Stuttgart

The programme was created in partnership with SWISS FILMS, the professional association GSFA, the Consulate General of Switzerland in Stuttgart, Valais Film Commission, Zürcher Filmstiftung, Lucerne School of Design, Film and Art (HSLU) and Cinéforom. It offers an overall experience that emphasises sustainability, innovation and linguistic diversity.

Following the extensive Swiss Focus 2022 at the Annecy International Animation Film Festival, this is the second time that Swiss animation filmmaking has taken centre stage in a neighbouring country.

Stop-motion at its best

Director Claude Barras plays an important role: his award-winning feature debut MY LIFE AS A ZUCCHINI (2016) will be screened at the Open Air and his latest stop-motion film SAVAGES (2024) will be shown in cinemas. In his Master Class, Barras will provide insights into puppet animation and discuss approaches to sustainable production. The SAVAGES film team will bring original puppets and props from the set for an exhibition of puppets and sets at the Festival Center.

In addition to Barras' films, the feature-length animations JOURNEY OF SHADOWS (2024) by Yves Netzhammer and CHRIS THE SWISS (2018) by Anja Kofmehl are also screened as part of the Swiss Focus.

Short films of every kind

The “Future Minds - Talents to Watch” programme represents the future of Swiss animation with a variety of storytelling, animation techniques and artistic visions. The open-air programme “The Best in Swiss Animation” brings together works by old masters of animation and promising new talents. The Lucerne School of Design, Film and Art (HSLU) with its renowned animation department will present the most successful films of the last 10 years in the “Best of Animation Lucerne” programme. HSLU is widely regarded as a talent hub – demonstrated by its collaboration with Warner TV (“Animation Lucerne meets Adult Swim”), which involves young creatives in commissioned projects.

In the “Fantastic Adventures for Kids” programme, the little ones and their families can embark on a fantastic journey with Swiss shorts. Further animated Swiss films will screen in the International Competition and the Student Competition, among others. 

Women Make Animation

At the «In Persona» event, animation filmmaker Maja Gehrig will talk about how a lemon squeezer inspired her path into animation. She will present a selection of her stylistically very diverse shorts. The programme SWISS WOMEN ANIMATION is dedicated exclusively to female animators, showcasing a wide range of animated films from different female perspectives.

Animation & Innovation

Innovation takes centre stage in “Making of Swiss Projects” and underscores the experimental spirit of the industry. Michael Frei delves into the creative transformation from linear to interactive formats in the session “From Animated Short Film to Video Game”. Simon de Diesbach explores how animated content can be translated into multisensory, spatial experiences in “From Animated Short Film to Immersive Project”.

For Switzerland, collaboration with European partners is of vital importance. This topic will be discussed at the panel “Animation Coproductions with Switzerland” by producers Sereina Gabathuler and Nicolas Burlet as well as Tristan Albrecht from the Valais Film Commission. The panel will be moderated by Marcel Müller, in charge of international programmes at SWISS FILMS.

Animation Production Days

Switzerland will also be a major focus at the Animation Production Days APD, Germany’s most important coproduction and financing market for animation, which takes place parallel to the ITFS. The Swiss animation film industry will be represented by ten participants and four projects.

Luise Hüsler and producer Frances McStea from Asako Film will present their animated documentary project PAPIERSCHLOSS. Clémence Pun (producer at Hélium Films) and Claude Barras will introduce their children’s anidoc-series CACA BOUDIN. Producer Seraina Gabathuler (Roundabout Film) and director Celina Escher will present their project ARMADA LIBERTAD, while producer Nicolas Burlet of Nadasdy Film and filmmaker Elodie Dermange will showcase CORPS ACROBATES.

• Go to programme overview
• Please consult the festival website for the schedule and venues
• Animation Production Days