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TALENT Meet-up BW 2026

In 2026, the TALENT Meet-up BW will once again offer young professionals the opportunity to experience the Stuttgart Animated Week (FMX – Film & Media Exchange (May 5 to 7, 2026), Stuttgart International Festival of Animated Film (May 5 to 10, 2026), and the APD Conference (May 5, 2026)) with a free combi ticket. The program supports participants in networking, provides personalized program recommendations, and creates a framework for optimal exchange – both among participants and within the international industry. In addition, attendees will get to know regional support services and contact persons.

The program is aimed at individuals who are at the beginning of their own startup journey, currently developing animation-based content such as games, XR, VFX, or animation, or who are from related but non-industry fields, such as students in (humanities) sciences seeking to network with professionals from the animation, film, and games sectors. The offer is free of charge.

Applications are open until February 23, 2026, with responses provided by March 19, 2026. Apply now via the online form!

Program coordinators are MFG Baden-Württemberg, Animation Media Creators Region Stuttgart (AMCRS), Wirtschaftsförderung Region Stuttgart (WRS), Film Commission Region Stuttgart, Wirtschaftsförderung der Stadt Stuttgart and the Animationsinstitut of Filmakademie Baden-Württemberg.

Source and further informations: MFG Baden-Württemberg

Funding Program “Creative Connection”

Stuttgart is focusing on creativity with the innovative funding program “Creative Connection”: The Economic Development Agency of the state capital Stuttgart (Wirtschaftsförderung der Landeshauptstadt Stuttgart) supports creative minds and pioneering projects that network and sustainably strengthen the creative industries in Stuttgart.

Creative Connection, Wirtschaftsförderung der Landeshauptstadt Stuttgart

Exciting events, innovative project ideas, innovation labs, training opportunities, or networking meet-ups for the creative industries – the funding program “Creative Connection” aims to help bring new ideas to life and put them into practice. Its goal: to connect Stuttgart’s creative economy, increase its visibility, and make it future-proof. With grants of up to €3,000, innovative ideas and exciting events can be realized.

Eligible initiatives include, for example:

  • A networking event where architecture meets game design
  • A talent initiative bringing together young creatives and Stuttgart-based agencies
  • An innovation lab on artificial intelligence for creative professionals
  • A hackathon for creative entrepreneurs
  • A trade fair booth for creative start-ups
  • A cross-innovation festival for corporates and creatives
  • A learning expedition to an AI congress

The funding is open to companies from commercial industries and liberal professions, universities, colleges, associations, and institutions with their own legal form. Private individuals are not eligible to apply.

Apply now! The current call for proposals runs until September 30, 2025. Further information: https://www.stuttgart.de/wirtschaft/wirtschaftsfoerderung/foerderprogramme/foerderprogramm-creative-connection/

TALENT Meet-Up BW 2025

TALENT Meet-up BW 2025 offers young professionals the opportunity to experience the Stuttgart Animated Week 2025 – FMX – Film & Media Exchange (May 6-9), the Stuttgart International Festival of Animated Film (May 6-11), and the Animation Production Days Conference (May 6) – with a free Combi Ticket. This initiative supports participants in networking, provides personalized program recommendations, and creates an optimal framework for exchange – both among attendees and within the international industry. Additionally, participants will get to know regional support programs and key contacts.

Ahead of Stuttgart Animated Week, the Studi Stage, part of the Open Stage Games BW on March 12, 2025, in Stuttgart, offers a great opportunity for initial networking and exchanges. The official kickoff of the TALENT Meet-up BW 2025 program will take place on May 5, from 14:00 to 16:30 CET in Stuttgart, bringing participants together to start the week. To wrap up the eventful days, a Get-Together on May 9, from 12:30 to 15:00 CET provides a space for sharing experiences and reflections.

Specifically for talents and start-ups from Stuttgart, Wirtschaftsförderung der Landeshauptstadt Stuttgart offers additional support: Through the FMX NEW_Comer program, they have the opportunity to secure a booth, a workshop slot, and a speaker badge at FMX 2025 (for more information, please get in touch with Hannah Schneider at hannah.schneider@stuttgart.de).

The TALENT Meet-up BW 2025 program is aimed at individuals who are at the beginning of their own startup journey, those in the midst of developing animation-based content – such as games, XR, VFX, and animation – or those from non-industry but related fields, such as students of (humanities) sciences, who want to connect with professionals from the animation, film, and games industries.

Source (MFG Baden-Württemberg) and more information | Applications are possible until February 17, 2025. The program is free of charge.

Initiated and organized by: MFG Baden-Württemberg, Wirtschaftsförderung Region Stuttgart, Film Commission Region Stuttgart, Wirtschaftsförderung der Stadt Stuttgart, Animationsinstitut (Filmakademie Baden-Württemberg) and AMCRS