Press release, Stuttgart, March 25, 2021
Due to the current pandemic developments and the decision of the Federal Government/States Conference on the coronavirus situation, the organiser of the Stuttgart International Festival of Animated Film (May 4 to 9, 2021), Film- und Medienfestival gGmbH, has decided to cancel the Festival’s Open Air.
“We regret this very much!” says Artistic Managing Director Ulrich Wegenast and continues, “Staging our Open Air in the public space of Schlossplatz Stuttgart is an important part of the Festival of Animated Film, with which we have been able to let the population participate free of charge and show our great attachment to the city of Stuttgart.”
Nevertheless, there is consolation for all Festival fans: With the free ITFS live stream, ITFS brings the Schlossplatz Open Air to viewers’ homes on their private screens. It can be streamed on the already established platform OnlineFestival.ITFS.de. Here, short films, live interviews, talks and special programmes will be shown daily from 4 to 9 May 4 to 9, 2021 between 2 and 10 pm.
For the time being, the organisers are still adhering to their plans for cinema screenings and other onsite events – always in view of the development of the pandemic – also to show solidarity with the cinema scene. “There are successful models, such as in Tübingen,“ Commercial Managing Director Dieter Krauß explains, “where cinemas are allowed to open, thanks to previous rapid testing of the audience on the day of the screening. We would like to see a testing and hygiene strategy developed in the next few weeks that will allow all those interested in films to see them in the cinema at ITFS.”
The online programme of the Festival of Animated Film which had been planned in a hybrid format anyway is not affected and is proving popular in demand from both the industry and film fans. In addition to the ITFS live stream, offers for families, children and film enthusiasts complement the OnlineFestival Free programme.
With the fee-based ONLINE+ access, current competition films and supporting programmes can be viewed as video on demand. Personal statements by filmmakers provide insights into the ideas and stories behind the films.
For professionals, in addition to School and Studio Presentations, there is also the possibility to participate online in live workshops, presentations by renowned and up-and-coming studios as well as exciting project presentations: under ONLINE PRO at OnlineFestival.ITFS.de. The fee-based access includes the complete film programme on ONLINE+.
Tickets can be purchased at www.itfs.de/tickets: For the public, there is the Festival Pass HYBRID, ONSITE or ONLINE+. For the industry, ITFS offers accreditation for HYBRID and ONLINE PRO.