Organizers of the Stuttgart International Festival of Animated Film (ITFS) have revealed that the 32nd edition will shine a spotlight on hand-crafted films, particularly the art of stop-motion animation. The 2025 fest will also offer a special focus on the artistry and industry of Switzerland, among many other highlights. The fest will be held this year from May 6-11.
ITFS points out that puppet animation in particular has been back in vogue in the past few years. Its renaissance is also reflected in the festival film submissions and, therefore, in the competition programs of Tricks for Kids and the International Competition. Olga Bobrowska from the StopTrik Festival (Łódź and Maribor) is putting together two programs for the Focus on Stop Motion with a best-of selection and historical puppet animation films.
The program will also include recent stop-motion features. Audiences can look forward to Memory Hotel (2024) by German animator Heinrich Sabl, a project 25 years in the making, as well as the buddy comedy Wallace & Gromit: Vengeance Most Fowl (2024) by the renowned British animation studio Aardman. Aardman animator and director Will Becher will attend ITFS 2025 to host a masterclass and share some behind-the-scenes insights, including the new film.
Despite its small size, Switzerland has ramped up to an enormous output of animation films, which have attained international success. In collaboration with the promotion agency SWISS FILMS, the Swiss Consulate General and the professional association of Swiss animation filmmakers GSFA (Groupement Suisse du Film d’Animation), ITFS will present national focus programs such as Women in Swiss Animation and Future Minds: Films by Upcoming Talents.
The Swiss focus brings fresh discoveries alongside familiar faces, including animator Elie Chapuis, who presented his film No Dogs or Italians Allowed at ITFS 2024 and hosted a masterclass. In 2025, he will organize a puppet and set exhibition for the stop-motion film Sauvages (Claude Barras, 2024), which will be on display during the festival week in Stuttgart.
ITFS’s business-focused sibling event Animation Production Days (APD) will also pay special attention to Switzerland’s animation industry.
The event trailers for ITFS and APD are an annual treat for animation lovers. While last year the trailers came from one source, in 2025 several teams will be responsible for the trailers. Once again, they were all produced by the Filmakademie Baden-Württemberg.
The ITFS trailer (based on Knubbles by Ilya Barret) is super dynamic and shows how wild animation can be. The trailer for the APD 2025, on the other hand, is more about dialog and exchange, suited for the co-production market where people come together. The trailer is based on the short film Song of a Toad. Both trailers are available now on the event websites and on YouTube.
Speaking of websites, itfs.de underwent a full relaunch at the start of the year. In collaboration with Stuttgart’s studio panorama, both design and functionality have been modernized and improved. The website offers up-to-date information, including calls for submissions:
- Call for Projects for Animation Production Days (Deadline: February 4)
- German Animation Screenplay Award (February 1)
- Animated Games Award Germany (February 1)
- Work in Progress (February 15)
- Trickstar Business Award (March 1)
New this year: Projects competing for the Trickstar Business Award can pitch to industry professionals during the newly introduced Professional Afternoon (Thursday, May 9, 2 p.m.) at the Festival Centre. The AniX Awards ceremony at 7 p.m. in the Eugen Bolz Hall will announce the winners of the screenplay awards and the €7,500 Trickstar Business Award, funded by the Stuttgart Region Association.
Families with children also get their money’s worth at the ITFS. And for those who want to be more than just there: 10- to 12-year olds can apply for the ITFS children’s jury until March 1. All information about Tricks for Kids, how to apply and what the children can expect on the jury can be found at itfs.de/familien/tricks-for-kids.
ITFS is Germany’s largest animation festival and one of the most significant worldwide. As an Oscar-qualifying festival, winners of the Grand Prix are automatically longlisted for the Academy Awards. With prize money totaling nearly €60,000, ITFS features five competitions:
- International Competition for Animated Short Films
- Student Competition for film and art school students
- Tricks for Kids – Animated Short Films for Children
- Trickstar Nature Award – Animated Short Films on Nature and Environment
- AniMovie – International Feature Film Competition
As a major industry event, ITFS also provides a key platform for networking and exchange. The APD and FMX – Film & Media Exchange take place parallel to the ITFS. The Stuttgart Animated Week, a unique combination of film festival, co-production market and conference offers a platform for animation projects and transforms Stuttgart into the hub of the animation world each May.
ITFS also draws a broad audience from the region, transforming Stuttgart’s city center into a free open-air cinema. Gaming enthusiasts can connect with others in the GameZone, while the family-friendly and low-threshold offer of the ITFS includes programs for everyone.
