Strong International Participation at 20th APD
Stuttgart, 14 April 2026 – For the 20th time, Animation Production Days (May 5–7, 2026), Germany’s leading co-production and financing market for animation, will bring together producers to present their projects to potential partners. A total of 178 participants from 27 countries have registered for this anniversary edition. In addition to tailored one-to-one meetings for the selected projects, the accompanying conference will address current trends and challenges in the industry. The Animation Production Days are part of Stuttgart Animated Week.
Co-Production and Financing Market
This year, 110 producers and creatives, as well as 68 representatives from broadcasters, VOD platforms, world sales companies, distributors, funding institutions, and other industry experts, are registered for Animation Production Days (APD). In around 1,000 pre-scheduled one-to-one meetings, participants will discuss the market potential of the 50 newly developed animation projects being presented at this year’s co-production and financing market. In addition to creative aspects, financing strategies and potential partnerships will also be explored. Key German broadcasters participating include ZDF, KiKA, Super RTL, WDR, MDR, HR, SWR, and BR, alongside international broadcasters and streaming platforms such as Warner Bros. Discovery, Disney, France Télévisions, BBC, Canal+, and many others.
Conference Topics and Panel Guests
Alongside the business meetings, the conference is a key component of the APD programme. It will take place on May 5 from 1:45 PM to 4:30 PM at the Festival Centre of the Stuttgart International Festival of Animated Film (ITFS).
The first conference panel, curated and moderated by Prof Lilian Klages, is titled “Artificial Intelligence in Film: Practice, Education, Society”. It brings together filmmakers, educators, and researchers to talk about how AI is used in film making today, what it means for creative work and teams, and how the industry might shape the next phase. Panel guests include Nira Bozkurt (AI Officer at Filmakademie Baden-Württemberg), Larry Cutler (Chief Technical Officer and Co-Founder of Baobab Studios) and Aleksi Hyvärinen (Don Films & The Alchemist).
The second panel, “The first Yes!”, explores which signals influence audience decisions today and how the strategic development of projects needs to adapt so that IP can travel across multiple environments from the outset. Curator and moderator Janine Weigold has invited Jo Allen (Commissioning Editor, BBC Children’s & Education) and Thom Chapman (President / Founder, Victura Media) to the discussion.
The conference language is English. All industry professionals of the Stuttgart Animated Week with an APD or ITFS accreditation or an FMX ticket may attend.
During the three days of the event, roundtable discussions, a pitch session for newcomer projects, and various networking events will also take place, creating further opportunities for exchange and networking within the industry.
Stuttgart Animated Week: Three Events – One Platform
APD is part of the Stuttgart Animated Week which includes the Stuttgart International Festival of Animated Film (5–10 May 2026) and FMX – Film and Media Exchange (On Site 5–7 May | Online & On Campus 8 May 2026), attracting up to 4,000 industry professionals to Stuttgart each year.
The Stuttgart International Festival of Animated Film offers numerous additional programme highlights for APD participants, including Work in Progress pitches and presentations (new: Almost Financed), studio presentations, workshops, the Trickstar Business Pitches, and the AniX Awards. FMX, Europe’s leading conference for animation, visual effects (VFX), and digital media creation, will once again bring together top-class speakers to discuss forward-looking industry topics at its 30th edition.
Stuttgart Animated Week will open on 4 May with a ceremonial state reception in the White Hall of Neues Schloss. The keynote will be delivered by Reza Memari, whose production The Last Whale Singer exemplifies the synergies that arise from combining a film festival, market, and professional conference.
The Animation Production Days are organized as a Green Event BW.
Images:
https://animationproductiondays.de/press/photos-downloads/
About Animation Production Days:
Animation Production Days (APD) is part of the Stuttgart Animated Week and is a joint venture of the Stuttgart International Festival of Animated Film (ITFS) and the FMX – Film & Media Exchange. APD is organised by the Film- und Medienfestival gGmbH in cooperation with the Filmakademie Baden-Württemberg GmbH. It is funded by the Baden-Württemberg Ministry of Science, Research and the Arts, the German Federal Film Board (FFA), the MFG Baden-Württemberg film funding organisation and the Creative Europe MEDIA programme of the EU.
Press Contacts:
Animation Production Days
Marlene Wagener: zneyrar.jntrare@navzngvbacebqhpgvbaqnlf.qr, +49 (0) 711 925 46-150
Stuttgart International Festival of Animated Film (ITFS)
Lena Demmer: qrzzre@srfgviny-tzou.qr, +49 (0) 711 925 46 102
FMX – Film & Media Exchange
Bernd Haasis: oreaq.unnfvf@szk.qr, +49 (0) 7141 969 828 86