The Cartoon Forum is the primary European meeting for animation makers and movers. From the 16th to the 19th of September, more then 700 animation industry representatives will come together to negotiate the production, financing and funding of animated films – all in all, 63 projects with a total volume of over 190 million Euros. In the spotlight this year: Animated television series and new formats for the internet, mobile phones and games.

The Cartoon Forum – In Germany for only the second time since its inception – is brought to you by ”CARTOON – European Association of Animation Film” and the city of Ludwigsburg. The host location hardly comes as a surprise, as Ludwigsburg and the state of Baden- Wuerttemberg have a strong tradition of animation and an established infrastructure of support by institutions such as the Medien- und Filmgesellschaft Baden-Wuerttemberg (MFG), the Film- und Medienfestival gGmbH and Filmakademie Baden-Wuerttemberg with its Institute of Animation, Visual Effects and Digital Postproduction. The Stuttgart Festival of Animated Film enjoys international reknown as does FMX –International Conference on Animation, Effects, Games and Digital Media. Profiting from this vibrant environment, the state has advanced to one of the top German locations in animation with a reputation throughout Europe and beyond. Many of the graduates from the Filmakademie put down roots in the region, founding studios and companies such as Studio Soi, Pixomondo, M.A.R.K.13, Studio 88, Black Mountain, Studio Film Bilder, Mackevision and Unexpected.

At the press conference – held in the English language at the Cartoon Forum – the main movers from the German Southwest will discuss the needs of the animation industry, how the former niche market has become a key technological factor throughout the entertainment industry and what this means for the for the development of the film industry in the region.

One thing is certain: animation is the future.

On the podium:
• Dr. Angelika Kalous, Ministry of the State Baden-Wuerttemberg
• Gabriele Röthemeyer, Manager of the Medien- und Filmgesellschaft Baden- Wuerttemberg
• Prof. Thomas Haegele, Director of the Institute for Animation, Visual Effects and Digital Postproduction
• Dittmar Lumpp, Commercial Managing Director Film- und Medienfestival gGmbH
• Thomas Meyer-Hermann, Head of Studio Film Bilder Stuttgart


PS: The official trailer for the Cartoon Forum was created by students of the Institute of Animation, Visual Effects and Digital Postproduction. You can watch it from September 17th on at www.filmakademie.de and www.animationsinstitut.de.