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On Tuesday evening, 6 May 2025, the 32nd edition of the Stuttgart International Festival of Animated Film (ITFS) \u2013 Germany\u2019s largest animation film festival \u2013 was officially opened at Gloria 1 cinema. At the Festival Opening, directors Heike Mozer and Annegret Richter welcomed the audience in the sold-out auditorium, joined by State Secretary for Culture Arne Braun (Ministry of Science, Research and the Arts), Stuttgart\u2019s Lord Mayor Frank Nopper, and Michael Kaiser, Managing Director of the Stuttgart Region Economic Development Corporation (WRS). One message was clear: more than ever, film festivals are essential spaces for intercultural exchange and creative inspiration.<\/strong><\/p>\nThe evening before, on 5 May, the Stuttgart Animated Week kicked off with a state reception held in the White Hall of the New Palace. With its three key, parallel events \u2014 ITFS, Animation Production Days, and FMX \u2013 Film & Media Exchange \u2014 the full spectrum of animation is on display. The combination of festival, marketplace, and conference creates a unique platform for animation projects from around the world.<\/p>\n
Arne Braun<\/strong>, State Secretary at the Ministry of Science, Research and the Arts, emphasised:
\u201cI believe the creative industries have a key role to play in shaping the future of our region. This is where new ways of thinking are born, where creatives constantly bring forth fresh ideas \u2014 and where new jobs are created. This is especially true for the field of animated media.\u201d<\/i>
He pointed out that since 2010, the number of VFX and animation companies in Baden-W\u00fcrttemberg has nearly tripled, and their turnover has increased eightfold. He added:\u00a0\u201cThe Stuttgart Animated Week \u2014 with the International Festival of Animated Film, the FMX Conference, and the Animation Production Days \u2014 is our showcase to the world. And at the same time, a magnet for talent, visionaries, and international decision-makers. Animation, VFX, and games are no longer just about entertainment.\u201d<\/i><\/p>\nNew Features and Programme Highlights<\/h4>\n
With around 500 short and feature-length films, master classes, studio presentations, a new Professional Afternoon tailored to the industry, and numerous networking opportunities, the ITFS continues to be a major draw for the international animation scene. Audiences keen to get hands-on can take part in interactive activities at the Schlossplatz Activity Area \u2013 from themed days on democracy and borders, to drawing and animation workshops, and exhibitions.<\/p>\n
Alongside established formats and competitions, the 2025 edition introduces several new elements that will be visible throughout the festival. This includes a new date for the awards ceremony: this year, the prizes will already be presented on Saturday evening, 10 May.<\/p>\n
\u201cWith the big awards ceremony moving to Saturday night, we\u2019re creating a fresh dynamic for the festival \u2014 which benefits all our guests, as we\u2019re able to screen the winning films the next day. With a colourful family programme, we\u2019re turning the festival Sunday into a dedicated audience day,\u201d<\/i>\u00a0said\u00a0Heike Mozer, ITFS\u2019s Managing Director<\/strong>.<\/p>\nThis year\u2019s AniMovie competition features six outstanding international animated feature films, each notable for their exceptional storytelling and artistic quality. Among them is\u00a0MEMORY HOTEL<\/strong>\u00a0by German director\u00a0Heinrich Sabl<\/strong>\u00a0\u2014 a complex work he developed over more than 25 years. The AniMovie Award, endowed with \u20ac3,000, is sponsored this year by SWR (S\u00fcdwestrundfunk).<\/p>\n\u201cThe AniMovie competition highlights the rich variety and artistic ambition of today\u2019s animated features. We\u2019re excited to have a German entry in the running, and we are thankful to SWR for recognising the genre \u2014 it\u2019s an important and encouraging signal for the industry,\u201d<\/i>\u00a0said\u00a0Annegret Richter, ITFS\u2019s Artistic Director<\/strong>.<\/p>\nFocus Switzerland \u2013 and on Stop Motion<\/h4>\n
This year\u2019s focus country is a close neighbour: Switzerland. The country is represented by outstanding films, projects and insights, and a large delegation attending both the ITFS and the APD. A free exhibition at the Festival Centre, featuring sets and puppets from the Swiss stop-motion film\u00a0SAUVAGES<\/strong>, builds a bridge to this year\u2019s thematic focus on stop motion.<\/p>\nAnnegret Richter<\/strong>\u00a0notes:\u00a0\u201cThis year, we\u2019re seeing a noticeable increase in stop-motion and puppet animation, both in competitions and across other festival formats. There\u2019s something compelling about this tactile approach to animation \u2014 the attention to craftsmanship, the patience it demands. In today\u2019s fast-paced, digital, and AI-driven world, it offers a welcome contrast and a sense of calm.\u201d<\/i><\/p>\nFollowing the festival\u2019s official opening, the first block of the\u00a0International Competition (IC), Where We Come From<\/strong>, was screened. Seven animated short films, created using various techniques, explored themes of political change, personal decisions, and unique perspectives.<\/p>\nAmong them: award-winning animation\u00a0artist Richard Reeves<\/strong>, who employs a centuries-old method of drawing directly onto film. His experimental short\u00a0FUSION\u00a0<\/strong>(Canada) was created without using a camera or musical instruments. Also featured:\u00a0THE WILD-TEMPERED CLAVIER<\/strong>\u00a0by\u00a0Anna Samo (Germany)<\/strong>, a stop-motion film that comments on the pandemic and war through a highly original visual approach \u2013 painted on rolls of toilet paper in homage to direct film techniques, including drawings on 35mm film reels.<\/p>\n
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