Stuttgart Animated Film Festival 2027: an international meeting place for animation

The 34th Stuttgart International Festival of Animated Film (ITFS) is scheduled for 27 April to 2 May 2027 in Stuttgart, Germany. The festival presents animated short and feature-length films, competitions and public screenings, alongside professional events and interactive activities. Organiser Film- und Medienfestival gGmbH describes ITFS as a host for filmmakers from around the world and a platform for networking, exchange and knowledge transfer.

Screenings and activities are spread across several central Stuttgart locations rather than one convention venue. The official locations include the Innenstadtkinos (Gloria and Cinema), Schlossplatz, the Staatsgalerie and the Festival Centre at Haus der Katholischen Kirche. Check the organiser’s current information for the programme, ticketing and any changes to individual locations before planning a visit.

Why Stuttgart Animated Film Festival matters

Discover animation across formats

The festival’s competitions include international animated short films, student work, films and series for children, nature-themed animation and feature-length films. This range gives audiences an opportunity to compare different visual languages, formats and approaches to animated storytelling.

Meet the people behind the films

ITFS says competition screenings are accompanied by discussions with directors and producers in attendance. These conversations can help viewers and emerging filmmakers understand creative decisions and production methods directly from practitioners.

Connect film with interactive work

The GameZone brings animation together with games. The official festival information describes nominated titles for the Animated Games Award Germany and additional VR and gaming installations. It offers a different way to explore animation beyond cinema screens.

Latest confirmed scale

The official announcement identifies 2027 as the festival’s 34th edition. No recent visitor or exhibitor total was verified for this guide, so scale figures are not included.

Who should visit Stuttgart Animated Film Festival?

Animation fans and cinema audiences

If you want to discover work beyond familiar mainstream releases, use the competition and special-programme screenings to explore short films, feature-length animation and curated selections. Note the titles and filmmakers that stand out, then attend post-screening discussions where offered to hear about the work in its own context.

Filmmakers, artists and producers

ITFS invites filmmakers, animation studios, artists and producers to submit films to its competitions. Selected films are screened in Stuttgart and may be accompanied by discussions with directors and producers. Before taking part, review the current category rules, eligibility and submission timetable. At the festival, prepare a concise introduction to your work and specific questions for the people whose practice or projects interest you.

Students and emerging animation talent

The Student Competition is for animated short films by students from international film and art schools. The organiser also describes professional events, masterclasses, studio presentations and work-in-progress sessions as part of its knowledge-transfer activity. Students can use these formats to compare techniques, learn about production choices and identify questions to pursue with practitioners.

Families and younger audiences

Young ITFS includes films for pre-school children and children up to age 12, children’s competition selections, workshops and hands-on activities. The open-air programme at Schlossplatz is described as free and includes family-friendly films. Check the 2027 programme for age guidance, timings and the availability of individual activities.

What can you find at ITFS?

Five competition strands

• International Competition: animated short films from around the world.
• Student Competition: animated short films by students at international film and art schools.
• Tricks for Kids: animated short films and series for children.
• Trickstar Nature Award: animated short films about nature and the environment.
• AniMovie: the feature-length film competition for works of 60 minutes or more.

The 2027 call for entries also refers to project competitions; their submission information is released separately. Check the official rules before submitting a film or project.

Professional events and learning

The Insights section is described as including talks, panels, workshops, masterclasses and school or studio presentations for professionals and students. The organiser says these formats offer behind-the-scenes perspectives and opportunities to learn from international experts. The exact sessions and speakers for 2027 were not verified here.

Games and open-air screenings

GameZone combines animation and games, including nominated games and VR or gaming installations. At Schlossplatz, ITFS presents open-air screenings and activities for a broad public audience. These settings extend the festival beyond conventional cinema programming.

What makes Stuttgart Animated Film Festival distinctive?

ITFS places film art, professional exchange and public participation within one city-centre festival.

Its competitions range from student and children’s animation to international shorts and feature-length work. The programme also links animated film to nature-focused storytelling, games and interactive installations. For selected films, post-screening discussions with filmmakers provide a direct route from viewing to conversation about process and intent. The professional strand adds workshops, panels and presentations, while Young ITFS and the open-air programme create entry points for younger and general audiences.

ITFS is also part of Stuttgart Animated Week, which the organiser describes as taking place alongside Animation Production Days and the specialist conference FMX – Film and Media Exchange. These are distinct events; check each organiser’s information for their own programme and participation details.

How to prepare for Stuttgart Animated Film Festival

1. Choose your reason for attending

Decide whether your priority is discovering films, submitting work, learning about production, exploring games and interactive media, or bringing younger viewers to age-appropriate screenings. A clear purpose helps you choose between the festival’s different strands.

2. Check the current programme and rules

For film submissions, read the category descriptions, eligibility requirements and deadlines published by ITFS. For visitors, review the screening calendar and information about tickets and activities as they become available. Do not assume that submission deadlines or ticket arrangements from another edition apply to 2027.

3. Make a shortlist

Mark the films, competition strands, talks or workshops that matter most to you. If the 2027 calendar offers several options at the same time, rank your first choices and keep alternatives nearby. Add locations to your plan: screenings and activities take place at multiple central venues.

4. Prepare questions that fit your goal

• For filmmakers: What creative or production choice would you like to understand about a selected film?
• For students: Which technique, workflow or career question do you want to take away from a presentation or masterclass?
• For producers and studios: Which kinds of collaborators, project formats or audiences are relevant to your current work?
• For families: Which age group and activity format will suit the children attending with you?

5. Plan between locations

The organiser describes the festival as taking place at short distances in Stuttgart’s centre, but individual programme locations differ. Confirm the address for each screening or activity and leave time to move between venues.

How to make the most of the festival

Use each screening or session with a question in mind. For a film, note the title, format, visual approach and one detail you want to remember. For a discussion, write down the filmmaker’s name and the point you want to follow up on. For GameZone, compare how animation, interaction and sound contribute to the experience rather than treating every installation as the same kind of game.

After a conversation, make a short note in the format Person or film → what interested me → question or next step. This keeps useful learning distinct from a general impression and makes later follow-up more specific.

Networking and professional exchange

ITFS describes its festival centre as a place for networking and exchange, and lists professional events such as talks, panels, workshops and masterclasses. If you are attending for work, prepare a short explanation of your role, current interests and the kinds of projects or knowledge you are seeking. Ask questions that invite a substantive exchange about a film, technique or production challenge. Follow up afterwards with a concise note that refers to the conversation and the specific point you want to continue discussing.

Participation in a professional activity or meeting is not guaranteed by attending the festival; check the relevant programme details and any access requirements before making plans.

Locations and practical planning

The official locations page lists several central Stuttgart sites. The Innenstadtkinos (Gloria and Cinema) are at Königstraße 20, 70173 Stuttgart. The open-air and activity areas are at Schlossplatz, with the listed address Königstraße/Bolzstraße. GameZone is listed at the Staatsgalerie, Konrad-Adenauer-Straße 30–32. The Festival Centre is at Haus der Katholischen Kirche, Königstraße 7.

These venues serve different parts of the programme, so use the current event calendar to confirm where a particular film, talk or activity takes place. Detailed 2027 ticket information, daily opening hours and travel arrangements were not verified for this guide; consult the organiser’s current visitor information before travelling.

After Stuttgart Animated Film Festival

Capture your key takeaways while they are fresh. For films, record the title and what you learned about its storytelling or production. For professional conversations, note who you spoke with, what you agreed to exchange and a realistic next step. Students can turn ideas from workshops or presentations into a focused practice task. Studios and producers can review which creative contacts or project conversations merit a considered follow-up.

Keep follow-up specific: refer to the screening, session or discussion that prompted your message, and ask for only the information or continuation that is relevant. This makes the festival’s artistic and professional encounters easier to carry into future work.

Who should consider submitting a film?

ITFS invites international animation studios, filmmakers, artists, producers and emerging talents from film, art and media schools to submit work. The official 2027 announcement gives short-film competition deadlines of 15 November 2026 and a feature-length competition deadline of 15 January 2027. It says films are submitted through the Shortfilmdepot platform and directs applicants to the festival’s rules. Confirm the appropriate category, eligibility, submission requirements and current deadline with the organiser before applying. A submission is an opportunity for consideration, not a guarantee of selection or screening.

Stuttgart Animated Film Festival 2027 at a glance

The official announcement confirms the edition dates and competition information; check the organiser’s current details for the final visitor programme and venue-specific arrangements.

Make your visit purposeful

Choose what you want to discover, learn or discuss, then build a manageable plan around the screenings and activities that support it. ITFS brings together film art, professional exchange and public participation; your visit is most useful when you leave time to watch closely, ask thoughtful questions and follow up on the work that matters to you.

Animation production opportunities in Germany

Co-production and funding routes

Animation Germany’s funding guide describes federal and regional film-funding programmes that may support international co-productions. It says access depends on working with a German-based co-producer or production service provider and meeting programme-specific German contribution requirements. The guide cites source material last amended in February 2025, so producers should verify current programme terms, eligibility and budgets directly before relying on them.

What this may mean for ITFS participants

For producers and studios, ITFS’s international animation focus may make it a useful setting to identify creative collaborators and discuss whether a project could fit a German co-production route. Visitors can use professional conversations to compare project needs and learn what questions to investigate next. Funding is conditional; attendance does not provide access to a grant, partner or production deal.