Friday, May 3, 2019, 3 – 5.30 pm, Rotunde of L-Bank

Prior to presenting the Trickstar Professional Awards on Friday, May 3rd, this year and for the first time, the ITFS will host a conference on the topics of VR, AI, and Blockchain directed at representatives of the film, animation and games industry. During this afternoon, enterprises, start-ups, and projects from Baden-Württemberg, Germany, and other European countries working on AI and Blockchain projects and providing important ideas to the creative industry in Baden Württemberg – especially within the animation, VFX, and games economy – present themselves.

The benefits – especially in relation to big film data banks, online platforms, and digital channels of distribution – are obvious: a targeted scaling and focusing in the distribution of works becomes possible, all parties involved benefit from enhanced security, increased transparency, and a fair profit participation. With the help of artificial intelligence, an evaluation of whether and in which target group a film could garner success can already be made during the process of production, which enables creative people to tell more inventive, daring and innovative stories, knowing that they will have an effect on their audience. At the same time, the technology provides possibilities to distribute and finance formats with more independence from the streaming giants.

Keynote: VR & AR in realtime product visualisation

Speaker: Philip D. Hertel, Executive Creative Director Dassault Systemes 3DExcite GmbH
Products, services and brands are in continuous demand for new communication modes to lift them out of the media whizz in a more dynamic and emotional way also attracting customers. One of these modes is the visualisation in realtime – from photo-realistic to artificially stylised. The whole range of applications and how employing modern gaming engines contributes to it, are presented on the basis of a few examples.

Line-up:

Leif Arne Petersen, Hologate (Munich): the company presents its expansive, immersive and interactive multiplayer Virtual Reality playground. For HOLOGATE, famous game, film and animation contents such as “Angry Birds” or “Das Boot” are being developed further.

Christian Hirth, DeepVA (Freiburg): DeepVA (Freiburg): the start-up is developing special image recognition programmes which can identify and assign relevant contents, for instance persons or certain animation techniques, for users of big video databases.

Pietro Triscari, Dserv (Tübingen): the software company explores AI in the sector of marketing and automatization of design processes.

Tilman Scheel, The Reelport GmbH (Cologne/Berlin): the company develops platforms for film uploads for festivals and film markets and has, among other things, developed the Online Animation Library with the ITFS and Stadtbibliothek Stuttgart – the biggest password protected online film database for animated films in the world.

Alan R. Milligan, White Rabbit (Oslo): Blockchain-company in the field of streaming which work on peer-to-peer. For monetarization A token system, which can be regarded as an alternative to the classic subscription models of the large studios, contributes to monetization.

Marc Wardenga, EuroVideo Medien GmbH (Munich): Developer of the game for the Schleich brand and animated film project “Bayala”, which illustrates the increasing connection between games, animation and toy industry.

Sarita Christiansen, Copenhagen Bombay (Copenhagen): CoboStories – new animation software and hardware system for animation production for Kitas and primary schools that motivates children to make their own films. In cooperation with Dusyma (Schorndorf).

Schedule:

Fri, May 3, 2019 // Rotunde L-Bank

3:00-3:05 pm: Reception moderated by Andreas Wierse, Sicos BW GmbH

3:05-3:15 pm: Keynote Sponsors Dassault Systemes: Philip D. Hertel, Creative Director, 3DEXCITE

3:15-3:30 pm: Hologate, Munich

3:30-3:45 pm: DeepVA, Freiburg/Dserv, Tübingen

3:45-4:00 pm: Reelport, Köln

4:00-4:15 pm: White Rabbit, Oslo

4:15-4:30 pm: EuroVideo Medien GmbH, Munich

4:30-4:45 pm: Cobo Stories, Copenhagen Bombay, Copenhagen

4:45-5:30 pm: Final discussion

5:30-6:00 pm: Matching-Event

The conference language is English.
Please register using the following code: ITFS19_BUSINESS-73EX78FS.
Registration

With the friendly support of the Ministry of Economic Affairs, Labour and Housing Baden-Württemberg

Der Beitrag VR, AI and Blockchain – New Business Models for Animation erschien zuerst auf ITFS - Internationales Trickfilmfestival Stuttgart.

In deed, there is some time left for the 26th edition of the Stuttgart Festival of Animated Film to begin. Anyway, knowing  that the greatest pleasure lies in anticipation and shortens the time of waiting, we don’t want to keep you waiting any longer.

Our new festival trailer called “Happy” is now ready to be released and we are excited to share it with you! You’re curious about the story that this year’s trailer is telling you about our festival mascot Trixi and you would like to know, how the makers Meike Müller and the studio M.A.R.K. 13 have put this story into action? Well, then have a look, here you go…enjoy it!

Der Beitrag Our new festival trailer “Happy” is ready! erschien zuerst auf ITFS - Internationales Trickfilmfestival Stuttgart.

The Arab Animation Forum will take place from April 30 until May 3, 2019 in the framework of this years Stuttgart International Festival of Animated Film (ITFS). The Forum will start off with a production workshop given by the Danish producer Peter Smithfrom Studio Tumblehead (Viborg). With the Arab Animation Forum, the ITFS and the Robert Bosch Stiftung are seeking to connect young animation directors and artists from the Arab World with upcoming producers from Germany aiming to support joint animated film projects. The Forum therefore presents a point of contact equally important for producers as well as for film-makers, who shall be linked by the encounter in order to iniate new co-production teams. The winning project is automatically nominated for the Film Prize of the Robert Bosch Stiftung for International Cooperation.  Additionally, there will be further meetings, workshops, consultations and matching sessions with experienced animation producers and directors on the agenda.

More information on the Arab Animation Forum here.

The Trickstar Business Award, the world’s first animation award to be explicitly focused on business, will be awarded for the third time during the Animation Production Days (APDs)by the Stuttgart Festival of Animated Film (ITFS). The award is remunerated with 7,500 € and endowed by Stuttgart Region. All projects selected for the APDs are also qualified for the Trickstar Business Award. Companies with an innovative business concept, for example in the area of financing, distribution, marketing or exploitation of rights, not taking part in the Animation Production Days, can nevertheless apply for the award. In 2018, the award winner was the Dutch project “House of Broken Hearts” by Tünde Vollenbroek (Studio Pupil). The prize ceremony will take place on May 3, 2019, in the framework of the Trickstar Professional Awards, also confering other business awards as the German Animation Screenplay Award, at the Stuttgart L-Bank Rotunda.

More information on the Trickstar Business Award here.

Der Beitrag Last Call: Arab Animation Forum and Trickstar Business Award erschien zuerst auf ITFS - Internationales Trickfilmfestival Stuttgart.

Join us in celebrating the 26^th edition of the Stuttgart International Festival of Animated Film (ITFS)! From April 30 until May 5, 2019, Stuttgart will turn into a centre of the world of animation again. This year too, more than 100,000 visitors will marvel at the best animated films from around the world. The 2,500 industry professionals expected to attend include producers, curators, purchasers, sales agents, representatives of TV channels and the media, and filmmakers.

With more than 200 events and 1,000 films, the ITFS offers a multitude of interesting and extraordinary programmes. Together with its partners, the ITFS provides a unique platform: The leading industry events Animation Production Days (APD) and FMX – Conference on Animation, Effects, Games and Immersive Media take place at the same time, attracting an additional 4,000 industry attendees.

Enjoy the benefits of industry accreditation, with exclusive access to special events and highlights:

Access to all ITFS events*, notably the opening gala, awards ceremonies and the APD Conference.

Prize-giving ceremony for the “Trickstar Professional Awards”: honouring the best innovative business models (“Trickstar Business Award”) as well as the winners of the German Animation Screenplay Award, the Arab Animation Forum (Robert Bosch Stiftung), and the pitching competition “Germany‘s Next Animation Talent” (Studio 100 | m4e).

The GameZone at Kunstgebäude with computer games, VR experiences and interactive installations on 2,000 sqm where the games nominated for the Animated Games Award Germany can be played. Further experiences are offered by selected schools, game jams, and the curated section on the topic of “Science & Games”.

World and German Premieres: Mister Link (Laika/Entertainment One), Der kleine Rabe Socke 3 – Suche nach dem verlorenen Schatz (Akkord Film/Universum), Bayala – The Movie (Ulysses/Universum), and further animated feature films.

Focus on Hong Kong: with film programmes, VJ performances and VR dance installations in cooperation with the Hong Kong Arts Centre.

Studio Presentations introduce companies of worldwide renown as well as upcoming companies, such as: Sublimation (Japan), On Animation Studios/Playmobil (Canada), Normaal (France), Tumblehead (Denmark), MackMedia/Europa Park Rust (Germany) and Studio Filmbilder (Germany). School Presentations include: Gobelins (France), School of Creative Media (Hong Kong), Lodz Film School (Poland) and Filmakademie Baden-Württemberg (Germany).

The In Persona programme showcases and gives insight into the work of outstanding animation artists such as Jonathan Hodgson (UK) and Ulu Braun (Germany). Screenplay Workshops on topics such as comic adaption, animated documentary, animation and the toy industry, and games with a social impact.

AI, VR and Blockchain: Case studies and presentations of new business models in animated film.

Theme-based programme “She Blinded Me With Science – Science, Games and Animation”: a curated globally unique programme presenting film screenings, games exhibitions, symposia and panel talks, linking natural science and games/animation. In cooperation with the University of Tübingen, the Nanyang Technological University of Singapore, and Heidelberg University.

Music & Animation:  I/P/D [immersion][popculture][distraction] – Conference on pop culture & Immersive Media, Animation and Video Games Culture along with concerts with live visuals, in cooperation with Popbüro Region Stuttgart. Guests: “Der Plan” (Düsseldorf/Berlin); the visual artist Max Hattler (Hong Kong) will give a visual electronic music concert.

ITFMX Screening: Joint presentation by FMX and ITFS of the spectacular Marvel film  “Avengers 4: Endgame”.

Animation Around Europe:  The Stuttgart International Festival of Animated Film (ITFS) has been supported by the European Commission (MEDIA/Creative Europe) since 1994. The upcoming ITFS will be opened by the Vice-President of the European Parliament Evelyn Gebhardt. Hack for Europe – game jam on the topic of democracy and Europe in cooperation with the Institut français Stuttgart and the Heinrich Böll Foundation. Programmes of animated films from countries such as Portugal and Poland.

Accreditation for industry professionals at the discounted early bird rate until March 7 at: www.ITFS.de/en/tickets

For further questions on your accreditation for industry professionals, we would be pleased to help you: Phone: +49 (0) 711-925 46-123 or via mail to kartenreservierung@festival-gmbh.de

We look forward to celebrating the 26^th edition of the Stuttgart International Festival of Animated Film with you!

Prof. Ulrich Wegenast, Managing Director, Programme
Dieter Krauß, Managing Director, Organisation & Finances

*For our special event please note that a registration at the accreditation counter / Infotheque is necessary. It is mandatory to arrive 15 minutes before the beginning of the event.

Der Beitrag First programme highlights confirmed! erschien zuerst auf ITFS - Internationales Trickfilmfestival Stuttgart.

Furthermore Der Plan will give a master class on March 4 from 11 am to 1 pm and will give insights in managing a band besides doing music. The two concerts and the master class will take place during I/P/D [immersion][popculture][distraction] – Conference on pop culture & Immersive Media, Animation and Video Games Culture of Popbüro Stuttgart, which takes place at ITFS for the first time.

Der Plan is known for its subersive shows on stage which present a mixture of fine art, performance art and pop songs.The band’s new show uses for example so-called Machinimas, animations from the virtual reality platform Second Life, and makes “dangerous clowns” dance to the music in real time. The current line-up of Der Plan is Frank Fenstermacher, Kurt Dahlke alias Pyrolator and Moritz Reichelt alias Moritz R@. The curious electronic popband from Germany, that existed from 1979 until 1992 in her original line-up, was always more than a band. Fine arts have always been as important as music. An updated version of Der Plan 4.0 existed from 2004 – 2006. In 2007, Der Plan 5.0 started as a virtual band. The label ATA TAK founded by Pyrolator, Reichelt and Fenstermacher was one of the first continental european indi-labels and released LPs of DAF, Andreas Dorau, Holger Hiller and Element of Crime.

Reichelt created LP covers for Depeche Mode and initiated the Tiki/Lounge revival at the beginning of the 90s. Fenstermacher played on the legendary “Monarchy & daily life” of Fehlfarben and has released several solo LPs. Kurt Dahlke is a producer and programmer, lastly for Edgar Froese. For some fans Der Plan, formed at the end of the seventies in Düsseldorf in the surrounding of the Ratinger Hof, are pioneers of the New German Wave. Others call them the best German band of all times. Their latest album “Unkapitulierbar” has been relesased in 2017.

Tickets are available online. Holders of a festival pass have free access to the concerts.

Der Beitrag Music & Animation: Electronic Popband Der Plan at the ITFS 2019 erschien zuerst auf ITFS - Internationales Trickfilmfestival Stuttgart.