Fully Booked event with Over 180 Participants
After an intensive three-day programme, the highly successful 18th edition of the Animation Production Days (APD) concluded yesterday afternoon. With 183 accredited participants from 27 countries, this year’s event was completely sold out. The most important German business platform for newly developed animation projects is a joint venture of the Stuttgart International Festival of Animated Film (ITFS) and FMX – Film & Media Exchange and takes place every year in parallel with these two partner events as part of the Stuttgart Animated Week. It was officially opened on April 22nd with a joint opening ceremony.
From 23 – 25 April, over 1000 pre-planned business meetings took place at the APD co-production and financing market in the Landesmuseum Württemberg, more than ever before. A record number of 183 participants were accredited for APD this year, including 110 producers and creatives, and approximately 70 representatives from broadcasters, streamers, distributors, world sales, funding institutions, and other investors. The latter were seeking new content and talents at APD and provided feedback on the 51 projects selected for presentation at the Animation Production Days this year.
Important German and European TV channels such as ZDF, KiKA, WDR, SWR, MDR, Super RTL, ARTE, RAI, RTVE, RTÉ, France Télévisions, Canal+, TV3, YLE, DR, and major international corporations such as Disney, Warner Bros. Discovery, and Netflix, as well as world distributors and distributors for animation content such as Banijay Kids & Family, Cake Entertainment, DeAPlaneta Kids & Family, Folivari International, Jetpack Distribution, KidsMe, MFA+, Monster Entertainment, OneGate Media, Pink Parrot Media, The Playmaker, Sola Media, Studio 100 International, Toon2Tango, and many others, were among the participants.
The programme was complemented by the APD conference, which took place on the afternoon of April 23rd in the Rotunda of the Stuttgart L-Bank and attracted more than 200 attendees. The first panel discussion examined the current state of the use of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in the animation industry. The second discussion round outlined the opportunities and challenges of cross-border animation film co-productions.
A roundtable discussion on “Mapping out Storyworlds” (in cooperation with the Polish industry event Young Horizons Industry), a talent speed pitch for the eight selected young projects, and numerous networking events were also part of this year’s APD.
This year, a special focus lied on Ireland, which was represented by twelve participants at APD. Supported by the Zeitgeist Ireland 24 initiative and in cooperation with Animation Ireland, Ireland is also the country with a special focus at this year’s ITFS.
As part of the cooperation with the CARTOON European Association of Animation, two German producers have the chance to pitch the project they presented at APD at the CARTOON Forum held in Toulouse in September. The top-two places on the list went to the projects “Switching Selma,” a TV series by Raumkapsel (Kassel), and “SnailMail,” a TV series by bigchild Entertainment (Weimar).
Animation Production Days 2025 will take place from 6 – 8 May.
Quotes from participants:
APD was a foot in the door for us when we were just entering the world of TV animation because it gave us the opportunity to introduce ourselves to all the relevant people in the industry and get invaluable feedback for our projects, a life-changing event!
Denis Alenti, Producer, Recircle, Croatia
What makes this so unique is that we don’t have the hassle of booking the meetings ourselves. It’s a compact market, easy to navigate and you know exactly who to meet and when to meet, which gives you the possibility to focus on doing what you came to do.
Mia Palmgren, Producer, Character House Oy, Finland
Since M.A.R.K.13 is based in Stuttgart, it was and is a non-brainer for us, that we attend APD on our home-turf since day 1. We appreciate what APD has done for the local business-community.
Dominique Schuchmann, CEO & Producer, M.A.R.K.13, Germany
For me APD is the most efficient and effective market – it has the perfect size and the atmosphere and collaborative spirit is making it THE must-attend industry event for international co-productions in Germany.
Lars Wagner, Director Germany, Switzerland, Austria, Central & Eastern Europe, DeAPlaneta Kids & Family, Germany