Stuttgart Animated Week
One week, three events: the Animation Production Days and the FMX – Film & Media Exchange take place parallel to the ITFS. The combination of film festival, market and conference offers a unique platform for financing, development and presentation of animation projects.
5–7 May 2026
Animation Production Days
Animation Production Days (APD), a joint venture of ITFS and FMX, is a curated business platform for the European and international animation industry, taking place for the eighteenth time in Stuttgart from 5-7 May 2026.
In exclusive and carefully planned one-to-one meetings, producers can evaluate the market potential of their projects in the fields of film, TV series, games, cross- and transmedia with potential co-production partners as well as broadcasters, streamers, distributors, funding institutions and investors.
At APD, around 180 participants from more than 20 countries negotiate collaborations for around 50 selected projects in around 1000 pre-planned one-to-one meetings each year.
Another important part of the programme is the APD Conference. In practice-oriented case studies, technological innovations or new financing strategies for animation projects will be presented and discussed. The conference is open to all ITFS accredited professionals. In addition, APD offers various networking events and roundtables with industry participants from the partner events ITFS and FMX.
On Site: 5-7 May
Online & On Campus: 8 May
On Demand: 9 May-9 June
FMX – The Road Ahead
FMX – Film & Media Exchange is Europe’s most influential conference dedicated to Animation, Visual Effects (VFX) and Digital Media Creation. With its international, yet intimate atmosphere, FMX offers professionals and students from around the world a unique platform to share, learn, network, and mingle.
From May 5 to 7, 2025, FMX will offer presentations, panel discussions, workshops, and exhibition rooms On Site at Haus der Wirtschaft in Stuttgart. On May 8, there will be exclusive Online sessions and a program On Campus at Filmakademie Baden-Württemberg and its Animationsinstitut.
Roland Emmerich will be at the 30th FMX with an anniversary of his own
FMX 2026 will be the 30th edition, offering the opportunity to honor the past, survey the present and discuss the future of the creative industries. In a world transforming at breathtaking speed, FMX will set the stage for speakers who are shaping this very future with their confidence, resilience, and creativity.
Among them will be the internationally renowned director, producer and screenwriter Roland Emmerich. He returns to his home town of Stuttgart to celebrate the 30th anniversary of his blockbuster hit “Independence Day”. In an anniversary session with befores & afters journalist Ian Failes, Roland Emmerich will reflect on his career and share some untold stories.
THE ROAD AHEAD is the theme of FMX 2026, and a quote from French poet Antoine de Saint-Exupéry sums up its core message: “Our task is not to predict the future, but to make it possible.”
