Ticket Sales have started
First Competition Films and international Guests announced for the 33rd Stuttgart International Festival of Animated Film
Accreditations, Festival Passes and Day Tickets for the 33rd Stuttgart International Animation Film Festival (ITFS) are now available: From 5 to 10 May 2026, the ITFS will present the diversity of animation art in the city centre with films, workshops, talks and exhibitions. With the first short films announced in the competitions and confirmed international guests, the festival programme is taking shape.
Accreditations for film industry representatives and students are available at a reduced early bird rate until 22 March. In addition to all film programmes, Accreditation allows participation in industry-relevant workshops, talks and Master Classes. Accredited participants also receive a login to the Animated Video Market, ITFS’s digital platform to watch all films submitted to the 2026 competitions online.
The Festival Pass is ideal for film lovers: it grants access to almost all events over six days, including the numerous short and feature film programmes in the Innenstadtkinos. Those who want to watch several films in one day can purchase a Day Ticket. Single Tickets for film screenings will go on sale on 1 April. Accreditations, Festival Passes and Day Tickets are available at https://itfs.de/en/tickets/.
School classes, daycare centres and kindergartens can now register for the educational film programmes offered by Young ITFS Educate. The artistic animated films open up new perspectives and serve as an age-appropriate medium for communicating diversity, moving topics and democratic values. The cinema visits are supplemented by teaching materials and workshops. Registration is possible at https://itfs.de/young-itfs/educate/.
Films in the Competitions have been selected
From around 2,000 film submissions from all over the world, the four pre-selection juries have chosen a total of 104 animated short films for the ITFS International Competition, ITFS Student Competition, ITFS Tricks for Kids Competition and ITFS Trickstar Nature Award. All films have the chance to win the coveted prizes, which will be awarded on Saturday, 9 May and Sunday, 10 May. An overview of all films and dates can be found in the calendar at https://itfs.de/en/programme/calendar/. The final festival programme will be published there in mid-March.
Focus on Silhouette Film and Adult Animation – The first confirmed Guests
For this year’s focus on silhouette film, the ITFS welcomes award-winning animation filmmakers Michel Ocelot from France and Jörg Herrmann from Germany, among others, who will both hold Master Classes. With the Netherlands and Kenya, the ITFS is also focusing on several countries in different formats this year. In an In Persona presentation, Dutch director and animator Hisko Hulsing will reflect on the defining moments of his career. Director and screenwriter Voline Ogutu will also present Kenyan animated film projects in various formats. A new programme at the festival is dedicated to adult animation in German series.
About ITFS
Cinema that gives you goose bumps, open-air screenings in a festival atmosphere, hands-on animation, and gaming with depth – every year, the ITFS transforms the city into a lively stage for stories, creativity, and encounters. Since 1982, the film festival has been combining international animation art with the regional creative scene, film education, and industry promotion. In doing so, the ITFS creates spaces for exchange, inspiration, and encounters – for filmmakers as well as for a broad audience.
We are happy to answer media inquiries and conduct interviews. The official press conference for the festival will take place on 25 March; invitations will follow. Graphics and images can be found at itfs.de/en/press and on our Flickr account.
Contact:
Lena Demmer
Head of Communications & Marketing
Tel: +49 (0) 170 232 46 67
E-Mail: xbzzhavxngvba@srfgviny-tzou.qr