The 29th Stuttgart International Festival of Animated Film (ITFS) has invited entries for the main event to be held from 3 to 8 May 2022. One of the most important festivals for global animated films will bring a hybrid version with focus on Austria as a partner country in the coming year.
Learning from the pandemic, the organisers are planning both onsite and digital options for the 2022 edition that combines cinema screenings, games exhibitions, presentations and workshops using digital applications and the virtual space.
ITFS will accept works that have been completed after 1 October 2020 and will accept entries under the following categories:
International Competition – International competition for animated short films
Young Animation – International student film competition for animated short films
Tricks for Kids – International competition for animated short films and series for children
Trickstar Nature Award – Competition for animated short films that deal with the topics of climate protection, biodiversity, the environment and sustainability
AniMovie – International competition for animated films of feature length
The submission deadline for the above entries is 1 December 2021. Organisers will accept online submission at www.shortfilmdepot.com. Participation in the ITFS competitions is free of charge, but the submission platform charges a small fee for its service, depending on the number of animated films submitted.
The animation extravaganza has listed more categories where the call for entries and submission have extended deadlines. The categories are:
Trickstar Business Award – There will be a prize for innovative business models for a project or a company in the field of animation (call for submissions November 2021 / closing date 1 March 2022).
German Animation Screenplay Award – There is an award for the best german or english-language screenplay for a german animated feature-length film (call for submissions October 2021 / closing date 1 February 2022).
Animated Games Award Germany –Also an award will be given for an animation-based computer game from Germany with the best visual design and aesthetics (call for entries December 2021 / closing date 1 February 2022).
Crazy Horse Session (48-hour Animation Jam) – International teams face the challenge to create an animated short film about the festival mascot Trixi in 48 hours. The Crazy Horse Session takes place in cooperation with M.A.R.K.13 electronic media and is supported by MFG Filmförderung Baden-Württemberg and the Landesanstalt für Kommunikation Baden-Württemberg (call for submissions December 2021 / closing date 1 March 2022).
During the six days festival, fans of animated work of all ages will have the opportunity to watch and experience animated short and long films, series and games as well as VR and AR projects.The prize money in various competitions sums up to 70,000 Euros.