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Upcoming Stuttgart Animation Festival Moves Completely Online

The planned live/online hybrid event makes decision to go all virtual due to continuing coronavirus restrictions; the program runs May 4-9 and will offer a new ITFS VR Hub accessible by VR headset or browser, with media library viewing extended until May 16.

Due to current coronavirus guidelines, The Stuttgart International Festival of Animated Film (May 4 to 9, 2021) is cancelling onsite events in cinemas and other locations. The online program of the 28th ITFS, originally planned as a hybrid edition, will be expanded and enhanced. An addition to the current platform is the ITFS VR Hub, which will bring the festival feeling to a digital Schlossplatz. ITFS will also offer ticket holders extended access to the media library so they can continue to enjoy films through May 16.

"Unfortunately, the current situation does not allow us to include the cinemas and other venues for onsite festival events in our program planning,” explained artistic managing director Ulrich Wegenast. "And it I not foreseeable that the incidence figures and corresponding regulations will change by the beginning of May."

"The onsite meetings and exchange between the general public and guests from the industry is not just traditionally the core of the festival, but shall also remain to be so, even if in the future online program sections are to be used to expand the audience community nationally and internationally," added commercial managing director Dieter Krauß. "The planned 2021 festival program will be offered online as far as possible, to bring the festival to home screens."

The Festival team is working to integrate as many of the planned onsite programs as possible into the already existing online program.

New at OnlineFestival.ITFS.de: The ITFS VR Hub

ITFS is hosting a VR experience in Mozilla Hubs with the American XR designer and architect Allison Crank, and the Swiss VR expert Christophe Merkle. The unique multi-user 3D world is easy to access via a browser or a VR headset – no downloads are necessary. Visitors can help shape certain aspects of the digital world in the hub, which enables casual and random interaction between visitors by means of self-selected avatars. The ITFS VR Hub is a creative place that illustrates the unlimited possibilities of animation in an immersive, interactive, and real-time way. Within the ITFS VR Hub there are additional, exclusive offers such as presentations, talks and creative DIY activities. 

With the free ITFS live stream on the OnlineFestival.ITFS.de platform, viewers at home can see short films and live interviews every day from May 4 to 9. With the fee-based ONLINE+ access competition films and supporting programs can be viewed as Video on Demand with personal statements by filmmakers providing insights into the films. In addition to school and studio presentations, professionals can participate in live online workshops, and presentations with ONLINE PRO.

ITFS Tickets

For additional information and to purchase Tickets click here.

HYBRID tickets already purchased will be converted into ONLINE tickets with the price difference automatically refunded to ticket holder. All ONSITE tickets will be automatically cancelled and refunded in full. Refunds are expected to be made within the next two weeks; detailed information will be sent to all ticket holders by e-mail.

Source: ITFS 2021