Films, films, and even more films!

We also show films outside the competitions. The Special Programme brings even more animation to the screen:
premieres, extraordinary feature-length films, series specials or even the whole animated world of individual artists or entire countries.

Animating the world

In the SPECIAL FOCUS IRELAND programme, we take a look at the young progressive animation scene of the Emerald Isle.

GERMAN ANIMATION – the best of the German scene. Because the ITFS is also the German artists’ showcase to the world.

AFRICAN ANIMATION: In this mini focus programme, we take another look at South Africa and embark on a journey to a futuristic Nigeria.

ANIMATION AROUND EUROPE: What are the topics of interest to European filmmakers? What techniques do they use? Find out.

Zeitgeist Irland 24 presents Irish arts and culture at ITFS 2024

Greener than green: The young and wild in Stuttgart

Nowhere else might the animation scene be as young, successful, and progressive as in Ireland. And at the ITFS 2024, we are rolling out the… er, green carpet for these young and wild ones with the Special Focus Ireland.

Stuttgart and Ireland – it’s a match: Films such as Tomm Moore’s Oscar-nominated WOLFWALKERS (which screened in the 2021 AniMovie competition) show how courageous Irish filmmakers are crossing borders. The film has inspired audiences from Stuttgart to Hollywood.

We are bringing the Irish to Stuttgart – look forward to the Special Programme with exciting films and guests: Artist talks, workshops, panels and much more. In cooperation with Animation Ireland, this year’s festival will provide fascinating insights, facilitate personal encounters and the exchange with Irish filmmakers.

The Special Focus Ireland is supported by Zeitgeist Irland 24, which was launched by Catherine Martin (Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media) and Micheál Martin (Minister for Foreign Affairs and Tánaiste, the Irish Deputy Prime Minister and representative of the Taoiseach).

Let’s get personal

IN PERSONA: In this personal programme, meet two remarkable artists and their work, learn who inspired and shaped them, how they developed their style. This year:

  • Špela Čadež (Slovenia)
  • Michaela Pavlátová (Czech Republic)

Simply the best

Discover the visual and narrative diversity of animation in BEST OF ANIMATION based on the example of two film genres. This section features winning films and audience favourites, technical boldness, and classic animation.

  • AnimaDoc: animated documentary film or the art of making the invisible visible
  • Experimental – Making Kin: surprising, adventurous, and poetic
  • Out of Character: Women at the DEFA Studio for Animated Films Dresden (program of short films curated by Till Grahl, the scientific and artistic director of the German Institute of Animated Film)

For series junkies

Netflix is so yesterday! Here you can experience extraordinary series episodes on the big screen:

  • “Fritzi und Sophie”: World premiere of a boundless friendship in eight episodes
  • “Royal Crackers 2”: The return of the deeply dysfunctional Hornsby family in the ongoing battle for the inheritance of their second-rate cracker company –German premiere. An Adult Swim original (“Rick and Morty”)
  • “Iwájú” (Future): With Tola and Kole on an adventurous journey of discovery through a futuristic Lagos