Global Festival Success for Projects from Filmakademie Baden-Württemberg’s Animationsinstitut

From Annecy to New York to Los Angeles — student films celebrate international premieres and nominations

Press Release: Ludwigsburg, 10 June 2025

 

 

This summer, several projects by students from the Animationsinsitut are making appearances at international festivals — with competition entries and nominations across France and the US.

 

A SPARROW’S SONG, a graduation film by Tobias Eckerlin (director), has been nominated for a BAFTA Student Award in the “Animation” category — a distinguished honor for emerging filmmakers worldwide.
Inspired by a true story, his 3D-animated film follows an elderly widow during World War II who struggles to overcome her grief and rediscover joy. When she rescues a dying sparrow, a deep connection begins to grow between them.
Eckerlin’s work is a moving testament to the power of hope and the human capacity for healing. The awards ceremony will take place on June 13 in Los Angeles.

 

Meanwhile, the Tribeca Film Festival in New York will present the 2D-animated short film LINIE 12, created by Sarah Schulz (director and writer) and Christopher Schmier (director). Following in the footsteps of last year’s Animationsinstitut success SCRUBBY (by Paul Vollet), LINIE 12 will screen several times as part of “Whoopi’s Wonderful World of Animation”, a programme curated by Whoopi Goldberg.
Schulz’ graduation film is set in a world of steep, tower-like mountains and follows a meticulous train conductor whose perfectly timed routine is thrown into chaos when a wild musician sneaks into his engine room — leading to an unexpected turn of events.

 

At the prestigious Annecy International Animation Film Festival, considered the world’s most important event for animated film, two projects from Animationsinstitut students and graduates will be featured in the official competition:

 

• DETLEV, a stop-motion graduation film by Ferdinand Ehrhardt (director and producer) and Saskia Stirn (producer) who graduated in 2024, tells the story of an always-freezing street sweeper who can only warm himself through a peculiar ritual. The film is competing in the “Graduation Films”
• The interactive VR game LICHTUNG, developed by third-year Interactive Media students Cyril Fischer, Christoph Mohr (producers) and Aria Wolf (director), will feature in the “VR Works” international competition. In LICHTUNG, players enter a quiet, mysterious world that gradually comes to life as they explore and interact with it — revealing its light and hidden beauty.

 

Animation student Sofija Zivkovic is also participating in the category “Graduation Films” — she created her film BLARGH as an exchange student at the School of Visual Arts in New York. During the festival, the Animationsinstitut will also be present at panels and the German Reception.

 

The Filmakademie Baden-Württemberg and its Animationsinstitut are proud of the international recognition and warmly congratulate the teams on their outstanding achievements. “It’s a tremendous honour to receive such worldwide recognition, at such a high level, for the inspiring work that our talented students continue to produce,” adds Dr. Jan Pinkava, Director of the Animationsinstitut.

 

Find out more about our students' projects here.