Short and feature film

International Competition 1-5

The International Competition (IC) is the beating heart of the festival. The best of current animated shorts from around the world are shown in this section. Films are humorous, contemplative, creative, or critical.  An international jury selects the best animated short film of the year which will be honoured in the grand awards ceremony on Sunday. But you get to vote as well: Choose your favourite film for the SWR Audience Award!

IC1: Tue, April 26, Gloria 1/2, 08:00 pm // IC1-5: Wed, April 27 to Sun, May 1, Metropol 2, 11:00 am (repeat screening)
IC2-5: Wed, April 27 to Sat, April 30, each screening at Gloria 1, 09:00 pm

Young Animation 1-4

The Young Animation Competition (YA) shows selected animated short films made by students of international film and art schools. This year, 62 films by young animation artists from 20 countries will be screened in 4 competition sections: highly imaginative films with a variety of topics and techniques used. You will be amazed to see what films by young animators have to offer.

YA1-4: Tue, April 26 to Fri, April 29, each screening at Gloria 2, 11:00 pm // Wed, April 27 to Sat, April 30, each screening at Gloria 2, 07:00 pm (repeat screening)

Animated Com-Reel

The Animated Com Award is the prize for applied animation in advertising, technology and spatial communication. We bring animated promotional films to the big screen: Watch the Animated Com-reel and find out how innovative and diverse applied animation can be!

Thu, April 28, Gloria 2, 09:00 pm

Tricks for Kids 1-4 Short Film Competition

The Tricks for Kids competition series presents 24 of the latest and most beautiful short films for children. The programmes are targeted at various age groups, from the” Zwergenschau” for the youngest viewers of ages 4 and up, to films for children aged 8 years and older. The screenings will be attended by filmmakers. They explain how their films were created and answer questions. For films in foreign languages, German voice-over will be provided live in the cinema.

Tricks for Kids 1 (8 years and older): Thu, April 28, Metropol 1, 02:30 pm
“Zwergenschau” Tricks for Kids 2 (4 years and older): Fri,  April 29, Metropol 1, 02:30 pm
Tricks for Kids 3 (6 years and older ): Sat, April 30, Metropol 1, 02:30 pm
Tricks for Kids 4 (6 years and older): Sat, May 1, Metropol 1, 02:30 pm

Tricks for Kids Series 1-2 Series Competition

The Tricks for Kids Series Competition consists of  2 age-based programmes of selected episodes of the most beautiful, international animated series for children of all ages. Children and their families can look forward to a journey across different continents, full of surprises and discoveries. The attending filmmakers will be glad to tell the audiences about the creation of their stories. For episodes in foreign languages, German voice-over will be provided live in the cinema .
Tricks for Kids Series 1 (4 years and older): Wed, April 27, Metropol 1, 02:30 pm
Tricks for Kids Series 2 (7 years and older): Sun, May 1, Metropol 1, 05:00 pm

Gestern – Heute – Morgen 1-2

The Mercedes-Benz Museum celebrates its 10^th anniversary, and the Festival of Animated Film marks this occasion with an animated journey through time for children. Together with your children, you can explore the best of the last 15 editions of the Stuttgart Festival of Animated Film. Whether you choose “Tier-Trickserei” (Animalistic Animations, Programme 1) or “Trick-Technik-Welt” (Tricky Technology, Programme 2) – come and see for yourself how stories and animation techniques have changed over time.

Yesterday – Today – Tomorrow 1 (5 years and older): Wed, April 27 + Fri, April 29, Mercedes-Benz Museum, 02:00 pm
Sat, April 30 + Sun, May 1, Mercedes-Benz Museum, 01:00 pm

Yesterday – Today – Tomorrow 2 (6 years and older): Thu, April 28, Mercedes-Benz Museum, 02:00 pm
Sat, April 30 + Sun, May 1, Mercedes-Benz Museum, 04:00 pm

Panorama 1-4

The Panorama section is a showcase for current trends in the international animation scene. Discover creative films, explore recent topics and innovative animation techniques in 4 short film blocks.
Panorama 1-4: Tue, 26. April 26 to Fri, April 29, each screening at Gloria 1, 11:00 pm

Best of Animation 1-4

Four Best of Animation programmes give you the opportunity to see an exclusive selection of the most interesting and remarkable animated films of the last 10 years again. Grouped by topic –  “Rotoscoping”,  “Music”, “Men and Women”, and  “As Simple as Animation” by filmmaker Maie Paccou.

Best of Animation 1-4: Wed, April 27 to Sat, April 30, each screening at Gloria 1, 07:00 pm

In Persona 1-3

In the In Persona programmes, outstanding animators of international renown grant insight into their work and and answer audience questions.

In Persona – Nick Cross (Toronto): Wed, April, 27 Gloria 2, 09:00 pm
In Persona – Monika Nuber (Stuttgart): Thu, April 28, Metropol 2, 08:00 pm
In Persona – Spela Cadez (Ljubljana): Fri, April, 29 Metropol 2, 08:00 pm

Animation History 1-5

In five programmes, Animation History turns back time: Watch animated films dealing with historical events, which have long since won their own place in history.

Animated Politics 1: Wed, April 27, Metropol 3, 05:00 pm
Focus on Denmark; Robert Storm Petersen: Wed, April 27, Metropol 3, 07:00 pm
Animated Politics 2: Thu, April 28, Metropol 3, 07:00 pm
Herbert Hunger: Sat, April 30, Metropol 3, 07:00 pm
Rescued Animation – Treasures of Short Film: Sat, April 30, EM 2, 06:00 pm

Animation Opera 1-4

Opera and animated film have nothing in common? These short film programmes prove the opposite: See the most beautiful arias in the history of opera packaged inside entertaining animated films, discover animation as an important part of great opera productions, and get to experience Mozart experience like never before. Curated by André Eckardt.

Aria: Wed, April 27, Metropol 3, 09:00 pm
On Stage: Thu, April 28, Metropol 3, 09:00 pm
The Magic Flute: Fri, April 29, Metropol 2, 06:00 pm
The End: Sat, April 30, EM, 10:00 am (feature-length film)
Animation Opera Short Film Programme: Mon, May 2, Open Air, 05:30 pm

Same but Different / Animated Diversity1-2

In cooperation with Forum der Kulturen Stuttgart e.V., the Stuttgart Festival of Animated Film presents two short film programmes of Animated Diversity: films on war and peace, faith and hope, flight and migration, arriving and staying.

Migration – Journey to the Unknown: Wed, April 27, Metropol 2, 06:00 pm
Arrival – Together Forever?: Thu, April 28, Metropol 2, 06:00 pm

The Heart of Stuttgart

…and other cities in animated film. This special programme of recent films on the topic of cities in animated films, offers fascinatingly different perspectives on the same subject: satirical, metaphorical, or abstract.

Fri, April 29th, Metropol 2, 02:00 PM

Animated Music Videos 1-2

Music videos – they are classics, art, and cult, all at the same time. Mark Shapiro from Portland presents his personal playlist of films by well-known animation artists. In cooperation with jazzopen Stuttgart we show a selection of the best animated music videos.
Animated Music Shorts: Art and the Musical Score: Wed, April 27, Metropol 2, 08:00 pm
Animated Music Videos – presented by jazzopen: Fri, April 29, Metropol 1, 10:00  pm

Animation around Europe 1-3

Go on a journey across Europe’s animated film scene and see selected short films from the Czech Republic, Portugal, and Poland in 4 programmes.

Czech Republic: Thu, April 28, Metropol 2, 10:00 pm
Portugese Animation Awards 1: Fri, April 29, Metropol 2, 10:00 pm
Portugese Animation Awards 2: Sat, April 30, Metropol 3, 09:00 pm
Poland: Sun, May 1, Metropol 2, 06:00 pm

Animation & Modernism

This short film programme on animation and modernism shows you how animation, modern art, and design have been interconnected since the 1950s. Curated by Daniel Kothenschulte.

Animation & Modernism 1: Fri, April 29, Metropol 3, 09:00 pm
Animation & Modernism 2: Sun, May 1, Metropol 3, 05:00 pm

The BW-Reel: Best of Baden-Württemberg

As in previous years, the Stuttgart Festival of Animated Film presents the best short films from Baden-Württemberg. See for yourself that animation filmmakers from the region need not shy away from international comparison.

Sat, April 30, Gloria 1, 05:00 am

Animated Oscar Nominees and Others

See all the winning and nominated animated short films of this year’s Academy Awards! The programme is presented and hosted by Academy member Ron Diamond who will tell the audience exclusive inside stories about the dream factory.

Sat, April 30, EM 2, 08:00 pm

Indian Shorts

Puneet Sharma, Festival Director of Orbit Live, presents a selection of Indian short films compiled exclusively for the Stuttgart Festival of Animated Film, and takes you on a animated journey through the diversity of India’s culture and landscapes.

Sat, April 30, Gloria 2, 09:00 pm

Prix Ars Electronica

The Prix Ars Electronica honours works of animation that explore new avenues – whether in the fields of art, science, research, or industry: See the winners-reel and explore the creative spectrum of animation.
Sun, May 1, Metropol 3, 03:00 pm

Cartoon D’Or

The Cartoon D’Or is the award for the best European animated short film of the year. See the nominated and winning films of the latest edition and find out what makes animated film from Europe so special.

Sun, May 1, Metropol 2, 08:00 pm

Miss Hokusai

Keiichi Hara // Japan, 2015, 93min.

Japan,1814: Edo, now known as Tokyo is one of the highest populated cities in the world. Here lives and works much accomplished artist Tetsuzo. Always with him is his 23-year-old daughter O-Ei, who has inherited her father’s talent and stubbornness. Decades later, the French impressionist were spreading the word of Tetsuzo’s immense talent all over Europe and he was to become best known by his pseudonym: Katsushika Hokusai. However, very few today are even aware of the woman who assisted him all her life, and greatly contributed to his art while remaining uncredited. This is the untold story of O-Ei, Master Hokusai’s daughter.

AniMovie 1: Wed,  April 27, Metropol 1, 08:00 pm

Psychonauts, the forgotten children

Pedro Rivero, Alberto Vázquez // Spain, 2015, 75 min.

Birdboy and Dinky are two teenagers who have decided to escape from an island devastated by ecological catastrophe: Birdboy by shutting himself off from the world, Dinky by setting out a dangerous journey with the hope that Birdboy will accompany her.

AniMovie 4: Wed, April 27, Metropol 1, 10:00 pm
Thu, April 28, Gloria 1, 05:00 Uhr (rep.)

Over the Garden Wall

Patrick McHale // USA, 2014, 110 min.

Two young brothers find themselves lost in a strange forest. Older brother Wirt, armed with too much sense, and little brother Greg, armed with not enough, must rely on a long parade of helpful (and not so helpful) strangers as they make the long journey in search of home.

Animovie 6: Fri, April 29, Gloria 1, 05:00 pm
Fri, April 29, Metropol 1, 08:00 pm (rep.)

Cafard

Jan Bultheel // Belgium, 2015, 86 min.
1914 While Jean Mordant is away conquering the World Wrestling Championship, his daughter is raped by German occupiers in Belgium. To avenge her, he enrolls in the first prestigious armored car division, and embarks on a dramatic odyssey which will reshape his world forever.

AniMovie 8: Sat, April 30, Metropol 2, 04:00pm

108 Demon Kings

Pascal Morelli // France, 2014, 104 min.

Empire of China. 12th century. The King Demons terrorize the land. To defeat these monsters, one needs the courage of a hundred tigers, the strength of a thousand buffalo, the cunning of as many snakes… and the luck of the devil. All young Prince Duan has are fanciful illusions and stoutness. All Zhang-the-Perfect has is his monk’s staff and a bunch of incomprehensible proverbs. All the beggar Pei Pei has is the gift of the gab and a large appetite. But, most of all, Prince Duan, the old monk and the little beggar girl didn’t know that it is impossible to defeat the King Demons. So they did it!

AniMovie 10: Sat, April 30, EM 1, 08:00 pm

Kung Fu Panda 3

Jennifer Yuh Nelson, Alessandro Carloni // USA, China, 2016, 96 min.

When Po’s long-lost panda father suddenly reappears, the reunited duo travels to a secret panda paradise to meet scores of hilarious new panda characters. But when the supernatural villain Kai begins to sweep across China defeating all the kung fu masters, Po must do the impossible-learn to train a village full of his fun-loving, clumsy brethren to become the ultimate band of Kung Fu Pandas.

We will welcome Bettina Zimmermann Tigress’ german voice as our special guest.

AniMovie 1/Kids (Out of Competition): Wed, April 27, Gloria 1, 05:00 pm

Mumins on the Riviera

Xavier Picard, Hanna Hemilä // Finnland, France, 2014, 75 min.

The Moomins, Snorkmaiden and Little My, in search of adventures of their own, set sail for the Riviera, where, after a journey fraught with menacing storms and desert island dangers, Snorkmaiden is dazzled by the attentions of a playboy and Moomin learns that jealousy’s sting is the most painful of all.
When Moominpappa befriends an aristocrat and adopts the name ‘de Moomin’, an exasperated Moominmamma retires to the relative calm of their trusty old boat, to wait for her family to come to their senses.
For the very first time, the unity of the Moomins is threatened.

AniMovie 2 / Kids (Out of Competition): Wed, April 27, Metropol 1, 5:00 pm

Blinky Bill – The Movie (Competition)

Deane Taylor // Australia, 2015, 84 min.

Blinky Bill is a koala with a big imagination. An adventurer at heart, he dreams of leaving the little town of Green Patch and following in his explorer father’s footsteps. Mr. Bill went missing in the Outback sometime ago and Blinky is the only one who believes his father is still alive. When Blinky discovers a mysterious marker that hints at his Dad’s whereabouts, he embarks on a journey that takes him beyond the boundary of Green Patch and into the wild and dangerous Outback.

Presented by NaturVision Filmfestival Ludwigsburg

AniMovie 5 / Kids: Thu, April 28, Metropol 1, 05:00 pm

Ted Sieger’s Molly Monster

Matthias Bruhn, Michael Ekblad, Ted Sieger // Germany, 2015, 72 min.

Molly Monster is the deeply-loved only-monster of Popo and Etna Monster. She spends her days in familiar surroundings playing with her best friend Edison, a clockwork toy with a life of his own. But when Mama gives birth to an egg (which Papa must hatch), Molly sets out on a journey to find her new place in the family. The journey takes her far away from home to Egg Island, where she renunits with her Mama and Papa..

AniMovie 7 / Kids: Fri, April 29, Metropol 1, 05:00 pm

Phantom Boy

Jean-Loup Felicioli, Alain Gagnol // Frankreich, 2015, 80 min.

Leo, an 11-year old boy from New York, is a phantom boy: he can become invisible and fly through walls. He befriends Alex, a police officer temporarily stuck in a wheelchair. Alex was hurt by a mysterious gangster threatening the city with a dangerous computer virus. Together they form an extraordinary duo, with Leo in the air and Alex on the ground. They are forced to look after Mary, a willful journalist who goes in search of the dangerous criminal and whom Alex secretly has a crush on. When Mary falls prey to the gangster, our duo has to use all their powers to find her, and save New York from destruction.

Presented by Französische Filmtage Tübingen | Stuttgart

AniMovie 7 / Kids: Sa, 30. April, EM 1, 17:00 Uhr

Anomalisa (OMU)

Charlie Kaufman, Duke Johnson // USA, 2015, 91 min.

Michael Stone flies to Cincinatti, were he is booked to give a motivational speech at a conference. The evening at the hotel feels lonesome and so he contacts his old flame Bella he has’nt seen in years. Their date at the hotel bar is a pure disaster, but then Michael meets two country girls, fans who travelled to the city just because of his speech. He takes the mousy Lisa back to his room – and unexpectedly falls in love with the insecure woman. But things appear in a different light the next morning.

Wed, April 27, Metropol 2, 10:00 pm

ITFMX-Screening: The First Avenger: Civil War

Anthony Russo, Joe Russo // USA, 2016

Marvel’s “Captain America: Civil War” finds Steve Rogers leading the newly formed team of Avengers in their continued efforts to safeguard humanity. But after another incident involving the Avengers results in collateral damage, political pressure mounts to install a system of accountability, headed by a governing body to oversee and direct the team. The new status quo fractures the Avengers, resulting in two camps—one led by Steve Rogers and his desire for the Avengers to remain free to defend humanity without government interference, and the other following Tony Stark’s surprising decision to support government oversight and accountability.

Fri, April 29, Gloria 2, 09:00 pm

The End – The Vocaloid Opera

Keiichiro Shibuya, Miku Hatsune, Japan 2012, 85 min

THE END is a VOCALOID-based opera that debuted in 2013 at Tokyo’s Bunkamura Orchard Hall and Paris’s Théâtre du Châtelet. It later made an appearance at Amsterdam’s Dutch National Opera & Ballet in 2015.

Animation Opera 4: Sat, April 30, EM 1, 10:00 pm

Extraordinary Tales

Raul Garcia // USA, 2015, 73 min.

A feature film anthology composed of five stories of Edgar Allan Poe, each crafted in a graphic design style uniquely suited to the individual segments and inspired by visual artists and illustrators, whose style best expresses the psychological depth and complexity of Poe’s dark universe.

Edgar Allan Poe Night: Sat, April 30, Gloria 2, 11:00 pm