Hosted by Jane Mumford, the Award Ceremony of the 33rd Stuttgart Festival of Animated Film (ITFS, 5-10 May 2026) took place on Saturday evening at Gloria 1 cinema. The international festival, which this year welcomed around 30,000 guests to its cinemas, 300+ filmmakers internationally (and around 40,000 visitors to its Open Air programme at Schlossplatz),  gave six film awards and one project award across the various competition categories.

A German/French film, 'With Tapes and Toasts in the Car' by Kiana Naghshineh (a Filmakademie Baden-Württemberg graduate) won the festival's Grand Prix and became Oscar-qualified. The film, which tells the story of a terminal cancer patient with much narrative inventiveness, also won the festival's Audience Award.

Two special mentions were given to the Portuguese/Hungarian, surreal-looking adventure 'Amarelo Banana (dir. Alexandre Sousa) and the stop-motion Dutch/Belgian 'Zwermen' by Janneke Swinkels and Tim Frijsinger, which has an elderly man transforming into a bird.

Zwermen, Janneke Swinkels & Tim Frijsinger

Two FAMU-produced films won the Student Award and Special Mention of the festival, respectively. 'Our Walls' by Živa Divjak is a film on bonds and worries between three generations of women. While 'Gently' by Jamaica Kindlová is a hand-drawn charcoal animation, a life seen through the eyes of a little boy.

In the feature animation length competition (Animovie), the Chinese feature animation film 'A Story About Fire' by Li Wenyu won the main award.

Ran Bi Wa, a monkey who grows up among humans, follows in his mother’s footsteps and sets off for the Holy Mountain to uncover the secret of “warmth.” After a dangerous journey, he finds a fire stone—and undergoes a miraculous transformation. The film is based on a legend of the Qiang people from the mountains of southwest China and tells the story through poetic images in the style of traditional Chinese ink painting - Film Synopsis

And in the Tricks for Kids competition, the 7-minute film about a naughty penguin, 'The Naughty Seat' by UK director David Johnson was the winner in the category.

“This year, we wanted to place a particular focus on participatory activities for children and families because it is important to us to make the potential of animated film visible to younger audiences. We were especially delighted that the programmes for nursery and school groups were fully booked. Alongside the very well attended screenings and the fantastic atmosphere at the Open Air, what will stay with us above all are the encounters with filmmakers, who often set the course for their careers at ITFS, and who shared their inspiring perspectives on the world with us through films - Heike Mozer, Managing Director of Film- und Medienfestival gGmbH.

In a festival that paid particular attention this year to silhouette animation, Lotte Reiniger's 'The Adventures of Prince Achmed' was accompanied live by members of the SWR Symphony Orchestra -100 years after its making. The Kirikou and Azur and Ahmed author Michel Ocelot also gave a spirited masterclass on how to make stylistic films with no money and a lot of artistic capability. The Dutch animation programme featured studios (like the Spottedbird and Submarine) that specialize in all aspects of artistic and commercial animation. 

The Works in Progress section featured the latest from Signe Baumane (Karmic Knot, the third part in her animation film trilogy), Anca Damian (her new, African-themed 3D project 'Starseed); and the latest from 'Zako by Tigran Arakelyan, a three-country (France, Armenia, Lithuania) project of a true story of survival during WWII -which promises a mix of strong moral dilemmas, an immersive spatial enviroment (via the VR technology and Quill software) and the question of art as survival as prominent as ever

Michel Ocelot at the 2026 ITFS / Photo: Max Kullmann

The ITFS 2026 Award Winners

ITFS INTERNATIONAL COMPETITION
Jury: Hisko Hulsing, Melanie Beisswenger, Vera Neubauer

Grand Prix / Animation Award of the State of Baden-Württemberg and the City of Stuttgart in the amount of 10,000 euros. The winning film qualiöes for the Academy Awards.
Director: Kiana Naghshineh, Production: Laïdak Films, ManicMonday / Producers: Antoine Liétout, Henrik von Müller, Ivan Zuber, Kiana Naghshineh / World Sales: Miyu Distribution

Special Mention:
AMARELO BANANA, Portugal, Hungary 2025
Director: Alexandre Sousa, Production: AIM Creative Studios / Co-production: CUB Animation / Producers: Jonas César, Tiago Ribeiro
World Sales: AGÊNCIA – Portuguese Short Film Agency

Special Mention:
ZWERMEN, Netherlands, Belgium 2025
Directors: Janneke Swinkels, Tim Frijsinger, Production: Murmur Animation / Producers: Janneke Swinkels, Tim Frijsinger / World Sales: Miyu Distribution

Audience Award - Award for the Best Animated Film voted by the Audience in the amount of 6,000 euros, sponsored by SWR.
WITH TAPES AND TOASTS IN THE CAR (IM AUTO TAPES UND BUTTERBROT), Germany, France 2025
Director: Kiana Naghshineh, Production: Laïdak Films, ManicMonday / Producers: Antoine Liétout, Henrik von Müller, Ivan Zuber, Kiana Naghshineh / World Sales: Miyu Distribution

WITH TAPES AND TOASTS IN THE CAR (IM AUTO TAPES UND BUTTERBROT), Kiana Naghshineh

ITFS STUDENT COMPETITION
Jury: Anastasia Dimitra, Mihai Mitrica, Ülo Pikkov

Student Award - Award for the Best Animated Student Film in the amount of 4,000 euros, sponsored by LFK Baden-Württemberg and MFG Baden-Württemberg, MFG Film Funding.
OUR WALLS (NAŠE ZDI), Czech Republic 2025
Director: Živa Divjak, Production: FAMU – Film and TV School of the Academy of Performing Arts / Producer: David Horák / World Sales: FAMU – Film and TV School of the Academy of Performing Arts

Special Mention:
GENTLY (KŘEHCE), Czech Republic 2026
Director: Jamaica Kindlová / Production: BATCH Film s.r.o., FAMU – Film and TV School of the Academy of Performing Arts, Producer: Tereza Havlová
World Sales: Cineöla s.r.o.

Lotte Reiniger Promotion Award -Award for the Best Animated Graduation Film in the amount of 10,000 euros, sponsored by MFG Film Funding Baden-Württemberg.
ANTONIO, Italy 2025
Directors: Daniela Zottola, Elisa Fanais, Production: Centro Sperimentale di Cinematograöa Piemonte, Department of Animation (National Film School)
Producer: Chiara Magri / World Sales: Centro Sperimentale di Cinematograöa Piemonte, Department of Animation (National Film School)

Special Mention:
SENSUAL, Germany 2026
Director: Tanja Nuijten, Production: Filmakademie Baden-Württemberg GmbH / Producer: Avina Graefe / World Sales: Filmakademie Baden-Württemberg GmbH

Our Walls, Živa Divjak

ITFS TRICKSTAR NATURE AWARD
Jury: Hisko Hulsing, Melanie Beisswenger, Vera Neubauer

Trickstar Nature Award -Award for the Best Animated Short Film on Nature and the Environment in the amount of 7,500 euros, sponsored by Verband Region Stuttgart
BANANA SOUP (LABOUYI BANNANN), Switzerland 2025
Director: Geena Gasser, Production: Schattenkabinett GmbH / Producer: Gerd Gockell / World Sales: Schattenkabinett GmbH

ITFS ANIMOVIE COMPETITION
Jury: Voline Ogutu, Tigran Arakelyan, Tomer Eshed

AniMovie Award -Award for the Best Animated Feature Film in the amount of 2,000 euros, sponsored by ITFS Booster Club.
A STORY ABOUT FIRE (RAN BI WA), China 2025
Director: Li Wenyu, Production: Shanghai Animation Film Studio / Producers: Su Donghai, Chen Bo, Wang Aiyi / World Sales: Parallax International Sales

Special Mention:
LITTLE AMÉLIE OR THE CHARACTER OF RAIN (AMÉLIE ET LA MÉTAPHYSIQUE DES TUBES), France 2025
Directors: Maïlys Vallade, Liane-Cho Han, Production: Maybe Movies, KKI Films / Producer: Mireille Sarrazin / World Sales: Goodfellas

Special Mention:
ALLAH IS NOT OBLIGED (ALLAH N'EST PAS OBLIGÉ), Canada, France, Luxembourg, Belgium 2025
Director: Zaven Najjar, Production: Creative Touch Studios / Producers: Anne-Laure Guéguan, Géraldine Sprimont, Adrien Chef, Annemie Degryse, Daniela
Mujica, Paul Thiltges, Sébastien Onomo / World Sales: MK2 Films

A Story About Fire, Li Wenyu

ITFS TRICKS FOR KIDS COMPETITION

Tricks for Kids Award - Award for the Best Animated Short Film for Children in the amount of 4,000 euros, sponsored by L-Bank, Staatsbank für Baden-Württemberg.
THE NAUGHTY SEAT, United Kingdom 2025
Director: David Johnson, Producer: David Johnson / World Sales: Famous Flying Films

Special Mention:
BALDIES – WHAT ABOUT MY HAIR? (PLEŠOUNI - KDE JSOU MOJE VLASY?), Director: Eliska Soffer Podzimek
Screenplay: Steen Agro, Producer: Jindrich Trcka / World Sales: Cineöla s.r.o.

The Naughty Seat, David Johnson

Animated Games Award Germany
Jury: Freyja Melhorn, Vanessa Zeuch, Ilja Burzev

Award for the Best German Animated Computer Game in the amount of 5,000 euros, sponsored by Medien- und Filmgesellschaft Baden-Württemberg, MFG Games BW Förderung.
CONSTANCE, Developer: Robert May, Production: Blue Backpack GmbH / Publisher: ByteRockers’ Games GmbH & Co. KG

Special Mention:
THE DARKEST FILES ,Developer: Jörg Friedrich, Production: Paintbucket Games UG / Publisher: Paintbucket Games UG

German Animation Screenplay Award
Jury: Matthias Drescher, Sophia Bierend, Solveig Langeland, Jørn Precht, Silke Wilönger

Award for the Best German Screenplay for an Animated Feature Film in the amount of 2,500 euros, sponsored by Animation Media Creators Region Stuttgart (AMCRS).
EMMI & EINSCHWEIN – EINHORN KANN JEDER! (EMMI & UNIPIG – ANYONE CAN BE A UNICORN!)
Author: Anna Böhm, Production: Carte blanche Media / Producer: Stephan Wagner

Special Mention:
PETRONELLA APFELMUS – DER FILM (PETRONELLA APPLEWITCH) 
Authors: Claudio Winter, Seraina Nyikos, Production: Akkord Film Produktion / Producer: Dirk Beinhold, Valentin Greulich

Award for the German Screenplay with the Biggest International Market Potential in the amount of 2,500 euros, sponsored by Sola Media GmbH.
DREAMERS – THE HUNT FOR SHADOWCLAW
Authors: Jörg Ihle, Dominik Hochwald, Christopher Jenkins, Robert Moreland, Alison James, Production: parapictures filmproductions / Producers: Ulrich Schwarz, Ivy Stein

Special Mention: TRÜFFEL, Author: Sonja Knyssok

Trickstar Business Award
Jury: Jan Hameeuw, Viola Gabrielli, Jens Gutøeisch, Uli Seis, Gabriele M. Walther

Award for the Best Innovative and Groundbreaking Business Model for a Project or a Company in the Field of Animation in the amount of 7,500 euros, sponsored by Verband Region Stuttgart.
Atomedge, CEO: Guy van der Walt

ITFS 2026 Opening / Photo:  Reiner Pfisterer

The 34th Stuttgart International Festival of Animated Film will take place from 27 April to 2 May 2027.

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