Festival Description

Founded in 1982, ITFS ranks among the world’s most important events for animated film in all its aspects, and with its intersections with visual effects, architecture, art, design, music, science, games, et al. Every year, it attracts up to 100,000 visitors and industry professionals from all over the world with the best of high-quality animations and interactive works.

ITFS is organized by Film- und Medienfestival gGmbH, established in 2000, which has made it its business ever since to promote high-quality media content and create outstanding film and media events, so as to achieve a sustainable strengthening of the creative industries in the Stuttgart region.

ITFS is an Oscar-qualifying festival that offers directors, production companies and distributors as well as talent and all further professionals from the animation and games industries a platform to present their films, interactive and transmedia works as well as VR and AR projects to an interested, wide audience and a large number of industry representatives. 

 ITFS Stuttgart International Festival of Animated Film Coverage

(Featured Articles)

2026

• ITFS 2026 Winners

2025 

• Swiss Animation Directors, Films and Projects to Watch at the Swiss Focus @ ITFS 2025
• Interview with Antonin Niclass (Swiss Focus @ ITFS 2025)

2024

• '27', 'Sirocco' in the 2024 ITFS Winners

2020 

• REPORT: Impressions from online ITFS festival 2020

 2027 ITFS Stuttgart International Festival of Animated Film Call for Entries

Every animated film, including computer animations and combinations of live action and animation, that was completed after October 5 may be submitted to participate in the ITFS competitions. Only completed animated films can be considered in the preselection process. 

Only animated films of up to 30 minutes in length are admitted for entry in the ITFS International Competition, the ITFS Student Competition, the ITFS Trickstar Nature Award, and in the children’s film competition, ITFS Tricks for Kids Competition

Competitions:

• ITFS International Competition (animated short films from around the world)
• ITFS Student Competition (animated short films by students from international film and art schools)
• ITFS Tricks for Kids Competition (animated short films and series for children)
• ITFS Trickstar Nature Award (animated short films about nature and the environment)
• ITFS AniMovie Competition (from 60 minutes in length)

AI Policy:

The FMF requires all submitters to declare any use of generative AI technologies in the production process of their film.This includes AI systems used to generate or significantly alter images, animations, text, speech or music. The nature and extent of AI use must be stated truthfully in the submission form.

This information is required to ensure transparency with the FMF and the pre-selection jury and does not automatically result in disqualification. The festival has the right to label or categorise films whose essential creative visual design was primarily created using generative AI.

• Festival Regulations
• Submit via ShortFilmDepot
• Deadline: 15 November 2026 (all categories except for AniMovie competition), 15 January 2027 (AniMovie Competition)

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