Movies
Stuttgart’s animation festival rolls out the red carpet — and the puppets
MUMBAI: Germany’s biggest animation celebration just hit play. On 6 May, the 32nd edition of the Stuttgart International Festival of Animated Film (ITFS) opened to a packed house at Gloria 1 cinema, with directors Heike Mozer and Annegret Richter welcoming audiences alongside cultural top brass and civic cheerleaders.
“I believe the creative industries have a key role to play in shaping the future of our region. This is where new ways of thinking are born, where creatives constantly bring forth fresh ideas — and where new jobs are created. This is especially true for the field of animated media,” said state secretary of culture Arne Braun. “The Stuttgart Animated Week — with the International Festival of Animated Film, the FMX Conference, and the Animation Production Days — is our showcase to the world. And at the same time, a magnet for talent, visionaries, and international decision-makers. Animation, VFX, and games are no longer just about entertainment.”
He underscored animation’s rising influence in shaping both jobs and geopolitics. The Baden-Württemberg region, he noted, has seen its animation and VFX industries treble in number and multiply turnover eightfold since 2010.
The evening capped off the launch of Stuttgart Animated Week, a triple-bill celebration spanning ITFS, Animation Production Days, and the FMX Conference. The result: a one-stop shop where art meets commerce, and craft meets code.
New in 2025: an earlier awards ceremony on 10 May, giving the public a chance to see winning films before heading home.
“With the big awards ceremony moving to Saturday night, we’re creating a fresh dynamic for the festival — which benefits all our guests, as we’re able to screen the winning films the next day. With a colourful family programme, we’re turning the festival Sunday into a dedicated audience day,” said ITFS managing director Heike Mozer.
This year’s AniMovie competition features six global heavyweights, including Memory Hotel by Germany’s Heinrich Sabl — a labour of love 25 years in the making. The €3,000 prize is sponsored by broadcaster SWR.
“The AniMovie competition highlights the rich variety and artistic ambition of today’s animated features. We’re excited to have a German entry in the running, and we are thankful to SWR for recognising the genre — it’s an important and encouraging signal for the industry,” said ITFS artistic director Annegret Richter.
With Switzerland in focus, a robust delegation of Swiss creators arrived with a showcase of films and a free exhibition from the tactile triumph Sauvages. The festival’s broader spotlight on stop motion strikes a nostalgic chord in a world awash with CGI and AI.
“This year, we’re seeing a noticeable increase in stop-motion and puppet animation, both in competitions and across other festival formats. There’s something compelling about this tactile approach to animation — the attention to craftsmanship, the patience it demands. In today’s fast-paced, digital, and AI-driven world, it offers a welcome contrast and a sense of calm,” Richter noted.
Among the early highlights: Richard Reeves’s experimental short Fusion (Canada), drawn directly onto celluloid with no camera involved, and The Wild-Tempered Clavier by Anna Samo (Germany), a toilet-paper canvas commentary on war, plague, and politics.
With 500+ films, hands-on workshops at Schlossplatz, and a new “Professional Afternoon” for insiders, ITFS 2025 is pulling no punches.
Animation’s not just having a moment — it’s building a movement.
Hindi
MIFF 2026 to return to Mumbai; film entries open till April 12
19th edition to host WAVES Doc Bazaar, spotlighting global documentary talent
MUMBAI: The 19th edition of the Mumbai International Film Festival 2026 is set to take place from June 15 to 21 at the NFDC Complex, with film submissions currently open and the deadline fast approaching on April 12.
Organised by the National Film Development Corporation under the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting, the biennial festival remains one of South Asia’s most prominent platforms for documentary, short fiction and animation films.
Filmmakers, producers and content creators from across the globe have been invited to submit entries via the Film Freeway platform for the Competition Section. Offline submissions will not be accepted, reinforcing a fully digital entry process.
MIFF 2026 continues to sweeten the deal with a robust awards pool of Rs 55 lakh. The coveted Golden Conch for Best Documentary carries a top prize of Rs 10 lakh, alongside multiple awards across categories, making it one of the most lucrative non-feature film festivals in the region.
A key highlight this year will be the second edition of the WAVES Doc Bazaar, scheduled from June 16 to 18 alongside the festival. Designed as a hub for collaboration, the Doc Bazaar will feature a co-production market, viewing rooms and a work-in-progress lab, bringing together global buyers, sellers and creators under one roof.
Since its inception in 1990, MIFF has built a reputation as a serious showcase for non-feature cinema, drawing participation from filmmakers worldwide. The previous edition saw over 350 films from more than 30 countries, underlining its growing international footprint.
With submissions closing soon and preparations underway, MIFF 2026 is shaping up to be a vibrant meeting point for storytelling, collaboration and cinematic craft, offering filmmakers both a stage and a springboard.
