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ITFS 2026 – Winners announced

ITFS 2026, photo: Reiner Pfisterer

For one week, Stuttgart was immersed in animation fever as ITFS invited both the national and international industry as well as a broad regional audience to discover and experience the very best of animation on screen across around 150 events. The Award Ceremony took place on Saturday evening, May 9, 2026, at Gloria 1. Six film awards and one project award were presented across the various competition categories.

The ITFS International Competition Grand Prix, endowed with € 10,000, went to the short film WITH TAPES AND TOASTS IN THE CAR by Stuttgart-based filmmaker Kiana Naghshineh, a graduate of Filmakademie Baden-Württemberg’s Animationsinstitut. The award automatically qualifies the film for the Academy Awards. The French-German co-production also impressed audiences and additionally received the Audience Award, sponsored by SWR. The graduation film SENSUAL by Tanja Nuijten, a graduate of Filmakademie Baden-Württemberg’s Animationsinstitut, recieved a Special Mention at the Lotte Reiniger Promotion Award.

WITH TAPES AND TOASTS IN THE CAR, Kiana Nagshineh
Kiana Nagshineh receives the Trixie statue, photo: ITFS, Reiner Pfisterer
Kiana Nagshineh, photo: ITFS, Reiner Pfisterer
SENSUAL, Tanja Nuijten, FABW

ITFS INTERNATIONAL COMPETITION
Grand Prix (Animation Award of the State of Baden-Württemberg and the City of Stuttgart in the amount of 10,000 euros) and Audience Award (Award for the Best Animated Film voted by the Audience in the amount of 6,000 euros,
sponsored by SWR):

WITH TAPES AND TOASTS IN THE CAR (IM AUTO TAPES UND BUTTERBROT)
Germany, France 2025
Director: Kiana Naghshineh | Production: Laïdak Films, ManicMonday | Producers: Antoine Liétout, Henrik von Müller, Ivan Zuber, Kiana Naghshineh | World Sales: Miyu Distribution

Jury: Hisko Hulsing, Melanie Beisswenger, Vera Neubauer

Special Mention at the Lotte Reiniger Promotion Award (Award for the Best Animated Graduation Film in the amount of 10,000 euros, sponsored by MFG Film Funding Baden-Württemberg)

SENSUAL
Germany 2026
Director: Tanja Nuijten | Production: Filmakademie Baden-Württemberg GmbH | Producer: Avina Graefe | World Sales: Filmakademie Baden-Württemberg GmbH

Earlier in the festival, on Thursday evening, the German Animation Screenplay Awards and the Trickstar Business Award were presented during the AniX Awards ceremony at the Festival Centre. The festival’s final award was presented on Sunday afternoon on the Open Air stage: the Kids’ Jury honoured the best lm in the ITFS Tricks for Kids Competition in front of an eagerly awaiting audience.

All Winners at ITFS 2026: https://itfs.de/en/programme/winners-2026/

Save the Date: The 34th Stuttgart International Festival of Animated Film will take place from 27 April to 2 May 2027. https://itfs.de/

The Winners of the AniX Awards at ITFS 2026!

The first award winners of the Stuttgart International Festival of Animated Film (ITFS) 2026 can be announced: 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 7, 2026 at the Festival Centre in the Haus der Katholischen Kirche.

The Award 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 EMMI & EINSCHWEIN – EINHORN KANN JEDER!
(EMMI & UNIPIG – ANYONE CAN BE A UNICORN!) by Anna Böhm (Producer: Stephan Wagner, Production: Carte blanche Media)

From the jury statement: The jury honours a screenplay whose powerful storytelling demonstrates just how vibrant, witty, and at the same time moving contemporary animated films for the whole family can be. “Emmi & Unipig – Anyone can be a Unicorn!” creates a world brimming with imagination without relying on mere cuteness. Instead, the story uses its wealth of magical creatures to explore very real emotions: shame, exclusion, the longing for belonging—and the courage to accept oneself, even when that doesn’t fit with the shiny expectations of others.

The Special Mention goes to PETRONELLA APFELMUS – DER FILM (PETRONELLA APPLEWITCH) by Claudio Winter and Seraina Nyikos (Producer: Dirk Beinhold, Valentin Greulich, Production: Akkord Film Produktion, Co-Producer: SERU Animation, funded by MFG)

Stefanie Larson, Sophia Bierend, Solveig Langeland, Silke Wilfinger, Stephan Wagner, Matthias Drescher and Jørn Precht (left to right), photo: ITFS, Reiner Pfisterer
Stefanie Larson, Seraina Nyikos, Claudio Winter and Sebastian Runschke (SERU) (left to right), photo: ITFS, Reiner Pfisterer

The Award for the German Screenplay with the Biggest International Market Potential in the amount of € 2,500, sponsored by SOLA MEDIA – and the winner is DREAMERS – THE HUNT FOR SHADOWCLAW by Jörg Ihle, Dominik Hochwald, Christopher Jenkins, Robert Moreland, and Alison James (Producers: Ulrich Schwarz, Ivy Stein, Production: parapictures filmproductions).

From the jury statement: DREAMERS is a wonderfully humorous, action-packed, and heartwarming screenplay featuring charmingly anthropomorphized animals who embrace their disabilities and use them as special, valuable abilities. This is done in an effortless, exciting, and highly entertaining way for all ages. Important messages such as tolerance, friendship, and inclusion are conveyed playfully. Because in the end, we are all Dreamers—a little bit normal, a little bit quirky, and each one special. The jury of this year’s screenplay award sees all the ingredients and potential for a successful international release in this emotional story.

The Special Mention goes to TRÜFFEL by Sonja Knyssok.

The jury consisted of Matthias Drescher, Sophia Bierend, Solveig Langeland, Jørn Precht and Silke Wilfinger.

Stefanie Larson, Solveig Langeland, Ulrich Schwarz, Jørn Precht, Ivy Stein, Silke Wilfinger, Sophia Bierend, Matthias Drescher and Robert Moreland (left to right), photo: ITFS, Reiner Pfisterer
Sonja Knyssok, photo: ITFS, Reiner Pfisterer

The Trickstar Business Award, the award for the Best Innovative and Groundbreaking Business Model for a Project or a Company in the Field of Animation in the amount of € 7,500 sponsored by Verband Region Stuttgart, goes to Atomedge (CEO: Guy van der Walt).

Congratulations to all the award winners!

Further information

Winners of the Annie Awards announced!

“A Sparrow’s Song“ team at the Annie Awards: Vincent Maurer, Tobias Eckerlin, Lilli-Luisa Heckmann (Photo (c) private)

“A Sparrow’s Song” won the award in the Best Student Film category at the 53rd Annie Awards! We congratulate the team behind this diploma project from Filmakademie Baden-Württemberg‘s Animationsinstitut:

Student Director / Student Producer: Tobias Eckerlin, Lead Technical Director: Vincent Maurer, Lead Character Artist: Elias Weber, Lead Animation: Lilli-Luisa Heckmann, Lead Animation: Jiro Magracia, Lead Groom/Feathers Artist: Rebecca Liebelt – and many more!

In the category Best TV/Media – Children, “The Wonderfully Weird World of Gumball – Episode: The Rewrite” by Hanna-Barbera Studios Europe won the award. Our CREATORS from Studio Soi were also involved in the production of the animated series.

Congratulations to all the winning projects!

Check out the complete list of all Annie Awards winners: https://annieawards.org/winners

Animationsinstitut alumni – center Tobias Eckerlin, Vincent Maurer and Lilli-Luisa Heckmann, framed by Oscar Jacobson and Franz Rügamer (nominated for The Undying Pain of Existence) (Photo (c) private)
Lilli-Luisa Heckmann, Tobias Eckerlin, Vincent Maurer (Screenshot Live Stream Annie Awards (ASIFA Hollywood))

Filmschau BW 2025

The winners of the Baden-Württemberg Film Awards 2025 were announced last week. The awards of the 31. Filmschau Baden-Württemberg were presented during a festive ceremony at the Kulturlounge Dürnitz in the Altes Schloss in Stuttgart. AMCRS members were also honored.

All winners Filmschau BW 2025 (Photo: Filmschau BW)
Award Ceremony Filmschau BW 2025 (Photo: MFG)

Oscar Jacobson, a graduate of Filmakademie Baden-Württemberg’s Animationsinstitut, was awarded the Baden-Württemberg Film Award in the Animation Film category for “Undying Pain of Existence.”

Statement Jury Animation Film (Nina Prange (Creative Producer), Regina Welker (Animation Director), and Sveta Yuferova (Animation Director)):
“The films nominated this year demonstrate a remarkable diversity of visual signatures, techniques, and narrative approaches. Alongside student works, there are independent productions whose production conditions could hardly be more different. The winning film impresses with its visual language, through which the direction translates self-control and the subsequent loss of control into powerful images.”

The Baden-Württemberg Film Award in the VFX Studios category goes to artists Peter Lames (a graduate of Filmakademie Baden-Württemberg’s Animationsinstitut), Apollonia Hartmann, and David Anastacio of Accenture Song Content Germany in Stuttgart for “Dune – Prophecy” by Anna Foerster. The team had received Line Producer funding from the MFG.

Statement Jury VFX Studios (Jan Adamczyk (Professor at Hochschule der Medien Stuttgart), Johanna Manz (VFX Producer), and Julia Smola (VFX Producer / HoP BigHugFX)):
“What stood out to us about “Dune”, in addition to the first-class quality of the visual effects, was above all the immense complexity, the elaborate development of the look, and the precise design. The visual effects integrate seamlessly into the demanding, iconic look of the “Dune” universe and enhance its visual power in an impressive way. For us, one thing is clear: something truly unique and extraordinary has been created here. The complex asset posed an enormous challenge -and it was mastered in a remarkable manner. We warmly congratulate Accenture Song on this outstanding project and on the well-deserved award.”

For “Habt ihr den gesehen” by Anton Kleinert, the artists David Schubert, Lia Bauer, and Katrin Wohnhas (all from Hochschule der Medien Stuttgart) received the Baden-Württemberg Film Award in the VFX Students category.

Statement Jury VFX Students (Heiko Burkardsmaier (VFX Executive Producer, Head of Business + Legal Affairs, Accenture Song VFX), Johanna Manz (VFX Producer), and Julia Smola (VFX Producer / HoP BigHugFX)):
“This project demonstrates in an outstanding way that the use of visual effects has been truly understood. The effects support the story being told in a subtle and effective manner without drawing attention to themselves, and they blend seamlessly into the scenery. In terms of quality, the VFX work is executed so excellently that even experienced professionals would hardly have noticed in some places what had been added without the breakdown – and that is exactly how it should be. At the same time, it is clear that the effort was not reduced to a minimum, but realized with great commitment and genuine passion. The attention to detail and the many creative ideas make the image come alive, atmospheric, and visually engaging.”

Sources and further information: Press Release Filmschau BW | Website Filmschau BW | News MFG

The Undying Pain of Existence (Credits: Filmakademie Baden-Württemberg)
Habt ihr den gesehen (Credits: Hochschule der Medien Stuttgart)

Filmschau Baden-Württemberg (December 3 to 7, 2025)

The 31. Filmschau Baden-Württemberg will 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.

Animationsinstitut of 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)

Hochschule Offenburg: RESET (Director: Marius Mrohs, Emilie Bein)

The M.A.R.K. 13-Group: THE LIGHT OF AISHA (Director: Shadi Adib), Germany Premiere

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)

Sources: Press Release Filmschau BW | Merz Akademie

A SPARROW’S SONG wins Gold Student Academy Award!

Press Release Animationsinstitut, Oct. 7, 2025

The diploma film A SPARROW’S SONG by Tobias Eckerlin, produced at Animationsinstitut of the Filmakademie Baden-Württemberg was officially awarded a Gold Student Academy Award on Monday, Oct. 6! The short film is one of only 12 award recipients, from more than 3,000 entries for the 52nd Student Academy Awards.

This prize is not only a special honour for the team, but also makes the film officially eligible for consideration for the 98th Oscars in 2026 – a significant milestone for Animationsinstitut as well, although not the first time!

A SPARROW’S SONG team (l.t.r.): Rebecca Liebelt, Jiro Magracia, Tobias Eckerlin, Vincent Maurer, Lilli-Luisa Heckmann & Elias Weber
A SPARROW’S SONG, Filmakademie Baden-Württemberg

Tobias Eckerlin, director and producer, describes the ceremony as a unique experience and adds, on behalf of the entire team: “We are very grateful and incredibly happy about the recognition, the great time we had in New York, and the contacts we made there. A big thank you to the Academy, German Films, and the Animationsinstitut for their support! Now we are eagerly looking forward to next year’s Oscar ceremony.”

Dr. Jan Pinkava, Director of the Animationsinstitut, adds “We are thrilled at the success of A Sparrow’s Song, and delighted that the creativity and talent of the students of Animationsinstitut has once again been recognized with this Student Academy Award. Congratulations!”

A SPARROW’S SONG is a 3D animated short film based on a true story. It tells the story of an elderly widow during World War II, who unexpectedly draws new hope through her connection with an injured sparrow. Together, they spread this newfound hope and thus manage to offer some comfort to others in these difficult times.

In the day leading up to the awards ceremony, Tobias took part in a special Academy programme in New York – including panels with industry experts, media trainings and an exclusive dinner with high ranking representatives of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences. Accompanied by his core team – Lilli-Luisa Heckmann, Jiro Magracia, Vincent Maurer, Rebecca Liebelt and Elias Weber – he accepted the Gold Student Academy Award on behalf of all 56 students and graduates who contributed to this project

This marks already the eighth Student Academy Award for the Filmakademie and the second for Animationsinstitut – further proof of the outstanding quality of education at Filmakademie Baden-Württemberg and the international visibility of its diploma projects.

Source: Press Release Animationsinstitut

Live stream Student Academy Awards 2025, Award for A SPARROW’S SONG min. 37:10

Diploma film A SPARROW’S SONG wins Student Academy Award 2025!

Press Release Animationsinstitut, Ludwigsburg, August 28, 2025

The Student Academy Award in the Animation category goes to “A SPARROW’S SONG” – a diploma project by director and producer Tobias Eckerlin, which was created at the Animationsinstitut of the Filmakademie Baden-Württemberg. From over 3,000 submissions from 988 universities worldwide, 14 winners were selected for the 52nd Student Academy Awards. For the eighth time, the most coveted international prize among film schools goes to Ludwigsburg

A Sparrow’s Song, Credits: Filmakademie Baden-Württemberg
A Sparrow’s Song, Team (from left to right): Elias Weber, Tobias Eckerlin, Vincent Maurer & Lilli-Luisa Heckmann, FABW
A Sparrow’s Song, Credits: Filmakademie Baden-Württemberg

This is a great honour for the team: “We feel truly overwhelmed and are incredibly happy about the Student Oscar,” says Tobias Eckerlin. “This is one of the greatest accolades you could wish for!” Alongside Eckerlin, Vincent Maurer (Technical Director), Elias Weber (Lead Character Artist), Lilli-Luisa Heckmann und Jiro Magracia (Lead Animators), Rebecca Liebelt (Groom Artist), and many others contributed to the project. “Thank you to the Academy and the entire team behind A SPARROW’S SONG!”

“A SPARROW’S SONG” is a 3D animated film inspired by a true story. It deals with the story of an elderly widow who rediscovers her joy in life during World War II through an unexpected connection with an injured sparrow. Eckerlin’s work is a moving homage to the human ability to find hope even during difficult times.

Arne Braun. State Secretary in the Ministry of Science, Research and Arts Baden-Württemberg: “What a celebration not only for the new Student Academy Award winner Tobias Eckerlin and the entire team at the Filmakademie, but even for the entire film-LÄND Baden-Württemberg. Time and again, numerous great films are produced at the Filmakademie. It is only right that they celebrate outstanding successes around the world, like they are today. We can all be very proud of this. Congratulations!”

Dr. Andreas Bareiß, Managing Director of the Filmakademie Baden-Württemberg, adds enthusiastically: “What a phenomenal success! Not only for Tobias and his team but also the entire Filmakademie Baden-Württemberg. This is the eighth Student Academy Award going to Ludwigsburg. This further strengthens our top position among the world’s leading film schools – which is reflected not only, but also in the number of Academy Awards. I am absolutely delighted!”

Dr. Jan Pinkava, Director of the Animationsinstitut, is equally proud of his graduates’ success: “Congratulations to Tobi and the “Sparrow’s Song” team! To receive an Academy Award is a great honour and I am delighted for the team, the Animationsinstitut and the entire Filmakademie. Great to see such recognition for our talented students, and for the quality of our school. Good luck in New York!”

The Student Academy Award, presented by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, is considered the film industry’s most important award for student projects. The Student Academy Awards are presented in four categories: Alternative/Experimental, Animation, Documentary and Narrative. The three best films in each category receive a gold, silver or bronze award.

Tobias Eckerlin, along with other Student Academy Awards winners, will participate in a programme in New York that includes museum visits, a dinner with Academy members and a wide variety of coaching opportunities and will last several days. The programme will culminate in the awards ceremony on Monday, October 6, at the New York Film Festival. There, the team will find out whether they will receive the so-called “Student Oscar” in gold, silver or bronze. In addition, all Student Academy Award-winning films are eligible for the regular Oscars.

Source: Press Release Animationsinstitut | More about the Student Academy Awards 2025 here | More about the project and the other Animationsinsitut nominees here for even more information about the project and our other nominees

Student Academy Awards 2025 – Two Animationsinstitut Diploma Films Nominated!

Press Release Animationsinstitut, Ludwigsburg, August 5, 2025

At this year’s Student Academy Awards two animated films produced at the Animationsinstitut of Filmakademie Baden-Württemberg have been nominated as finalists. Out of more than 3,000 submissions, the diploma films “A SPARROW’S SONG” and “THE UNDYING PAIN OF EXISTENCE“, along with five other films have made it to the final round of the coveted ‘Student Oscars’ in the Animation category.

“A SPARROW’S SONG” by Tobias Eckerlin (director and producer) is inspired by a true story. A widowed air raid warden struggles to overcome her grief and rediscover joy in her life. In the midst of World War II, she finds a dying sparrow she hopes to save. As the bird slowly recovers, a deep bond forms between them, and the sparrow responds to her playing the piano – a shared language.
Trailer “A SPARROW’S SONG“

A Sparrow’s Song, Credits: Filmakademie Baden-Württemberg
A Sparrow’s Song, Team (from the left): Elias Weber, Tobias Eckerlin, Vincent Maurer & Lilli-Luisa Heckmann, FABW

In “THE UNDYING PAIN OF EXISTENCE“, written and directed by Oscar Jacobson, a nude model poses with statue-like composure at an elite art school – until a nasty mosquito bite puts his self-control to the test. Overwhelmed by the urge to itch, he spirals into an inner battle between the relentless pressure for perfection and his uncontrollable, animalistic instincts.
Trailer “THE UNDYING PAIN OF EXISTENCE“

The Undying Pain of Existence, Credits: Filmakademie Baden-Württemberg
The Undying Pain of Existence, Oscar Jacobson at his Diploma Showroom, FABW

Dr. Andreas Bareiß, Managing Director of Filmakademie Baden-Württemberg, on the nomination of the graduate films: “I am very happy for Tobias and Oscar and for everyone involved in the creation of these wonderful films. The nomination itself is a huge success, not only for the filmmakers, but also for the entire Filmakademie Baden-Württemberg. It puts focus on the fact that we are enabling the creation of outstanding work here. Now, I’m excitd for the awards ceremony and I’m keeping my fingers crossed for the teams.”

The Student Academy Award, presented by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences is considered the most prestigious honour for student projects in the film industry. The awards ceremony will take place on October 6, 2025 in New York.

Dr. Jan Pinkava, Director of the Animationsinstitut, is proud of the success of his graduates: “Congratulations to Tobi, Oscar and their brilliant teams, from all of us at Animationsinstitut! To be the only school with two finalists in the Student Academy Awards is indeed a great honour, and recognition of not only the talent of our students and our vital teaching culture, but also of the Filmakademie’s devotion and commitment to the future of animation. These enchanting films will find a delighted audience!”

Find out more about the Student Academy Awards 2025 here.

Check here for even more information about the projects.

Source: Press Release Animationsinstitut

Call for Entries: FOCUS OPEN 2025

Until April 25, 2025, companies, professional designers, as well as startups, newcomers, and emerging talents from all over the world have the opportunity to submit their current and innovative design solutions for the FOCUS OPEN 2025 Baden-Württemberg International Design Award.

The FOCUS OPEN is an important component of the economic and design promotion in the state of Baden-Württemberg. It rewards the innovation and design quality of new products, services, and concepts, and stands out with moderate costs while offering very high visibility.

New this year are the categories IMMERSIVE MEDIA (conceptualization, development, or design of multisensory experiences using digital media such as Virtual Reality (VR), Augmented Reality (AR), Mixed Reality (MR), game design, immersive film productions, etc.) and CIRCULAR DESIGN (products or systems whose design strategies aim to efficiently use raw materials and return them to the biological material cycle with minimal quality loss).

Deadline Call for Entries: April 4, 2025 – Deadline extended: April 25, 2025!

More information Call for Entries | FOCUS OPEN 2025 | Application

The benefits for Award Winners:

  • Festive award ceremony and exhibition opening that focus public attention on all the winning products
  • An exhibition lasting several months in Haus der Wirtschaft Baden-Württemberg, Stuttgart (impressions 2024)
  • Publication in a yearbook that is distributed to the major international markets via a publishing house renowned for its books on design
  • Extensive online communication

The Baden-Württemberg International Design Award FOCUS OPEN 2025 is organized by the Design Center Baden-Württemberg and funded by the Ministry of Economics.

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 MFG 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 GameZone 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