International Competition

The International Competition (IC) is the beating heart of the festival. The best of current animated shorts from around the world are shown in this section. Films are humorous, contemplative, creative, or critical.

 

IC1: Tu, April 24, Gloria 1, 8 pm // Wed, April 25, Metropol 2, 10 am
IC2: Wed, April 25, Gloria 1, 9 pm // Thu, April 26, Metropol 2, 10 am
IC3: Thu, April 26, Gloria 1, 9 pm // Fr, April 27, Metropol 2, 10 am
IC4: Fr, April 27, Gloria 1, 9 pm // Sa, April 28, Metropol 2, 10 am
IC5: Sa, April 28, Gloria 1, 9 pm // Su, April 29, Metropol 2, 10 am

Young Animation

The Young Animation Competition (YA) shows selected animated short films made by students of international film and art schools. Young animation artistes from 24 countries tell touching stories, create fantastic worlds and open new perspectives

 

YA1: Tu, April 24, Gloria 2, 11 pm // Wed, April 25, Gloria 2, 7 pm
YA2: Wed, April 25, Gloria 2, 11 pm // Thu, April 26, Gloria 2, 7 pm
YA3: Thu, April 26, Gloria 2, 11 pm // Fr, April 27, Gloria 2, 7 pm
YA4: Fr, April 27, Gloria 2, 11 pm // Sa, April 28, Gloria 2, 7 pm

spotlight & Animated Com audience vote with DURCHBLICK

 

Together with spotlight – Festival For Moving Pictures we take (animated) commercials in to the main programme. There will be a live audicence voteabout the most creative commercials from TV, cinema and web of the last year. Afterwards advertisers and filmproducers will talk to the audidence. (Application: durchblick@spotlight-festival.de)

 

spotlight DURCHBLICK: Wed, April 25, Cinema, 10 am
spotlight audience voteabout: Wed, April 25, Cinema, 6 pm // 8 pm

Animated Com International

The Animated Com Award International presents the best animated advertising videos of the world.

 

Wed, April 25, Cinema, 10 pm

Amazon Audience Animation Night

 

Vote your favourite film for Amazon Audience Award out of the main competitions from ITFS. The 10 best films will be made available on Amazon Prime Video after the Festival: the winning film for a year and the other 9 nominated films for one month.

 

Sa, April 28, Gloria 2, 9 pm

Tricks for Kids Shorts Competition

The Tricks for Kids Shorts presents 25 of the latest and most beautiful short films for children. The programmes are targeted at various age groups, The screenings will be attended by filmmakers. They explain how their films were created and answer questions. For films in foreign languages, German voice-over will be provided live in the cinema.

 

Tricks for Kids 1 (aged 4 or older): Thu, April 26, Metropol 1, 2:30 pm
Tricks for Kids 2 (aged 7 or older): Fr, April 27, Metropol 1, 2:30 pm
Tricks for Kids 3 (aged 8 or older): Sa, April 28, Metropol 1, 2:30 pm
Tricks for Kids 4 (aged 6 or older): Su, April 29, Metropol 1, 2:30 pm

Tricks for Kids Series Competition

The Tricks for Kids Series Competition consists of  2 age-based programmes of selected episodes of the most beautiful, international animated series for children of all ages. Children and their families can look forward to a journey across different continents, full of surprises and discoveries. The attending filmmakers will be glad to tell the audiences about the creation of their stories. For episodes in foreign languages, German voice-over will be provided live in the cinema.

Tricks for Kids Series 1 (aged 3 or older): Wed, April 25, Metropol 1, 2:30 pm
Tricks for Kids Series 2 (aged 6 or older): Su, April 29, Metropol 1, 5 pm

Panorama

The Panorama section is a showcase for current trends in the international animation scene. Discover creative films, explore recent topics and innovative animation techniques in 4 short film blocks.

 

Panorama 1: Tue, April 24, Gloria 1, 11 pm // Wed, April 25, Metropol 1, 12:00 am
Panorama 2: Wed, April 25, Gloria 1, 11 pm // Thu, April 26, Metropol 1, 12:00 am
Panorama 3: Thu, April 26, Gloria 1, 11 pm // Fr, April 27, Metropol 1, 12:00 am
Panorama 4: Fr, April 27, Gloria 1, 11 pm // Sa, April 28, Metropol 1, 12:00 am

Best of Animation

Best of Animation programmes give you the opportunity to see an exclusive selection of the most interesting and remarkable animated films of the last 25 years compiled and presented by Estnian filmmaker Olga Pärn.

 

Best of Animation 1 – Dancing in the Dark: Wed, April 25, Gloria 1, 7 pm
Best of Animation 2 – Idols and Dreams: Thu, April 26, Gloria 1, 7 pm
Best of Animation 3 – Bad Habits and Good Manners: Fr, April 27, 7 pm
Best of Animation 4 – Love and Pain: Sa, April 28, Gloria 1, 7 pm

Mind the gap! Animation Philosophy

Lights! Action! Animation happens between shots. In the projection’s stroboscopic synchronous shots, a fragile, fictitious reality is put together in which life is expressed through movement. For some, inanimate objects are brought to life, for others animation is an artistic technique to manipulate moving pictures.

 

Animation Philosophy 1 – The Undying: Wed, April 25, Metropol 3, 7 pm
Animation Philosophy 2 – framed : unframed: Thu, April 26, Metropol 3, 7 pm
Animation Philosophy Langfilm – L’Ange: Thu, April 26, Metropol 3, 9 pm
Animation Philosophy 3 – L’amour des cadres: Fr, April 27, Metropol 3, 7 pm
Animation Philosophy 4 – Ex-Cavate: Sa, April 28, Metropol 3, 7 pm

In Persona

 

In the In Persona programmes, outstanding animators of international renown grant insight into their work and and answer audience questions..

 

  • In Persona – Vladimir Leschiov (Riga), world premiere “The Electrician’s Day”:
    Wed, April 25, Metropol 2, 6 pm
  • In Persona – Ülo Pikkov (Tallin): Wed, April 25, Metropol 2, 8 pm
  • In Persona – Jochen Kuhn (Ludwigsburg): Wed, April 25, Gloria 2, 9 pm
  • In Persona – Priit Pärn (Tallin):
    Programme 1: Thu April 26, Metropol 2, 6 pm
    Programme 2: Su, April 29, Metropol 2, 4 pm
  • In Persona – Ivan Maximov (Moscow): Thu, April 26, Metropol 2, 8 pm
  • In Persona – Florence Miailhe (Paris): Thu, April 26, Gloria 2, 9 pm
  • In Persona – Eva Natus-Šalamoun (Halle) & Volker Schlecht (Berlin): Fr, 27. April, Metropol 3, 21:00 Uhr
  • In Persona – Chad VanGaalen (Calgary): Sa, 28. April, EM 2, 18:00 Uhr
  • In Persona – Monica Menez (Stuttgart) – Films & Fashion: Sa, April 28, EM 2, 8 pm

Animation around Europe

 

Join us through a journey of Europe’s animation scene and watch three programmes with selected short films from Portugal and Poland.

 

Best of Portuguese Animation 1: Wed, April 25, Metropol 2, 10 pm
Best of Portuguese Animation 2: Thu, April 26, Metropol 2, 10 pm
Polish School of Animation 1: Sa, April 28, Metropol 3, 11 pm
O!PLA – Animation from Poland: Su, April 29, Metropol 3, 3 pm
Polish School of Animation 2: Su, April 29, Metropol 3, 5 pm

Cult Night

 

Crazy, coulorful and cult night! Together with jazzopen Stuttgart we present the Best Animated Music Videos from 2017/2018. Joscha Sauer shows his brandnew episodes of NICHTLUSTIG as an exklusice word premiere. Turner Broadcasting shows the best episodes of animated series of adult broadcast Adult Swim.

 

Cult night Best Animated Music Videos: Thu, April 26, Metropol 1, 10 pm
Cult night: TNT Comedy presents Final Space and Adult Swim: Fr, April 27, Metropol 2, 10 pm
NICHTLUSTIG Kultnacht: Fr, April 27, Metropol 1, 10 pm
Anime Cult night Fairy Tail: Sa, April 28, EM 1, 10 pm
Cult night The Other World of The Simpsons: Sa, April 28, Gloria 1, 11 pm
extra 3 Animation Cult night: Sa, April 28, Gloria 2, 11 pm

Focus Baltic States

 

Our country focus with studio presentations and special programmes is dedicated to the Baltic states of Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania, which are celebrating their 100th anniversaries as states and are trailblazers in the area of digitalisation in Europe.

 

  • School presentation Vilnius Academy of Arts, Lithuania: Wed, April 25, Metropol 3, 3 pm
  • Studio presentation Baltic States: Wed, April 25, Metropol 2, 4 pm
  • In Persona – Vladimir Leschiov (Riga): Wed, April 25, Metropol 2, 6 pm
  • In Persona – Ülo Pikkov (Tallin): Wed, April 25, Metropol 2, 8 pm
  • Lithuanian Animation Year in the World. Volume 2. Best Lithuanian films for adults and youth: Wed, April 25, Metropol 3, 9 pm
  • Lithuanian Animation Year in the World. Volume 1. Best Lithuanian films for children: Thu, April 26, Metropol 3, 3 pm
  • In Persona – Priit Pärn (Tallin):
    Programme 1: Thu, April 26, Metropol 2, 6 pm
    Programme 2: Su, April 29, Metropol 2, 4 pm
  • Best of Contemporary Lithuanian Animation: Sa, April 28, Metropol 3, 9 pm

Animated Oscars

Member of the Academy Ron Diamond presents all awarded and nominated aimated short films from this year’s Academy Awards “Oscar” and talks about dream factory.

 

Fr, April 27, Metropol 2, 8 pm

The BW-Reel: Best of Baden-Württemberg

As in previous years, the Stuttgart Festival of Animated Film presents the best short films from Baden-Württemberg. See for yourself that animation filmmakers from the region need not shy away from international comparison.

 

Sa, April 28, Gloria 1, 5 pm

25 X ITFS: The Anniversary Programme

ITFS celebrates 25th anniversary! The programme, which lasts around 2.5 hours, will include a selection of award-winning films from the early days of the Festival of Animated Film until 2017.

 

Sa, April 28, Metropol 1, 7 pm

Prix Ars Electronica

Prix Ars Electronica honours creations, that takes new ways in animation – wether in art, science, research, developement or industry: Discover the creative spectrum of animation.

 

Su, April 29, Metropol 2, 6 pm

ON HAPPINESS ROAD

Hsin-Yin Sung // Taiwan 2017, 110 Min.

Chi earned her American dream after persevering with her studies in Taiwan. Following her grandmothers’ death, Chi returns to her family on Happiness Road, where she begins to feel nostalgic about her childhood and starts to contemplate the meaning of “life” and “home”. What is happiness? And will Chi find her own happiness?

Thu, April 26, Metropol 1, 8 pm, German premiere

THE BREADWINNER

Nora Twomey // Ireland, Canada, Luxembourg 2017, 94 Min.
2001: Parvana is an 11-year-old girl growing up under the Taliban in Afghanistan. When her father is wrongfully arrested, Parvana cuts off her hair and dresses like a boy in order to support her family. Working alongside her friend Shauzia, Parvana discovers a new world of freedom-and danger. With undaunted courage, Parvana draws strength from the fantastical stories she invents, as she embarks on a quest to find her father and reunite her family. Academy Award nominated animated feature from executive producer Angelina Jolie and the creators of „The Secret of Kells“ and „Song of the Sea“ based on Deborah Ellis’ bestselling novel.

Fr, April 27, Gloria 2, 9 pm

CINDERELLA THE CAT

Ivan Cappiello, Marino Guarnieri, Alessandro Rak, Dario Sansone // Italy 2017, 86 Min.
Cenerentola was raised in the Megaride, a huge ship stuck in the port of Naples for over 15 years. Her father, the rich ship owner and scientist, died taking to the grave the technological secrets of the ship and the dream for a revival of the port. Since then, the young girl has been living in the shadow of her fearsome stepmother and her six cunning daughters. The city is now left to decay and its only hope lies in Salvatore Lo Giusto, known as ‘o Re, an ambitious drug trafficker who, plotting with the stepmother, exploits the inheritance of an
unaware Cenerentola to turn the port of Naples into a hotbed for laundering. The ship, haunted by hologram-ghosts from a forgotten technology and history, will be the scene of the entire story, putting on display the epic collision between the insignificance of the ambitions of the present and the nobility of the ideals of the past. The future of young Cenerentola and the poor city of Naples hang by the same, thin thread.

Sa, April 28, Metropol 2, 10 pm

PLOEY: YOU NEVER FLY ALONE

Árni Ólafur Ásgeirsson // Iceland, Belgium 2018, 79 Min.
In order to survive the cruel winter months a young flightless plover chick must take on a dangerous journey to find a legendary valley located in the heart of the highlands while trying to stay hidden from the ever-watchful eyes of a ravenous falcon who has been terrorizing his family and friends for years.

Wed, April 25, Metropol 1, 5 pm, German premiere

LILA‘S BOOK

Marcela Rincón Gonzalez // Colombien, Uruguay 2017, 76 Min.

Lila, a character in a children’s story book, suddenly falls out of her paper world and ends up trapped in a place she doesn’t belong … And so starts this great adventure where Lila discovers that the only person who can save her is Ramon, the owner of the book who hasn’t read it for many years… But it’s not going to be easy; Ramon is no longer the little boy he was, he has grown up and has not only stopped reading, but has also stopped believing in fantasy. Lila and her new friend Manuela set out to convince him of what’s happening and together they face a dangerous journey to the Desert of Lost Memories, to retrieve Lila’s lost book. In this adventure through magical worlds, children will explore and discover the true value of friendship and the power of fantasy.

Thu, April 26, Metropol 1, 5 pm, German premiere

LUIS AND THE ALIENS

Wolfgang Lauenstein, Christoph Lauenstein // Germany, Denmark, Luxembourg 2017, 84 Min.

What would you do if Aliens really had landed? What if they were awkward little ones with a huge heart? Surprised by his new friends 12 year old Luis has to manage their safe and undiscovered return to the mothership. Unfavourable he has enough trouble with his father and at school anyway. And don’t forget the neighbours Bully… Perhaps Luis should just leave with them to get away from all these problems on earth.

Fr, April 27, Gloria 1, 3 pm (German)
Fr, April 27, Gloria 1, 5 pm (English)

HARVIE AND THE MAGIC MUSEUM

Inna Evlannikova, Martin Kotík // Belgium, Czech Republic, Russia 2017, 76 Min.
Harvie is a smart but a bit too lively boy with one ambition, to finish the last level of his computer game. Once in the Gamers Hall of Fame, his absent-minded father, would finally be proud of him. But finishing the game turns out to be only the start of a real adventure that takes Harvie, his dog Jerry, and his friend Monica deep into the forgotten realms of the city’s old puppet museum. There they meet some puppets mysteriously coming alive.

Fr, April 27, Metropol 1, 5 pm

Tricks for Kids Special: DEFA Foundation presents “Mäxchen Pfiffig” (5 years and older)

Richard Hambach‘s character “Mäxchen Pfiffig“, a Young Pioneer in the former German Democratic Republic, first appeared in the children’s magazine FRÖSI (short for “Fröhlich sein und singen”, meaning “be merry and sing”) in 1953. He made his big screen debut in “Der Löwenschreck” in 1959.

Almost entirely without dialogue, the colourful images alone tell stories about funny and twisted situations from Mäxchen’s everyday life as a child. Together with his friend Knirps, and later with his buddy Tüte, Mäxchen has all sorts of problems to cope with: April fools, a drunken sun, jealousy, and even a circus calamity.

PRESENTED BY: Anne Möller

 

Wed, April 25 // 2 pm // Cinema // 85 Min.

Tricks for Kids Special: ANIMANIMALS

The ANIMANIMALS are animals with small quirks. Each of them has an absurd adventure which could happen to no other. For example: the zebra’s stripes get mixed up. The octopus wants to bake a peach cake, but one of its arms has other plans. Looking for a solution, each of the animals learns a little lesson about life, while audiences both young and old fall off their cinema seats laughing about the surprising ideas.

PRESENTED BY: Thomas Meyer-Hermann

 

Sa. April 28 // 2 pm // Metropol 2 // 70 Min.

Tricks for Kids Special: “Tokkis Reise” – A reading with animated picture-book cinema (3 years and older)

The programme is about the picture book “Tokkis Reise” by Till Penzek and Julia Neuhaus, and appropriate for children age three and up. Animations are projected along with the reading. The different films are shown at a pace suited to the reaction of the children present. This is followed by a great colouring activity for the children: Colouring sheets are provided, on which they can draw Tokki or other aliens.

 

PRESENTED BY: Till Penzek

 

Su. April 29 // 2 pm // Metropol 2 // 60 Min.

Animovie Special: Capt’n Sharky (German version)

He is the terror of the seven seas! That’s what he thinks, anyway. But the other seafarers don’t really take “Käpt’n Sharky” serious and mockingly like to call him a half-pint. First in line of those who have zeroed in on the tubby pirate is old Bill with his crew. One of the times that Sharky is on the run from his foes, two stowaways end up on his boat by chance: ten year old Michi and Bonnie, the admiral’s daughter. The little pirate is not amused about the unbidden guests – he already has a crew, after all: the dutiful sailor Ratte the rat, the cheeky monkey Fips, and Coco the parrot. After initial difficulties, the motley crew pulls together and sets out on an adventurous journey, in the course of which they teach old Bill an important lesson: never underestimate the little ones!

Axel Prahl is nominated for the German Voice Actor Award for his role as old Bill. On this occasion, ITFS screens an exclusive preview of “Käpt’n Sharky” in the German-language version.

 

Thu. April 26 // 3 pm // Gloria 1 // 73 Min.

Tricks for Kids Special: Behind the scenes: Manou The Swift (6 years and older)

Manou is a swift growing up among the proud seagulls of Nice. When both gulls and swifts are in great danger, Manou proves to be a true fighter for either kind of bird: He is courageous like a gull and resourceful like a swift.

This preview provides insights into the film’s production even before its cinema release. Short clips of  Manou’s adventures with his friends are presented for the first time, while the film’s content and the work of the film team are introduced by making-of clips, where many of those involved grant a look behind the scenes and give an account of their contribution to the film. Among them are screenwriters, animators, lighting technicians, designers of the characters and the virtual sets, cast, music composers along with conductor and orchestra, and editors. The director’s vision brings everything together and the producer oversees the entire creation process of the film. Thus it becomes clear how demanding a team effort is required to make an animated film, and how many creative professionals it takes.

After that, together we make things using colourful feathers – perhaps our favourite characters from “Manou”?

PRESENTED BY the directors Christian Haas and Andrea Block

Sat. April 28 // 3 pm // Gloria 1 // 88 Min.

Capt’n Sharky (German version)

He is the terror of the seven seas! That’s what he thinks, anyway. But the other seafarers don’t really take “Käpt’n Sharky” serious and mockingly like to call him a half-pint. First in line of those who have zeroed in on the tubby pirate is old Bill with his crew. One of the times that Sharky is on the run from his foes, two stowaways end up on his boat by chance: ten year old Michi and Bonnie, the admiral’s daughter. The little pirate is not amused about the unbidden guests – he already has a crew, after all: the dutiful sailor Ratte the rat, the cheeky monkey Fips, and Coco the parrot. After initial difficulties, the motley crew pulls together and sets out on an adventurous journey, in the course of which they teach old Bill an important lesson: never underestimate the little ones!

Axel Prahl is nominated for the German Voice Actor Award for his role as old Bill. On this occasion, ITFS screens an exclusive preview of “Käpt’n Sharky” in the German-language version.

 

Thu. April 26 // 3 pm // Gloria 1 // 73 Min.

ITFMX-Screening: Early Man

Nick Park // Großbritannien, Frankreich 2018, 101 Min.

Set at the dawn of time, when prehistoric creatures and woolly mammoths roamed the earth, “Early Man” tells the story of Dug, and his buddy Hognob, the prehistoric boar, as they unite his tribe against a mighty enemy Lord Nooth and his Bronze Age City to save their home. “Early Man” is the first film, four time Academy-Award winner Nick Park directed since „Wallace & Gromit“. Together with the FMX, the ITFS presents the brand new Aardman animated feature. Aardman Animations Co-Founder David Sproxton and his Animation Director Will Becher will attend the screening.

 

Fr, April 27, Metropol 1, 8 pm

Isle of Dogs

Wes Anderson // USA, Germany 2018, 101 Min.

The Japanese Archipelago, twenty years in the future. Canine-Saturation has reached epidemic proportions. An outbreak of Snout-Fever rips through the city of Megasaki. Dog-Flu threatens to cross the species threshold and enter the human disease pool. Mayor Kobayashi of Uni Prefecture calls for a hasty quarantine: the expulsion and containment of all breeds, both stray and domesticated. By official decree, Trash Island becomes an exile colony. The Isle of Dogs. Six months later, a tiny, single-engine, miniature airplane crash-lands onto the teeming waste-land. A pack of five starving but fierce abandoned dogs scrambles to the wreckage and discovers a twelve-year-old pilot staggering from the burning fuselage. Atari, orphan-ward to Mayor Kobayashi. With the assistance of his new canine friends, Atari begins a search for his lost dog, Spots – and, in the process, exposes a conspiracy that threatens to destroy all the dogs of Megasaki City forever.

Production Supervisor Angela Poschet will attend the screening.

 

Wed, April 25, Metropol 1, 8 pm

Short film competition

International Competition

The International Competition (IC) is the beating heart of the festival. The best of current animated shorts from around the world are shown in this section. Films are humorous, contemplative, creative, or critical.

 

IC1: Tu, April 24, Gloria 1, 8 pm // Wed, April 25, Metropol 2, 10 am
IC2: Wed, April 25, Gloria 1, 9 pm // Thu, April 26, Metropol 2, 10 am
IC3: Thu, April 26, Gloria 1, 9 pm // Fr, April 27, Metropol 2, 10 am
IC4: Fr, April 27, Gloria 1, 9 pm // Sa, April 28, Metropol 2, 10 am
IC5: Sa, April 28, Gloria 1, 9 pm // Su, April 29, Metropol 2, 10 am

Young Animation

The Young Animation Competition (YA) shows selected animated short films made by students of international film and art schools. Young animation artistes from 24 countries tell touching stories, create fantastic worlds and open new perspectives

 

YA1: Tu, April 24, Gloria 2, 11 pm // Wed, April 25, Gloria 2, 7 pm
YA2: Wed, April 25, Gloria 2, 11 pm // Thu, April 26, Gloria 2, 7 pm
YA3: Thu, April 26, Gloria 2, 11 pm // Fr, April 27, Gloria 2, 7 pm
YA4: Fr, April 27, Gloria 2, 11 pm // Sa, April 28, Gloria 2, 7 pm

spotlight & Animated Com audience vote with DURCHBLICK

 

Together with spotlight – Festival For Moving Pictures we take (animated) commercials in to the main programme. There will be a live audicence voteabout the most creative commercials from TV, cinema and web of the last year. Afterwards advertisers and filmproducers will talk to the audidence. (Application: durchblick@spotlight-festival.de)

 

spotlight DURCHBLICK: Wed, April 25, Cinema, 10 am
spotlight audience voteabout: Wed, April 25, Cinema, 6 pm // 8 pm

Animated Com International

The Animated Com Award International presents the best animated advertising videos of the world.

 

Wed, April 25, Cinema, 10 pm

Amazon Audience Animation Night

 

Vote your favourite film for Amazon Audience Award out of the main competitions from ITFS. The 10 best films will be made available on Amazon Prime Video after the Festival: the winning film for a year and the other 9 nominated films for one month.

 

Sa, April 28, Gloria 2, 9 pm

Tricks for Kids Shorts Competition

The Tricks for Kids Shorts presents 25 of the latest and most beautiful short films for children. The programmes are targeted at various age groups, The screenings will be attended by filmmakers. They explain how their films were created and answer questions. For films in foreign languages, German voice-over will be provided live in the cinema.

 

Tricks for Kids 1 (aged 4 or older): Thu, April 26, Metropol 1, 2:30 pm
Tricks for Kids 2 (aged 7 or older): Fr, April 27, Metropol 1, 2:30 pm
Tricks for Kids 3 (aged 8 or older): Sa, April 28, Metropol 1, 2:30 pm
Tricks for Kids 4 (aged 6 or older): Su, April 29, Metropol 1, 2:30 pm

Tricks for Kids Series Competition

The Tricks for Kids Series Competition consists of  2 age-based programmes of selected episodes of the most beautiful, international animated series for children of all ages. Children and their families can look forward to a journey across different continents, full of surprises and discoveries. The attending filmmakers will be glad to tell the audiences about the creation of their stories. For episodes in foreign languages, German voice-over will be provided live in the cinema.

Tricks for Kids Series 1 (aged 3 or older): Wed, April 25, Metropol 1, 2:30 pm
Tricks for Kids Series 2 (aged 6 or older): Su, April 29, Metropol 1, 5 pm

Short films special programmes

Panorama

The Panorama section is a showcase for current trends in the international animation scene. Discover creative films, explore recent topics and innovative animation techniques in 4 short film blocks.

 

Panorama 1: Tue, April 24, Gloria 1, 11 pm // Wed, April 25, Metropol 1, 12:00 am
Panorama 2: Wed, April 25, Gloria 1, 11 pm // Thu, April 26, Metropol 1, 12:00 am
Panorama 3: Thu, April 26, Gloria 1, 11 pm // Fr, April 27, Metropol 1, 12:00 am
Panorama 4: Fr, April 27, Gloria 1, 11 pm // Sa, April 28, Metropol 1, 12:00 am

Best of Animation

Best of Animation programmes give you the opportunity to see an exclusive selection of the most interesting and remarkable animated films of the last 25 years compiled and presented by Estnian filmmaker Olga Pärn.

 

Best of Animation 1 – Dancing in the Dark: Wed, April 25, Gloria 1, 7 pm
Best of Animation 2 – Idols and Dreams: Thu, April 26, Gloria 1, 7 pm
Best of Animation 3 – Bad Habits and Good Manners: Fr, April 27, 7 pm
Best of Animation 4 – Love and Pain: Sa, April 28, Gloria 1, 7 pm

Mind the gap! Animation Philosophy

Lights! Action! Animation happens between shots. In the projection’s stroboscopic synchronous shots, a fragile, fictitious reality is put together in which life is expressed through movement. For some, inanimate objects are brought to life, for others animation is an artistic technique to manipulate moving pictures.

 

Animation Philosophy 1 – The Undying: Wed, April 25, Metropol 3, 7 pm
Animation Philosophy 2 – framed : unframed: Thu, April 26, Metropol 3, 7 pm
Animation Philosophy Langfilm – L’Ange: Thu, April 26, Metropol 3, 9 pm
Animation Philosophy 3 – L’amour des cadres: Fr, April 27, Metropol 3, 7 pm
Animation Philosophy 4 – Ex-Cavate: Sa, April 28, Metropol 3, 7 pm

In Persona

 

In the In Persona programmes, outstanding animators of international renown grant insight into their work and and answer audience questions..

 

  • In Persona – Vladimir Leschiov (Riga), world premiere “The Electrician’s Day”:
    Wed, April 25, Metropol 2, 6 pm
  • In Persona – Ülo Pikkov (Tallin): Wed, April 25, Metropol 2, 8 pm
  • In Persona – Jochen Kuhn (Ludwigsburg): Wed, April 25, Gloria 2, 9 pm
  • In Persona – Priit Pärn (Tallin):
    Programme 1: Thu April 26, Metropol 2, 6 pm
    Programme 2: Su, April 29, Metropol 2, 4 pm
  • In Persona – Ivan Maximov (Moscow): Thu, April 26, Metropol 2, 8 pm
  • In Persona – Florence Miailhe (Paris): Thu, April 26, Gloria 2, 9 pm
  • In Persona – Eva Natus-Šalamoun (Halle) & Volker Schlecht (Berlin): Fr, 27. April, Metropol 3, 21:00 Uhr
  • In Persona – Chad VanGaalen (Calgary): Sa, 28. April, EM 2, 18:00 Uhr
  • In Persona – Monica Menez (Stuttgart) – Films & Fashion: Sa, April 28, EM 2, 8 pm

Animation around Europe

 

Join us through a journey of Europe’s animation scene and watch three programmes with selected short films from Portugal and Poland.

 

Best of Portuguese Animation 1: Wed, April 25, Metropol 2, 10 pm
Best of Portuguese Animation 2: Thu, April 26, Metropol 2, 10 pm
Polish School of Animation 1: Sa, April 28, Metropol 3, 11 pm
O!PLA – Animation from Poland: Su, April 29, Metropol 3, 3 pm
Polish School of Animation 2: Su, April 29, Metropol 3, 5 pm

Cult Night

 

Crazy, coulorful and cult night! Together with jazzopen Stuttgart we present the Best Animated Music Videos from 2017/2018. Joscha Sauer shows his brandnew episodes of NICHTLUSTIG as an exklusice word premiere. Turner Broadcasting shows the best episodes of animated series of adult broadcast Adult Swim.

 

Cult night Best Animated Music Videos: Thu, April 26, Metropol 1, 10 pm
Cult night: TNT Comedy presents Final Space and Adult Swim: Fr, April 27, Metropol 2, 10 pm
NICHTLUSTIG Kultnacht: Fr, April 27, Metropol 1, 10 pm
Anime Cult night Fairy Tail: Sa, April 28, EM 1, 10 pm
Cult night The Other World of The Simpsons: Sa, April 28, Gloria 1, 11 pm
extra 3 Animation Cult night: Sa, April 28, Gloria 2, 11 pm

Focus Baltic States

 

Our country focus with studio presentations and special programmes is dedicated to the Baltic states of Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania, which are celebrating their 100th anniversaries as states and are trailblazers in the area of digitalisation in Europe.

 

  • School presentation Vilnius Academy of Arts, Lithuania: Wed, April 25, Metropol 3, 3 pm
  • Studio presentation Baltic States: Wed, April 25, Metropol 2, 4 pm
  • In Persona – Vladimir Leschiov (Riga): Wed, April 25, Metropol 2, 6 pm
  • In Persona – Ülo Pikkov (Tallin): Wed, April 25, Metropol 2, 8 pm
  • Lithuanian Animation Year in the World. Volume 2. Best Lithuanian films for adults and youth: Wed, April 25, Metropol 3, 9 pm
  • Lithuanian Animation Year in the World. Volume 1. Best Lithuanian films for children: Thu, April 26, Metropol 3, 3 pm
  • In Persona – Priit Pärn (Tallin):
    Programme 1: Thu, April 26, Metropol 2, 6 pm
    Programme 2: Su, April 29, Metropol 2, 4 pm
  • Best of Contemporary Lithuanian Animation: Sa, April 28, Metropol 3, 9 pm

Animated Oscars

Member of the Academy Ron Diamond presents all awarded and nominated aimated short films from this year’s Academy Awards “Oscar” and talks about dream factory.

 

Fr, April 27, Metropol 2, 8 pm

The BW-Reel: Best of Baden-Württemberg

As in previous years, the Stuttgart Festival of Animated Film presents the best short films from Baden-Württemberg. See for yourself that animation filmmakers from the region need not shy away from international comparison.

 

Sa, April 28, Gloria 1, 5 pm

25 X ITFS: The Anniversary Programme

ITFS celebrates 25th anniversary! The programme, which lasts around 2.5 hours, will include a selection of award-winning films from the early days of the Festival of Animated Film until 2017.

 

Sa, April 28, Metropol 1, 7 pm

Prix Ars Electronica

Prix Ars Electronica honours creations, that takes new ways in animation – wether in art, science, research, developement or industry: Discover the creative spectrum of animation.

 

Su, April 29, Metropol 2, 6 pm

Feature Film Competition

ON HAPPINESS ROAD

Hsin-Yin Sung // Taiwan 2017, 110 Min.

Chi earned her American dream after persevering with her studies in Taiwan. Following her grandmothers’ death, Chi returns to her family on Happiness Road, where she begins to feel nostalgic about her childhood and starts to contemplate the meaning of “life” and “home”. What is happiness? And will Chi find her own happiness?

Thu, April 26, Metropol 1, 8 pm, German premiere

THE BREADWINNER

Nora Twomey // Ireland, Canada, Luxembourg 2017, 94 Min.
2001: Parvana is an 11-year-old girl growing up under the Taliban in Afghanistan. When her father is wrongfully arrested, Parvana cuts off her hair and dresses like a boy in order to support her family. Working alongside her friend Shauzia, Parvana discovers a new world of freedom-and danger. With undaunted courage, Parvana draws strength from the fantastical stories she invents, as she embarks on a quest to find her father and reunite her family. Academy Award nominated animated feature from executive producer Angelina Jolie and the creators of „The Secret of Kells“ and „Song of the Sea“ based on Deborah Ellis’ bestselling novel.

Fr, April 27, Gloria 2, 9 pm

CINDERELLA THE CAT

Ivan Cappiello, Marino Guarnieri, Alessandro Rak, Dario Sansone // Italy 2017, 86 Min.
Cenerentola was raised in the Megaride, a huge ship stuck in the port of Naples for over 15 years. Her father, the rich ship owner and scientist, died taking to the grave the technological secrets of the ship and the dream for a revival of the port. Since then, the young girl has been living in the shadow of her fearsome stepmother and her six cunning daughters. The city is now left to decay and its only hope lies in Salvatore Lo Giusto, known as ‘o Re, an ambitious drug trafficker who, plotting with the stepmother, exploits the inheritance of an
unaware Cenerentola to turn the port of Naples into a hotbed for laundering. The ship, haunted by hologram-ghosts from a forgotten technology and history, will be the scene of the entire story, putting on display the epic collision between the insignificance of the ambitions of the present and the nobility of the ideals of the past. The future of young Cenerentola and the poor city of Naples hang by the same, thin thread.

Sa, April 28, Metropol 2, 10 pm

PLOEY: YOU NEVER FLY ALONE

Árni Ólafur Ásgeirsson // Iceland, Belgium 2018, 79 Min.
In order to survive the cruel winter months a young flightless plover chick must take on a dangerous journey to find a legendary valley located in the heart of the highlands while trying to stay hidden from the ever-watchful eyes of a ravenous falcon who has been terrorizing his family and friends for years.

Wed, April 25, Metropol 1, 5 pm, German premiere

LILA‘S BOOK

Marcela Rincón Gonzalez // Colombien, Uruguay 2017, 76 Min.

Lila, a character in a children’s story book, suddenly falls out of her paper world and ends up trapped in a place she doesn’t belong … And so starts this great adventure where Lila discovers that the only person who can save her is Ramon, the owner of the book who hasn’t read it for many years… But it’s not going to be easy; Ramon is no longer the little boy he was, he has grown up and has not only stopped reading, but has also stopped believing in fantasy. Lila and her new friend Manuela set out to convince him of what’s happening and together they face a dangerous journey to the Desert of Lost Memories, to retrieve Lila’s lost book. In this adventure through magical worlds, children will explore and discover the true value of friendship and the power of fantasy.

Thu, April 26, Metropol 1, 5 pm, German premiere

LUIS AND THE ALIENS

Wolfgang Lauenstein, Christoph Lauenstein // Germany, Denmark, Luxembourg 2017, 84 Min.

What would you do if Aliens really had landed? What if they were awkward little ones with a huge heart? Surprised by his new friends 12 year old Luis has to manage their safe and undiscovered return to the mothership. Unfavourable he has enough trouble with his father and at school anyway. And don’t forget the neighbours Bully… Perhaps Luis should just leave with them to get away from all these problems on earth.

Fr, April 27, Gloria 1, 3 pm (German)
Fr, April 27, Gloria 1, 5 pm (English)

HARVIE AND THE MAGIC MUSEUM

Inna Evlannikova, Martin Kotík // Belgium, Czech Republic, Russia 2017, 76 Min.
Harvie is a smart but a bit too lively boy with one ambition, to finish the last level of his computer game. Once in the Gamers Hall of Fame, his absent-minded father, would finally be proud of him. But finishing the game turns out to be only the start of a real adventure that takes Harvie, his dog Jerry, and his friend Monica deep into the forgotten realms of the city’s old puppet museum. There they meet some puppets mysteriously coming alive.

Fr, April 27, Metropol 1, 5 pm

Film programm family & kids

Tricks for Kids Special: DEFA Foundation presents “Mäxchen Pfiffig” (5 years and older)

Richard Hambach‘s character “Mäxchen Pfiffig“, a Young Pioneer in the former German Democratic Republic, first appeared in the children’s magazine FRÖSI (short for “Fröhlich sein und singen”, meaning “be merry and sing”) in 1953. He made his big screen debut in “Der Löwenschreck” in 1959.

Almost entirely without dialogue, the colourful images alone tell stories about funny and twisted situations from Mäxchen’s everyday life as a child. Together with his friend Knirps, and later with his buddy Tüte, Mäxchen has all sorts of problems to cope with: April fools, a drunken sun, jealousy, and even a circus calamity.

PRESENTED BY: Anne Möller

 

Wed, April 25 // 2 pm // Cinema // 85 Min.

Tricks for Kids Special: ANIMANIMALS

The ANIMANIMALS are animals with small quirks. Each of them has an absurd adventure which could happen to no other. For example: the zebra’s stripes get mixed up. The octopus wants to bake a peach cake, but one of its arms has other plans. Looking for a solution, each of the animals learns a little lesson about life, while audiences both young and old fall off their cinema seats laughing about the surprising ideas.

PRESENTED BY: Thomas Meyer-Hermann

 

Sa. April 28 // 2 pm // Metropol 2 // 70 Min.

Tricks for Kids Special: “Tokkis Reise” – A reading with animated picture-book cinema (3 years and older)

The programme is about the picture book “Tokkis Reise” by Till Penzek and Julia Neuhaus, and appropriate for children age three and up. Animations are projected along with the reading. The different films are shown at a pace suited to the reaction of the children present. This is followed by a great colouring activity for the children: Colouring sheets are provided, on which they can draw Tokki or other aliens.

 

PRESENTED BY: Till Penzek

 

Su. April 29 // 2 pm // Metropol 2 // 60 Min.

Animovie Special: Capt’n Sharky (German version)

He is the terror of the seven seas! That’s what he thinks, anyway. But the other seafarers don’t really take “Käpt’n Sharky” serious and mockingly like to call him a half-pint. First in line of those who have zeroed in on the tubby pirate is old Bill with his crew. One of the times that Sharky is on the run from his foes, two stowaways end up on his boat by chance: ten year old Michi and Bonnie, the admiral’s daughter. The little pirate is not amused about the unbidden guests – he already has a crew, after all: the dutiful sailor Ratte the rat, the cheeky monkey Fips, and Coco the parrot. After initial difficulties, the motley crew pulls together and sets out on an adventurous journey, in the course of which they teach old Bill an important lesson: never underestimate the little ones!

Axel Prahl is nominated for the German Voice Actor Award for his role as old Bill. On this occasion, ITFS screens an exclusive preview of “Käpt’n Sharky” in the German-language version.

 

Thu. April 26 // 3 pm // Gloria 1 // 73 Min.

Tricks for Kids Special: Behind the scenes: Manou The Swift (6 years and older)

Manou is a swift growing up among the proud seagulls of Nice. When both gulls and swifts are in great danger, Manou proves to be a true fighter for either kind of bird: He is courageous like a gull and resourceful like a swift.

This preview provides insights into the film’s production even before its cinema release. Short clips of  Manou’s adventures with his friends are presented for the first time, while the film’s content and the work of the film team are introduced by making-of clips, where many of those involved grant a look behind the scenes and give an account of their contribution to the film. Among them are screenwriters, animators, lighting technicians, designers of the characters and the virtual sets, cast, music composers along with conductor and orchestra, and editors. The director’s vision brings everything together and the producer oversees the entire creation process of the film. Thus it becomes clear how demanding a team effort is required to make an animated film, and how many creative professionals it takes.

After that, together we make things using colourful feathers – perhaps our favourite characters from “Manou”?

PRESENTED BY the directors Christian Haas and Andrea Block

Sat. April 28 // 3 pm // Gloria 1 // 88 Min.

Feature Films Special Programmes

Capt’n Sharky (German version)

He is the terror of the seven seas! That’s what he thinks, anyway. But the other seafarers don’t really take “Käpt’n Sharky” serious and mockingly like to call him a half-pint. First in line of those who have zeroed in on the tubby pirate is old Bill with his crew. One of the times that Sharky is on the run from his foes, two stowaways end up on his boat by chance: ten year old Michi and Bonnie, the admiral’s daughter. The little pirate is not amused about the unbidden guests – he already has a crew, after all: the dutiful sailor Ratte the rat, the cheeky monkey Fips, and Coco the parrot. After initial difficulties, the motley crew pulls together and sets out on an adventurous journey, in the course of which they teach old Bill an important lesson: never underestimate the little ones!

Axel Prahl is nominated for the German Voice Actor Award for his role as old Bill. On this occasion, ITFS screens an exclusive preview of “Käpt’n Sharky” in the German-language version.

 

Thu. April 26 // 3 pm // Gloria 1 // 73 Min.

ITFMX-Screening: Early Man

Nick Park // Großbritannien, Frankreich 2018, 101 Min.

Set at the dawn of time, when prehistoric creatures and woolly mammoths roamed the earth, “Early Man” tells the story of Dug, and his buddy Hognob, the prehistoric boar, as they unite his tribe against a mighty enemy Lord Nooth and his Bronze Age City to save their home. “Early Man” is the first film, four time Academy-Award winner Nick Park directed since „Wallace & Gromit“. Together with the FMX, the ITFS presents the brand new Aardman animated feature. Aardman Animations Co-Founder David Sproxton and his Animation Director Will Becher will attend the screening.

 

Fr, April 27, Metropol 1, 8 pm

Isle of Dogs

Wes Anderson // USA, Germany 2018, 101 Min.

The Japanese Archipelago, twenty years in the future. Canine-Saturation has reached epidemic proportions. An outbreak of Snout-Fever rips through the city of Megasaki. Dog-Flu threatens to cross the species threshold and enter the human disease pool. Mayor Kobayashi of Uni Prefecture calls for a hasty quarantine: the expulsion and containment of all breeds, both stray and domesticated. By official decree, Trash Island becomes an exile colony. The Isle of Dogs. Six months later, a tiny, single-engine, miniature airplane crash-lands onto the teeming waste-land. A pack of five starving but fierce abandoned dogs scrambles to the wreckage and discovers a twelve-year-old pilot staggering from the burning fuselage. Atari, orphan-ward to Mayor Kobayashi. With the assistance of his new canine friends, Atari begins a search for his lost dog, Spots – and, in the process, exposes a conspiracy that threatens to destroy all the dogs of Megasaki City forever.

Production Supervisor Angela Poschet will attend the screening.

 

Wed, April 25, Metropol 1, 8 pm