The Stuttgart International Festival of Animated Film (ITFS) returns from May 5 to 10, 2026. The event will fill the city with screenings in cinemas and outdoors, official competitions, and special programs. Tribute will be paid to the centennial of The Adventures of Prince Achmed with masterclasses on silhouette animation, led by Michel Ocelot and Jörg Hermann.
Technique and Evolution: From Cut-Out to Digital ✂️
The focus on silhouette animation, or cut-out, connects Lotte Reiniger's pioneering art with current tools. Workshops and the screening of the documentary LOTTE REINIGER – Dance of the Shadows will analyze this meticulous artisanal process. Today, software like After Effects or Toon Boom allows emulating and evolving this technique, integrating digital layers and rigging controls to streamline production while maintaining the characteristic aesthetic.
Is Your Short Not Ready? The Deadline is Chasing You ⏰
If you were planning to enter the competitions, it's time to hurry the render. The deadlines fall in February, well before the cherry blossoms in Stuttgart bloom. While the international jury, with members like Voline Oguto, is already confirmed, some animators are probably deciding whether to sleep or add two more frames. Procrastination is also a form of art.