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).
Let’s head into the weekend – and into Day 5 of STUTTGART ANIMATED WEEK 2026! Enjoy your time at ITFS and check out who from our CREATORS – and which of their projects – will also be featured there on Saturday, May 9. In the evening, the big ITFS awards ceremony will take place – we’re keeping our fingers crossed for all the nominees!
ITFS, Photo: Max Kullmann
11:00-20:00 ITFS, Staatsgalerie Säulensaal GameZone Extended Hochschule der Medien, Animationsinstitut / FABW, Merz Akademie, Studio Seufz https://itfs.de/en/show/gamezone-extended-8/
11:00 ITFS, Gloria 2 Tricks for Kids 3: Komm, ich helfe dir! “3 Kapitäne” by Julia Ocker, Thomas Meyer-Hermann (producer, Studio Film Bilder); “Kito, Maja und die Kugelkiste – Vom PUMPHUT und der Windstille” by Eliza Plocieniak-Alvarez, Alumna Animationsinstitut / FABW https://itfs.de/en/show/tricks-for-kids-3-komm-ich-helfe-dir-2/
Our Creators @ FMX and ITFS on Friday, May 8, 2026!
STUTTGART ANIMATED WEEK 2026 – Day 4: Where will you find our CREATORSon Friday, May 8, at FMX and ITFS? Let’s find this out, and other highlights! Please note: All FMX program sessions on Friday will take place either on the Filmakademie Campus in Ludwigsburg or online.
FMX, Photo: Dominique Brewing
11:00-20:00 ITFS, Staatsgalerie Säulensaal GameZone Extended Hochschule der Medien, Animationsinstitut / FABW, Merz Akademie, Studio Seufz https://itfs.de/en/show/gamezone-extended-10/
12:30 FMX, Ade-Studio, Filmakademie Campus Can animated content reach beyond the tween audience? Can talent earn a living from it? Arne Hain, Eliza Plocieniak-Alvarez, Alumni Animationsinstitut / FABW; Panel “Fresh Visions” curated by Christian Müller, Animationsinstitut / FABW https://fmx.de/en/program/program-2026/detail/event/36162
Screenwriters Duc-Thi Bui and Philipp Lutz were awarded the Thomas Strittmatter Award 2026, endowed with €20,000 and presented by MFG Filmförderung Baden-Württemberg, for their screenplay for the drama “Malibu“. The film tells the story of 17-year-olds Jonas and David, who meet while undergoing cancer treatment in an oncology ward and develop a close friendship in which intimacy and love gradually blossom.
The three-member jury – director and screenwriter Laila Stieler, director and writer Güzin Kar, and media scholar Anna Kokenge – honored all three nominated screenplays with laudations. The Thomas Strittmatter Award was presented by State Secretary Arne Braun of the Ministerium für Wissenschaft, Forschung und Kunst Baden-Württemberg, together with MFG Managing Director Carl Bergengruen, during a festive reception held as part of the 76th Berlin International Film Festival at the Landesvertretung Baden-Württemberg in Berlin. The other nominees for the Thomas Strittmatter Award 2026, Stephanie Fies and Romina Küper, will each receive €2,500 for their screenplays “Running High” and “Hyperbaby“, respectively.
Winners Thomas Strittmatter Award 2026: Duc-Thi Bui and Philipp Lutz, Jury: Laila Stieler, Güzin Kar and Anna Kokenge, State Secretary Arne Braun, MFG Managing Director Carl Bergengruen, Actress Anna Ratte-Polle, (c) AEDT Tom Maelser
More than 700 guests attended the MFG reception at the Landesvertretung Baden-Württemberg, including film personalities such as Natalia Wörner, Louise Peter, Bayan Layla, Sylvaine Faligant, Michael Baral, Anne Ratte-Polle, Susanne Wolff, Marc-Uwe Kling, Purnima Grätz, Andrea Guo, Emma Bading, Helge Mark, Viet Pham and Wanja Mues. Representatives of the AMCRS were also present, including Stefanie Larson (AMCRS Manager), Heiko Burkhardsmaier (Accenture Song VFX), Sebastian Runschke (SERU Animation), Holger Weiss, Dominique Schuchmann and Wolfgang Kerber (The M.A.R.K. 13 Group), Lilian Klages (Eagle Eye Filmproduktion), Gisela Schäfer (Gretels Gold), Matthias Drescher (Film und Fernsehlabor Ludwigsburg), Thomas Meyer-Hermann (Studio Film Bilder), Juri Stanossek (LAVAlabs Moving Images), and many more.
14:30 FMX, Bertha-Benz-Saal & VOD The Rise of African Animation, VFX and Content Development – How Cultural Differences are fueling Industry Growth Panel “Managing Change” curated by Imke Fehrmann, RISE | Visual Effects Studios https://fmx.de/en/program/program-2025/list?t=1810
18:15 FMX, Bertha-Benz-Saal & VOD Story Telling for War Children: Extremist and counter-Extremist Narratives Panel “Managing Change” curated by Imke Fehrmann, RISE | Visual Effects Studios https://fmx.de/en/program/program-2025/list?t=1810
18:15 FMX, Turm Aalen & VOD School Presentations: Flamin‘ Hot / Beyond Boundaries / The Goo / Lonely / Cyclus / FATIMA Mariana Mendes dos Santos, Alex Ferstl, Merz Akademie (Panel “School Presentations” presented by Alexandra Joshi, Animationsinstitut / FABW, Mark Szilagyi, FABW) https://fmx.de/en/program/program-2025/detail/event/31835
18:00 ITFS, White Noise, Eberhardtstr. 35 Exhibition: It’s Just a Whole Exhibition by Animationsinstitut / FABW graduate Bianca Scali / Winner ITFS 2024 “Student Competition“ https://itfs.de/en/show/exhibition-its-just-a-whole-4
21:30 Die Note, Berliner Platz 1 Animation Lounge by AMCRS
March 7, 2025
Four Projects from Baden-Württemberg at Cartoon Movie 2025!
Cartoon Movie is an annual pitching and co-production forum aimed at strengthening the production and distribution of animated feature films in Europe. This year, it took place from March 4 to 6 in Bordeaux. A total of 55 new projects from 16 countries were presented – and of the six projects from Germany, four came from Baden-Württemberg alone! Members of the AMCRS are also involved!
ValentinoCondenaditos: Matisse Gonzales Jordán, Nidia Santiago (Co-Producer Ikki Films), Stefan Michel (Studio Seufz)
October 26, 2024
ZFF for Kids Audience Award for The Super Elfkins
The Super Elfkins
“THE SUPER ELFKINS“ (Die Heinzels – Neue Mützen, neue Mission) won the ZFF Audience Award for Kids at the 20th anniversary edition of the Zurich Film Festival 2024! AMCRS HEROES were also involved in the 3D animated feature film by Ute von Münchow-Pohl – SERU Animation with Sebastian Runschke (producer) and SOLA MEDIA with Solveig Langeland (executive producer). Congratulations to everyone involved!
The movie revolves around the adventures of elfkin girl Elfie who discovers the existence of a technically advanced Elfkin gang that, in stark contrast to Elfie’s own clan, is second to none when it comes to fun and thrill-seeking. Cinema release in Germany is December 24, 2024.
Screenwriter Schiar Simo is the winner of the 2024 Thomas Strittmatter Prize, endowed with 20,000 euros by MFG Filmförderung, for his screenplay for the black humor thriller “Himmelfahrt“. In the story, a Syrian man who is considered a model migrant and lives as a baker in Germany turns out to be a terrorist ‘sleeper’ who unexpectedly has to choose between his new home and his sacred mission.
The Thomas Strittmatter Prize was presented by Arne Braun, State Secretary of the Ministry of Science, Research and Arts Baden-Württemberg, and MFG Managing Director Carl Bergengruen at a festive reception on the fringes of the 74. Berlinale at the Baden-Württemberg State Representation. A number of current MFG-funded productions were also presented, in particular the Berlinale films “Treasure” by director Julia von Heinz, the German-Tanzanian documentary “The Empty Tomb” by directors Cece Mlay and Agnes Lisa Wegner and the youth drama “Elbow” by Aslı Özarslan.
In addition to Baden-Württemberg’s Minister President Winfried Kretschmann and personalities and filmmakers from numerous fields, representatives of the AMCRS and their HEROES were also guests, including the team of the animated film “Giants of La Mancha” (including Dominique Schuchmann and Wolfgang Kerber (M.A.R.K. 13) as well as Benjamin Ey (Studio 100) and one of the voice actors, Julian Janssen (‘Checker’ team)), Jan Pinkava (Animationsinsitut), Lilian Klages (Eagle Eye Filmproduktion), Kate Forsdick (M.A.R.K. 13), Heiko Burkardsmaier (Accenture Song Content Germany GmbH), Sebastian Runschke (SERU Animation), Robert Gehring (MFG), AMCRS manager Stefanie Larson and many more.
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
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
13:05 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
14:30 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
15:45 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
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
