Editor

In May animation fever will break out again in Stuttgart. From May 08 – May 13, 2012 1,000 of the best animated films worldwide will be shown for six whole days at the Stuttgart Festival of Animated Film. Renowned studios such as Laika and Pixomondo will be providing an insight into their productions. Over 70,000 Euros will be awarded this year in numerous competition categories. And the entries leave nothing to be desired: in the International Competition films from all over the world are competing against each other, including two short film Oscar-nominees; "A Morning Stroll" and "Wild Life". The feature film competition, AniMovie, is teeming with famous voice artists such as singer Vanessa Paradis („A Monster in Paris”) or musician Brian Adams ("Jock of the Bushveld").

Established in 1982, the Stuttgart Festival of Animated Film is taking place for the 19th time this year. For its 30th anniversary promising animated film productions such as the Oscar-nominated short films "A Morning Stroll" by Grant Orchard and "Wild Life" by Wendy Tilby and Amanda Forbis are in competition in 2012. In the feature film competition, AniMovie, audiences can look forward to the performances of well-known voice artists such as French singer and actress Vanessa Paradis ("A Monster in Paris") or musician Brian Adams, who did not only lend his voice to the leading character in the South African Production "Jock of The Bushveld", but also contributed several songs.

About 2,000 films have been submitted to the competition categories International Competition, Young Animation, Tricks for Kids, Cartoons for Teens, AniMovie and the Animated Com Award. From those 2,000, juries comprising experts from the animated film industry have already selected 200 films from all over the world. These include productions from well-known film countries such as the USA, France and Great Britain as well as countries less known for their films such as Estonia, Mexico and the Lebanon.

The supporting programme also examines the different aspects of international animated film. The programme series "Journeying with Shadows" looks at current trends in silhouette film. "Animation unterm Hakenkreuz" (Animation under the swastika) gives an insight into a dark chapter of German animated film history. The Festival of Animated Film also offers production companies a platform for presenting both themselves and their films. This year award-winning animation studio Laika will present excerpts from its newest film "ParaNorman" even before it opens in the US. Laika excited audiences at the Stuttgart Festival of Animated Film in 2010 with the film "Coraline". Furthermore, the effects specialists from Studio Pixomondo will not only be showing the film "Hugo Cabret" for which they deservedly won the Oscar in the "Visual Effects" category, but will also be revealing how they brought 1930s Paris to life.

More information pictures and film stills can be found on our Homepage www. itfs .de.