof (Klaus Morschheuser, Studio Soi), Katze (Julia Ocker, Studio Filmbilder)
https://www.itfs.de/events/tricks-for-kids-1/

16:15 CET
FMX Raum Reutlingen & VIDEO ON DEMAND (from April 28)
Accenture Song Recruiting Presentation
Michael Bergmann, Recruiting Senior Specialist, Gus Martinez, Compositing and VFX Supervisor, Carina Thomiczny, 3D Senior Realtime Artist, Accenture Song Content Germany GmbH
https://fmx.de/en/program-2023/detail/event/26249

17:00 CET
ITFS Open Air
TV special „The Gruffalo“
Studio Soi
https://www.itfs.de/en/events/the-gruffalo/

17:30 CET
ITFS Open Air
Best of Animation 1 – Homemade Highlights 1
Films by Tine Kluth, Julia Ocker, Andreas Hykade, Marc Schleiss, Gottfried Mentor, Volker Engel, Johannes Weiland et al., Hochschule der Medien, Studio Filmbilder, Animationsinstitut Alumni, curated by Förderverein ITFS e.V.
https://www.itfs.de/en/events/best-of-animation-1-homemade-highlights-1/

17:00 CET
FMX König-Karl-Halle & VIDEO ON DEMAND (from April 28)
Creating Visual Effects for STRANGER THINGS, Season 4
Overall VFX Supervisor and Emmy Award winner Jabbar Raisani, Additional VFX Supervisor Marion Spates, Jan Burda, VFX Supervisor, Accenture Song Content Germany GmbH
https://fmx.de/en/program-2023/detail/event/26072

17:00 CET
FMX Turm Aalen & Video on Demand (from April 28)
A Calling. From The Desert. To The Sea.
Animationsinstitut Students & Alumni: Lennard Fricke, VFX Producer, Lukas Kapp, Creature TD, Lukas Löffler, Lead Compositor, Mario Bertsch, VFX Supervisor, Till Sander-Titgemeyer, Character Artist
https://fmx.de/en/program-2023/detail/event/27094

18:00 CET
ITFS Gloria 2
Young Animation 1
Kolaj (Gülce Besen Dilek, Filmakademie)
https://www.itfs.de/events/young-animation-1/

18:15 CET
FMX Raum Reutlingen
Rise Recruiting Presentation, RISE up your life.
Marian Dobrunz, Head of HR, RISE | Visual Effects Studios
https://fmx.de/en/program-2023/detail/event/26254

18:30 CET
ITFS L-Bank Rotunde
Trickstar Professional Awards Ceremony
AMCRS (sponsor of German Animation Screenplay Award), MFG (sponsor of Animated Games Award Germany)
https://www.itfs.de/en/events/trickstar-professional-awards-ceremony/

19:00 CET
FMX Square in front of Haus der Wirtschaft
WEDNESDAY GET-TOGETHER sponsored by Scanline VFX

21:00 CET
Die Note, Berliner Platz 1, 70174 Stuttgart
AMCRS Animation Media Lounge 2023
https://amcrs.de/save-the-date-animation-media-lounge-am-26-april-2023/

January 18, 2023

NOMINEES OF THE VES AWARDS 2023 ANNOUNCED!

Yesterday, the Visual Effects Society announced the nominations for the 2023 VES Awards! Among them are two companies that are also HEROES of the AMCRS.

PIXOMONDO received four nominations – in the category OUTSTANDING VISUAL EFFECTS IN A PHOTOREAL EPISODE “The Boys: Payback” as well as “House of the Dragon: The Black Queen”, in the category OUTSTANDING COMPOSITING & LIGHTING IN AN EPISODE the Dance of Dragons from “House of the Dragon: The Black Queen”, and “See: I See You” in the category OUTSTANDING SUPPORTING VISUAL EFFECTS IN A PHOTOREAL EPISODE.

Scanline VFX were nominated in the OUTSTANDING VISUAL EFFECTS IN A PHOTOREAL EPISODE and OUTSTANDING EFFECTS SIMULATIONS IN AN EPISODE, COMMERCIAL, OR REAL-TIME PROJECT categories for their work on “Stranger Things 4: The Piggyback” and also in the OUTSTANDING SUPPORTING VISUAL EFFECTS IN A PHOTOREAL FEATURE category for “The Gray Man.”

The visual effects of Murad Abu Eisheh’s diploma film at the Filmakademie Baden-Württemberg “A Calling . From the Desert . To the Sea” were created by fellow students of the Animationsinstitut. The work of Mario Bertsch, Max Pollmann, Lukas Löffler and Till Sander-Titgemeyer achieved a nomination in the category OUTSTANDING VISUAL EFFECTS IN A STUDENT PROJECT (AWARD SPONSORED BY AUTODESK).

Congratulations to all nominees and fingers crossed for the awards ceremony at the 21st Annual VES Awards on February 15, 2023 at The Beverly Hilton Hotel in Los Angeles!

List of all nominations

December 5, 2022

Obituary of Thilo Kuther, founder of Pixomondo

2017 at Pixomondo in Los Angeles: Stefanie Larson (AMCRS), Thilo Kuther, Christoph Malessa, Robert Gehring (MFG)

It is with great sadness that we learned about the passing of Thilo Kuther, founder of Pixomondo.

Thilo was a visionary and enthusiast. The long-time CEO founded the company in 2001 and started with video installations and 3D animation. Since then, Pixomondo has grown considerably, with locations in Stuttgart, Frankfurt, Berlin, Munich, Hamburg, Vancouver, Montreal, Shanghai, Beijing, London, Toronto and Los Angeles, among others.

The Oscar-winning visual effects for Martin Scorsese’s “Hugo” and the effects for „Star Trek Into Darkness“, the “Fast & Furious” and “The Hunger Games” franchise, among others, were created under Kuthers’ leadership. Pixomondo has also worked on several TV series – including “Game of Thrones“, “The Mandalorian“, “The Watchmen” and since 2017 “Star Trek Discovery“. There was also close collaboration with Roland Emmerich on “2012“, “Independence Day: Resurgence“, “Midway” and “Moonfall“.

It were not least these great successes that contributed decisively to the emergence of the animation and VFX hotspot Stuttgart Region.

In 2019, Thilo Kuther stepped down as CEO of Pixomondo and most recently led the company Xmachina.

Our deepest sympathy goes to his wife Claudia, his family and his friends.

Source (among others) The Hollywood Reporter