With the motto “Animation connects!” we invite you to come to Stuttgart from April 25 to 30, 2023 to celebrate animated film and the 30th ITFS edition together with animation fans, artists, and professionals from all over the world.
From Best-of to Artificial Intelligence
Travel back in time with us to the beginnings of great filmmakers and moments that shaped animated film. In various curated best-of programmes, we will be showing works by outstanding animation artists who have left their mark not only on the ITFS. Tributes (e.g., to Gil Alkabetz) and shows of works by Izabela Plucinska (Germany, Poland) or Sander Joon (Estonia) complete the anniversary programme.
But dare to take a look into the future with us too: The wide range of topics, the endless creativity of the filmmakers and the essence of the latest and best animated short and feature-length films can be seen in the various competition categories. Future issues such as artificial intelligence (AI) are also part of the programme in presentations and lectures.
Country Focus South Africa
With short films, studio presentations, and a delegation of South African animators, the festival celebrates South Africa in this year’s country focus. The collaboration between Triggerfish, the Cape Town International Animation Festival, the ITFS, the Animation Production Days (APD) and the FMX is supported by Employment and Skills Development in Africa (E4D), a programme funded by the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ) and implemented by Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) GmbH.
Download the Catalogue (PDF)
International Competition 1 – 5
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.
Dates
IC1: Tue, 25. April, Gloria 1, 7:00 pm //
Wed, 26. April, Gloria 1, 11:30 am (Rep.)
IC2: Wed, 26. April, Gloria 1, 9:00 pm //
Thu, 27. April, Gloria 1, 11:30 am (Rep.)
IC3: Thu, 27. April, Gloria 1, 9:00 pm //
Fri, 28. April, Gloria 1, 11:30 am (Rep.)
IC4: Fri, 28. April, Gloria 1, 9:00 pm //
Sat, 29. April, Gloria 1, 11:30 am (Rep.)
IC5: Sat, 29. April, Gloria 1, 9:00 pm //
Sun, 30. April, Gloria 1, 11:30 am (Rep.)
Award winner reel shorts: Sun, 30. April, Gloria 2, 10:00 pm
Young Animation 1 -4
The Young Animation Competition (YA) shows selected animated short films made by students of international film and art schools. Young animation artists tell touching stories, create fantastic worlds and open new perspectives.
Dates
YA1: Wed, 26. April, Gloria 2, 6:00 pm //
Thu, 27. April, Gloria 2, 10:30 am (Rep.)
YA2: Thu, 27. April, Gloria 2, 6:00 pm //
Fri, 28. April, Gloria 2, 10:30 am (Rep.)
YA3: Fri, 28. April, Gloria 2, 6:00 pm //
Sat, 29. April, Gloria 2, 10:30 am (Rep.)
YA4: Sat, 29. April, Gloria 2, 6:00 pm //
Sun, 30. April, Gloria 2, 10:30 am (Rep.)
Award winner reel shorts: Sun, 30. April, Gloria 2, 10:00 pm
Tricks for Kids 1 – 4
The Tricks for Kids Competition consists of 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.
For the first time, all children can vote directly in the cinema for their favorite film in the Tricks for Kids Audience Award. In addition, the children’s jury will, as always, choose their favorite from the competition.
Dates
TfK 1 (for children aged 4 or older / FSK 0): Wed, 26. April, Gloria 2, 3:00 pm
TfK 2 (for children aged 6 or older / FSK 0): Thu, 27. April, Gloria 2, 3:00 pm
TfK 3 (for children aged 8 or older / FSK 0): Fri, 28. April, Gloria 2, 3:00 pm
TfK 4 (for children aged 7 or older / FSK 6): Sat, 29. April, Gloria 2, 3:00 pm
TfK award ceremony: Sat, 29. April, vhs TREFFPUNKT Rotebühlplatz, 5:00 pm
TfK award winner reel shorts: Sun, 30. April, Cinema, 3:30 pm
Award winner reel shorts: Sun, 30. April, Gloria 2, 10:00 pm
Trickstar Nature Award
The films in the Trickstar Nature competition are all dedicated to the topics of nature and sustainability in their own special, unique way. They show the beauty of our world and humorously point out grievances. The Trickstar Nature Award is presented by the NaturVision Film Festival.
New this year is the Trickstar Nature Family & Kids program, which we will show on Saturday afternoon at the ITFS Open-Air.
Dates
Trickstar Nature: Wed, 26. April, Gloria 1, 4:00 pm // Sun, 30. April, Cinema, 8:00 pm (Rep.)
Trickstar Nature Family & Kids: Sat, 29. April, Open Air, 3:00 pm
Award winner reel shorts: Sun, 30. April, Gloria 2, 10:00 pm
AniMovie
The AniMovie competition for feature films presents a selection of internationally outstanding animated films of feature length for children and adults.
Dates
AniMovie:
- German premiere: “Titina”
Wed, 26. April, Gloria 1, 6:30 pm - “Nayola”
Thu, 27. April, Gloria 1, 6:30 pm - German premiere: “Charlotte”
Fri, 28. April, Gloria 1, 6:30 pm
AniMovie Kids
- German premiere: “Three Robbers and a Lion”
Thu, 27. April, Gloria 1, 4:00 pm - “Dounia & the Princess of Aleppo”
Fri, 28. April, Gloria 1, 4:00 pm - “Yuku and the Himalayan Flower”
Sat, 29. April, Gloria 1, 2:00 pm
AniMovie Special – Out of Competition
- “Teheran Tabu”
Thu, 27. April, Delphi, 7:00 pm - World premiere: “Hölderlins Echo”
Sat, 29. April, Gloria 1, 6:30 pm - ITFMX-SCREENING: “Guillermo del Toro’s Pinocchio”
Thu, 27. April, Gloria 2, 8:30 pm - “My Love Affair with Marriage”
Thu, 27. April, Cinema, 8:00 pm
Award winner AniMovie: Sun, 30. April, Gloria 1, 8:00 pm
Filmmakers Talks
At noon, we will gather the filmmakers from the International Competition and Young Animation in Café le Théâtre for a film discussion. Here you can ask your questions about the films that were shown the day before. Hosted by Franka Sachse (YA) and Olivier Samter (IC).
Free admission!
Dates
International Competition:
Wed, 26. April – Sun, 30. April, Café le Théâtre, 2:00 – 3:30 pm
Young Animation:
Thu, 27. April – Sun, 30. April, Café le Théâtre, 12:30 am – 2:00 pm
Short Films in the Supporting Programme
Country Focus South Africa
In the country focus, we turn our attention to South Africa. African animated films have recently received increased international attention and recognition: animation is the perfect medium to bring Africa’s stories, design, art and music to the world, to encourage and inspire artists and filmmakers.
In addition to two selected short film programmes, South Africa’s animation industry will be showcased in studio and school presentations, lectures and talks. Best of The Animation School Student Short Films, curated by Nuno Martins, brings together short films by students of the Animation School South Africa. Best of CTIAF, curated by Kaydee de Villiers, showcases the best animated films of the Cape Town International Film Festival 2022 with diverse films from South Africa, Nigeria and Egypt.
Dates
Best of The Animation School Student Short Films: Thu, 27. April, Gloria 1, 2:00 pm
Animated Shorts – Best of CTIAF: Fri, 28. April, Gloria 1, 4:00 pm
Cult Night 1 – 4
In our European Night “Cheer Up and Smile” we offer you one and a half hours of therapy from everyday life – here you can expect a concentrated load of social and private disasters with the necessary portion of humour. Unicorn: Warriors Eternal is the new epic superhero animated action series from Genndy Tartakovsky: follow a team of heroes who have risen to fight a sinister force.
Disney+ Animation Cult Night presents selected episodes from animated cult series like “American Dad”, “Bob’s Burger”, and “Family Guy” on the big screen! Studio 100 takes you back to the 1980s with childhood heroes and presents one episode each of the unforgettable series “Alice in Wonderland”, “Nils Holgersson”, “Pinocchio” and “Sinbad”.
Dates
European Night – Cheer Up and Smile:
Thu, 27. April, Gloria 2, 11:00 pm
Cult Night – Unicorn: Warriors Eternal:
Fri, 28. April, Gloria 2, 11:00 pm
Disney+ Animation Cult Night:
Sat, 29. April, Gloria 2, 11:00 pm
Childhood Heroes – Classics with Studio 100:
Sun, 30. April, Cinema, 6:00 pm
Best of Animation
The newly founded Friends (Förderverein) of the Stuttgart International Festival of Animated Film has curated the 4 Best of Animation programmes this year. The selection of the best animated short films from the last 30 editions of the ITFS shows the diversity of animated film worldwide and in Baden-Württemberg!
In addition to two programmes with “Homemade Highlights” from the region, there are “Secrets and Specials” from the history of the festival and “Was aufs Ohr” with creative sound design in film.
Dates
Best of Animation 1 – Homemade Highlights 1: Wed, 26. April, Open Air, 5:30 pm
Best of Animation 2 – Secrets and Specials: Wed, 26. April, Gloria 2, 8:30 pm
Best of Animation 3 – Was aufs Ohr: Thu, 27. April, Cinema, 10:00 pm
Best of Animation 4 – Homemade Highlights 2: Sat, 29. April, Gloria 2, 8:30 pm
A∨A – ARTIFICIAL ∨ ART:
AI IN ANIMATION 1 – 2
In 2 programmes we present films that take up artificial intelligence as a theme or were produced by it. Human creativity meets artificial creativity, a creative dialogue begins and new hybrid art forms emerge. A∨A is a trip into the future of film and art.
Dates
A∨A-1: Wed, 26. April, Cinema, 10:00 pm
A∨A-2: Fri, 28. April, Cinema, 10:00 pm
Tribute to Gil Alkabetz
With a tribute programme we bid farewell to Gil Alkabetz, a great animation artist and loyal friend of the ITFS. The programme pays tribute to his life’s work and brings together his own award-winning animated films as well as two previously unreleased works with films he created in workshops with students at the Filmuniversität Babelsberg KONRAD WOLF and a film by his students in his honour.
Fri, 28. April, Gloria 2, 8:30 pm
Series Premiere: Royal Crackers
Brand new from adult swim. Royal Crackers was once the king of snacks, but the empire is crumbling. When the family patriarch, tyrannical company founder Theodore Hornsby Sr, falls into a “super coma”, the remaining Hornsbys, with their lack of talent and business acumen, try to restore Royal Crackers to the success it once was. Get excited for the exclusive premiere of the new series!
Sat, 29. April, Gloria 1, 4:00 pm
In Persona 1 – 2
In our In Persona programmes, outstanding and internationally renowned animators give you a personal insight into their works, inspirations and artistic approaches and answer your questions. Izabela Plucińska, who lives in Berlin, takes you into her world of clay animation and the Estonian 2D animator Sander Joon gives you first insights into his new film project.
Dates
In Persona – Sander Joon (Tallinn): Wed, 26. April, Cinema, 8:00 pm
In Persona – Izabela Plucińska (Berlin): Fri, 28. April, Cinema, 8:00 pm
Ukrainian Retrospective: Female Rebel
Was there feminism in classical Ukrainian animation? This is the question the makers of LINOLEUM Contemporary Animation and Media Art Festival, Kyiv asked themselves when creating this retrospective. Not all the heroines in the films are protesting, but they all have plenty of reason to be outraged! Discover strong Ukrainian women in films from the 1970s and 80s.
Sun, 30. April, Cinema, 11:00 am
Animated Oscars
Animated Oscars unites all the 2023 Academy Awards nominated animated shorts – and the winning film. At the end of the festival week, you will also find films from the ITFS programme, both from the current and the previous year. For example, “An Ostrich Told Me the World is Fake And I Think I Believe it” was nominated for the Lotte Reiniger Prize for Animated Film at ITFS 2022.
Sun, 30. April, Cinema, 10:00 pm
ITFS Honorary Trickstar 2023: Signe Baumane
In this programme, the winner of the ITFS Honorary Trickstar presents some of her personal favorite films – from her own oeuvre and those that have accompanied and inspired her on her artistic journey.
Wed, April 26, Gloria 1, 2:00 p.m.
European Premiere: Andreas Deja presents “Mushka”
In the 1970s, Ukrainian girl Sarah finds a Siberian tiger, names it Mushka and raises it. Mushka is the directorial debut of Andreas Deja, who has also brought to life many iconic villains such as Scar and Jafar during his 30-year career as a Disney animator. In this behind-the-scenes look, he talks about the 10-year production process and his vision behind the 28-minute short film Mushka.
Sat, April 29, Cinema, 3:30 p.m.