Press Release 2012-04-24
Animation Production Day 2012 in Stuttgart brings together over 100 representatives of the international animation industry. A total of 28 projects have been selected for Animation Production Day, with a special focus this year on Denmark.
This year's Animation Production Day (APD) takes place on 8th and 9th May. Sixty-five companies and institutions from ten countries have registered for the APD 2012 in Stuttgart. A total of 28 projects were selected from all those submitted, including 12 from Germany. This represents a growth of almost 40 % for the APD, in the sixth year since its founding. Alongside well known brands such as "Mullewapp" (MotionWorks GmbH), or "Tom" (Studio FILM BILDER GmbH), and classic materials like the "Magic Flute" (WunderWerk GmbH), there are adaptations of children's books, like "Latte Hedgehog" (simonsays.pictures) and original materials such as "Marnie's World" (UFA Cinema GmbH). The Spanish company Cromosoma are bringing their successful "Triplets" with them to the APD and there are some very exciting projects from France and England. Through close collaboration with the Danish Film Institute, it has been possible to put a special focus on the strong, creative Danish animation market this year, with the aim of pushing more German-Scandinavian co-productions. Six Danish producers are on board this year, presenting their projects at the APD. The spotlight will also be on approaches and ideas for 360° projects, i.e. materials suitable for exploitation in various different media, from books to TV, films, games and even mobile platforms.
"Overall we are very impressed by the quality of the projects," says Michael Schmetz, head of the APD. "There is plenty of good material there, and lots of great deas. At the APD, our job is now to discuss financing instruments and strategies and talk about co-production opportunities, so that we can actually see these great projects on the screen at some point."
The one-to-one meetings in which producers, world sales companies, broadcasters, publishers, banks, funders and equity investors discuss the projects presented, will take place this year at the Hotel Le Meridien. In the more than 350 individual meetings, discussions will focus on new financing methods, product strategies, exploitation options and the brand potential of the projects.
On Wednesday 9th May participants will meet at the Financing & Brands conference in the Haus der Wirtschaft to explore "The cultural and economic challenges of creating animated family entertainment in Europe". A panel of high-calibre expert speakers will explore how Germany and Europe can position themselves better in order to be more competitive on an international level.
The following keynote speakers and panelists are already confirmed:
Dr Christoph E. Palmer Head of the German Producers Alliance
Peter Dinges Chairman of the German Federal Film Board (FFA)
Henrik Bo Nielsen CEO of the Danish Film Institute (DFI)
Peter Boudgoust Director of Südwestrundfunk (SWR, Southwest Broadcasting Germany)
Gabriele Röthemeyer CEO of the Medien- und Filmgesellschaft (MFG) Baden- Württemberg
Stefanie von Ehrenstein Head of the Children's and Family Programming Department at Südwestrundfunk (SWR)
Florence Avilés Deputy Director at IFCIC (Institute for the Financing
of Cinema and the Creative Industries, France)
Jan Bonath Chairman of the Animation Section of the German Producers Alliance and Member of the Board of Directors of scopas medien AG
Kristian Kreyes Head of Technology and Media, Brandenburg State
Investment Bank (ILB)
David Sproxton, CBE Co-Founder und Executive Chairman of Aardman Animations Ltd
Benjamina Mirnik-Voges Head of Feature Film Acquisition and Co-production, Universum Film GmbH
Achim Thielmann Vice President Team Media Department, Commerzbank AG Berlin
The discussion will be moderated by Christophe Erbès.
The combination of the Stuttgart International Festival of Animated Film, the FMX and Animation Production Day has established itself as one of the most important animation industry events worldwide. From 7th to 13th May Stuttgart will transform once again into the "Animated Capital of Europe" and showcase the rapid developments in the fields of animation, animation, VFX, games and transmedia.