Valencia: WEIRD MARKET ANNOUNCES ALL 32 SHORT FILMS IN COMPETITION AND THE 9 PROJECTS TO BE PRESENTED IN VALENCIA

The Animation, Video Games and New Media Market reveals the core of its programming with current and future industry trends.

This year’s call for projects focuses on IPs, with 173 titles selected for the catalog.

Argentina’s Bárbara Cerro, France’s Sylvain Grain, and Armenia’s Vrej Kassourny will be the jury members at the WFest short film festival

Valencia, September, 2025. A total of 9 projects and 32 short films make up the catalog’s backbone for the 17th Weird Market and the Wfest festival, respectively. The selection of projects—which this year focuses on the value of IPs—features multiple co-productions that reflect the powerful international fabric making up the animation sector. The film competition features works from 22 countries, selected among the 1,734 entries received from a total of 104 territories. “The animation industry has been flexing its muscles for years. It is a network of professionals who are able to adapt to the times and have a great talent for developing original ideas,” says José Luis Farias, director of the event.

VALENCIA TO HOST PRESENTATIONS OF 9 ANIMATION PROJECTS

The upcoming edition of Weird Market will feature nine presentations of projects from the 173 selected for its official catalog. These include one feature film, three short films, two video games, and three web series from Portugal, Spain, and Germany, as well as co-productions from the latter two countries with others such as France, Thailand, the Netherlands, Denmark, the United States, and Brazil.

The feature film is Condenaditos, for which more details will be revealed. This is the opera prima of Matisse González, a Bolivian animator, illustrator, and director based in Germany who was nominated for an Annie Award in 2020 for her short film Gravedad.

https://www.matisse-gonzalez.com/condenaditos

The short film section will feature Mole and the Light, Die Captcha Krise, and The Homeless Wolf. The first is a work by renowned Spanish illustrator María Ramos, a project that will be coupled with a series and its own toys, while the second is a production by 3D/VR artist Eric Giessmann, a project that will also expand its format to include a video game and a virtual reality experience. The third production comes from Portuguese artist Ricardo Adrêgo.

Co-production will be the common factor among the web series. Koffe Kat by Arisa Veeravitayases and Thawatchai Chunhachai involves Spain and Thailand, while The Means of Destruction by Nabil Samandari, Nicolás Petelski, and Martijn Kreemers involves Germany, Spain, the Netherlands, Denmark, and the United States. Hurricanimals by Paulo Muppet and Luciana Eguti is a Brazilian-Spanish production.

Lastly, more details will be provided about two Spanish video games: Unboxing Mr. Coo by Nacho Rodríguez and Jordi & Oslo: The Lost Tail by Joveguille.

WFEST PRESENTS 32 SHORT FILMS IN COMPETITION

Every year, Wfest, the short film competition that forms part of Weird Market, selects some of the best animated works in its two competitions. A total of 8 productions will be screened in the national competition, while the international competition will feature 24 shorts. These works represent countries as diverse as Belgium, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Brazil, Bulgaria, Croatia, the Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, Jordan, the Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, Slovakia, Spain, Switzerland, the United Kingdom, Ukraine, and the United States.

The national selection covers, through techniques such as stop-motion or traditional two-dimensional design, a broad spectrum of themes, ranging from issues such as the environmental crisis and historical memories to self-awareness, destiny, and women-related topics that are rarely depicted on screen, such as menstruation. Prominent names in the industry will participate, such as Izibene Oñederra, Goya nominees Alicia Núñez Puerto and Valle Comba, as well as the Gaudí Award-winning duo Marc Riba and Anna Solanas. They will be joined by local talent from the Valencian Community, such as Alex Rey and Félix Bollain, plus eclectic and versatile authors like Jaime Penalva and David Rosel.

The international competition will offer a broad snapshot of animation worldwide. A wide range of techniques, themes, and cinematography will be featured in the sessions scheduled at both the Filmoteca and La Mutant (a venue that is joining the program this year to bring the works closer to producers, distributors, and creators). The selection features award-winning creations from festivals such as Annecy, Venice, Sundance, and the BAFTAs. Renowned filmmakers such as Oscar nominee Bruno Caetano and Annie Award winner José Prats are mixed in with emerging talent. “The selection showcases animation’s ability to transcend genre barriers and pre-established clichés. There are some more traditional projects, others that are experimental, as well as fiction, documentary, or reflections of the current geopolitical landscape, such as the war in Ukraine,” says Farias.

PROMOTING NEW TALENT

Weird Market aims to be a launch pad for emerging talent, as demonstrated by the competitive section within Wfest: Talent. A selection of thirteen national and European works from schools or directors making their first or second film. The selection is divided into two parts: “TALENTO WEIRD,” consisting of eight Spanish shorts, and “WEIRD TALENT: European shorts,” which includes five more works from various European Union countries. Both can be seen at La Mutant and universities, schools, or studios such as La Salle at Ramón Llull University, the Master’s Degree in Animation at the University of the Basque Country, UDIT, the University Centers for Technology and Digital Art (U-TAD) and Art and Design in Barcelona (BAU), and Barreira Arte y Diseño S.L.U. support the selected proposals.

ARGENTINA, FRANCE, AND ARMENIA ON THE JURY

This year, the short film competition will feature an exceptional jury made up of three professionals from Argentina, France, and Armenia. Bárbara Cerro, from Buenos Aires, is an audiovisual producer whose work has won awards at such prestigious festivals as the Berlinale, Annecy, Mar del Plata, Sitges, FICX Gijón, and the Ottawa International Animation Festival. She is also the founder and director of the BITBANG International Animation Festival (an Oscar® qualifying festival).

From France comes Sylvain Grain, a producer and consultant with a 20+ years career in the entertainment industry. He is part of the team at the Annecy International Animation Film Market (Mifa) and is a key player in nurturing talent in animation and building bridges between creative industries.

The jury is completed by Vrej Kassourny, an Armenian filmmaker, animator, and painter, founder and director of the ReA Festival (ReAnimania International Film and Comics Festival in Yerevan). Vrej is a multidisciplinary talent and a leading figure in his country, with more than 25 years at the helm of his animation studio (ReAct Production) and as the driving force behind ReAComics, a publishing house that aims to translate and publish international comics in his native language, while helping to generate a new wave of comic artists in Armenia.

The jury and the audience at the competition will determine the winners of five awards: the jury will grant the distinctions for “Best International Short Film,” “Best European Short Film,” “Best National Short Film,” and “International Talent Jury Award for a debut film or international school short film,” while the audience vote will decide the “Audience Award for Best National Short Film.”

The 17th edition of Weird Market is primarily sponsored by Creative Europe MEDIA, the Valencia City Council, Valencia Innovation Capital, the Ministry of Culture (through the Recovery, Transformation, and Resilience Plan, funded by the European Union–NextGenerationEU), and the participation of Acción Cultural Española through the Program for the Internationalization of Spanish Culture (PICE). It is also supported by RTVE, Movistar Plus+, Valencia Game City, Tangram Solutions, the Valencian Institute of Culture attached to the Ministry of Education, Culture, Universities and Employment, BCN Game Fest, DIBOOS, AVEPA, Animat, and the Annecy Festival.

 

Links of interest:

See the full program HERE.

Projects selected in the catalog:

https://weirdmarket.es/proyectos-catalogo/

Projects presented at Weird Market:

https://weirdmarket.es/en/presentacion-de-proyectos-2025/

WFest selection:

https://weirdmarket.es/en/wfest-selection-2025/

Short film market selection:

https://weirdmarket.es/en/market-selection-2025/

 

https://weirdmarket.es/

 

 

In Your Dreams | Official Trailer | Netflix

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/In_Your_Dreams_(film)

Get ready for the adventure of a nighttime. IN YOUR DREAMS – only on Netflix November 14. Stevie and her younger brother Elliot embark on a journey into the absurd landscape of their own dreams in search of The Sandman, who holds the power to grant them their ultimate dream come true. Starring Jolie Hoang-Rappaport, Elias Janssen, Craig Robinson, Simu Liu, and Cristin Milioti.

https://www.netflix.com/de/title/80992977

Täglich einen Kurzen: „The Purple Season“/“La saison pourpre“ by Clémence Bouchereau

https://clemencebouchereau.com/bio-3

Original title: La Saison Pourpre

Director: Clémence Bouchereau

Production: Bandini Films

Scenario, Script: Clémence Bouchereau

Animation: Clémence Bouchereau

Image: Nadine Buss

Film Editor: Catherine Aladenise

Foley Artist: Pierre Sauze

Sound Editor: Pierre Sauze

Mix: Régis Diebold

Soundtrack: Nathan Hakoune

Year: 2023

Starsand Island | Tokyo Game Show 2025

You left your job in the big city and moved to a charming island to start a new rural life! Here, you can collect treasures by the sea, go fishing, grow crops, and raise animals. You can also become close friends or even lovers with the townsfolk, learning their signature recipes or how to craft useful tools. With completely freeform object DIY, you can create a world that’s uniquely your own, and invite other players to join you and share in this wonderful experience!

https://www.xbox.com/de-DE/games/store/starsand-island/9p86lldcl5cc

Mistfall Hunter – Developer Update | Tokyo Game Show 2025

Mistfall Hunter is a dark fantasy action extraction RPG where you can team up with up to three Gyldhunters and venture into the Gyldenmist to battle monstrous foes and rival teams for powerful gear. The Solemn Needles, the second playable map, will debut in the official launch. Enter a bleached, sacred forest where every step reveals wretched secrets hidden in the mist, and where Gyldhunters must ultimately confront the overwhelming power of a False God. More thrilling updates await—stay connected with Mistfall Hunter!

https://www.xbox.com/de-DE/games/store/mistfall-hunter/9pn5wjm7v6m0

AVATAR: FIRE AND ASH | New Trailer | OV & Deutsche Fassung

This world is much deeper than you imagine. Watch the brand-new trailer for Avatar: Fire and Ash and experience it in theatres December 19th. Also, don’t miss Avatar: The Way of Water back on the big screen in 3D for one week only, starting October 3rd. With “Avatar: Fire and Ash,” James Cameron takes audiences back to Pandora in an immersive new adventure with Marine turned Na’vi leader Jake Sully (Sam Worthington), Na’vi warrior Neytiri (Zoe Saldaña), and the Sully family.

The film, which has a screenplay by James Cameron & Rick Jaffa & Amanda Silver, and a story by James Cameron & Rick Jaffa & Amanda Silver & Josh Friedman & Shane Salerno, also stars Sigourney Weaver, Stephen Lang, Oona Chaplin, Cliff Curtis, Joel David Moore, CCH Pounder, Edie Falco, David Thewlis, Jemaine Clement, Giovanni Ribisi, Britain Dalton, Jamie Flatters, Trinity Jo-Li Bliss, Jack Champion, Brendan Cowell, Bailey Bass, Filip Geljo, Duane Evans, Jr., and Kate Winslet. ——

Director: James Cameron Cast: Sam Worthington, Zoe Saldaña, Sigourney Weaver, Stephen Lang 

Disney hat heute ein neues Poster und den atemberaubenden Trailer mit außergewöhnlichen Bildern, neuen Clans und beeindruckenden neuen Kreaturen zu AVATAR: FIRE AND ASH von Regisseur und Oscar®-Gewinner James Cameron veröffentlicht! Der dritte Film der weltweit außerordentlich erfolgreichen „Avatar“ Filmreihe startet ab dem 17. Dezember 2025 bundesweit auf den größten Leinwänden in allen Premium-Formaten, IMAX 3D, Dolby Cinema 3D, RealD 3D, 4DX und ScreenX.

Darüber hinaus wird AVATAR: THE WAY OF WATER vom 2. bis zum 5. Oktober weltweit exklusiv in 3D in den Kinos wiederaufgeführt. Das bildgewaltige Kinoereignis spielte 2022 weltweit mehr als 2,3 Milliarden USD ein und wurde unter anderem mit dem Oscar® für die besten visuellen Effekte ausgezeichnet.

Zum Film: James Cameron nimmt in AVATAR: FIRE AND ASH alle Zuschauer mit auf ein immersives Abenteuer. Mit dem ehemaligen Marine Soldaten Jake Sully (Sam Worthington), der jetzt der Anführer der Na’vi ist, der Na’vi Kriegerin Neytiri (Zoe Saldaña) und der Sully Familie geht es zurück nach Pandora. Weitere Rollen in dem Film nach einem Drehbuch von Cameron & Rick Jaffa & Amanda Silver und nach einer Geschichte von James Cameron & Rick Jaffa & Amanda Silver & Josh Friedman & Shane Salerno, übernehmen Sigourney Weaver, Stephen Lang, Oona Chaplin, Cliff Curtis, Britain Dalton, Trinity Bliss, Jack Champion, Bailey Bass und Kate Winslet.

WICKED: TEIL 2 | Finaler Trailer | For Good | OV + DF

Official Site: https://wickedmovie.com

And now whatever way our stories end, I know you have rewritten mine by being my friend …

Last year’s global cinematic cultural sensation, which became the most successful Broadway film adaptation of all time, now reaches its epic, electrifying, emotional conclusion in Wicked: For Good. Directed once again by award-winning director Jon M. Chu and starring the spectacular returning cast, led by Academy Award® nominated superstars Cynthia Erivo and Ariana Grande, the final chapter of the untold story of the witches of Oz begins with Elphaba and Glinda estranged and living with the consequences of their choices. Elphaba (Cynthia Erivo), now demonized as The Wicked Witch of the West, lives in exile, hidden within the Ozian forest while continuing her fight for the freedom of Oz’s silenced Animals and desperately trying to expose the truth she knows about The Wizard (Jeff Goldblum). Glinda, meanwhile, has become the glamorous symbol of Goodness for all of Oz, living at the palace in Emerald City and reveling in the perks of fame and popularity. Under the instruction of Madame Morrible (Oscar® winner Michelle Yeoh), Glinda is deployed to serve as an effervescent comfort to Oz, reassuring the masses that all is well under the rule of The Wizard. As Glinda’s stardom expands and she prepares to marry Prince Fiyero (Olivier award winner and Emmy and SAG nominee Jonathan Bailey) in a spectacular Ozian wedding, she is haunted by her separation from Elphaba. She attempts to broker a conciliation between Elphaba and The Wizard, but those efforts will fail, driving Elphaba and Glinda only further apart. The aftershocks will transform Boq (Tony nominee Ethan Slater) and Fiyero forever, and threaten the safety of Elphaba’s sister, Nessarose (Marissa Bode), when a girl from Kansas comes crashing into all their lives. As an angry mob rises against the Wicked Witch, Glinda and Elphaba will need to come together one final time. With their singular friendship now the fulcrum of their futures, they will need to truly see each other, with honesty and empathy, if they are to change themselves, and all of Oz, for good.

Wicked: For Good also stars Emmy nominee Bowen Yang and Bronwyn James as Glinda’s fawning assistants, Pfannee and ShenShen and BAFTA and Grammy nominee Sharon D. Clarke (Caroline, or Change) as the voice of Elphaba’s childhood nanny, Dulcibear.

The film is produced by returning Tony and Emmy winning powerhouse Marc Platt p.g.a. and by multiple Tony winner David Stone. The executive producers are Stephen Schwartz, David Nicksay, Jared LeBoff, Winnie Holzman and Dana Fox. The first film, Wicked, released in November 2024, earned 10 Academy Award® nominations, including Best Picture, and won the Oscars® for Costume Design and Production Design. To date, the film has grossed $750 million worldwide. Wicked: For Good is based on the generation-defining musical stage play with music and lyrics by legendary Grammy and Oscar® winning composer and lyricist Stephen Schwartz and book by Winnie Holzman, from the bestselling novel by Gregory Maguire. The screenplay is by Winnie Holzman and Winnie Holzman & Dana Fox. The film score is by John Powell & Stephen Schwartz, with music and lyrics by Stephen Schwartz.

Besetzung: Cynthia Erivo, Ariana Grande, Jonathan Bailey, Ethan Slater, Bowen Yang, Marissa Bode sowie Michelle Yeoh und Jeff Goldblum

Regie: Jon M. Chu

Drehbuch: Winnie Holzman, Dana Fox

(basierend auf dem Musical Wicked; Musik und Text von Stephen Schwartz, Buch von Winnie Holzman, nach dem Roman von Gregory Maguire)

Produktion: Marc Platt, David Stone Ausführende Produktion: Stephen Schwartz, David Nicksay, Jared LeBoff, Winnie Holzman, Dana Fox

„Und was in meinem Buch des Lebens stand, wird umgeschrieben, neu erzählt, nur weil ich dich fand.“

WICKED: TEIL 2 ist das abschließende Kapitel der unerzählten Geschichte der Hexen von Oz. Elphaba und Glinda haben sich entzweit und müssen nun mit den Konsequenzen ihrer Entscheidungen leben. Elphaba (Cynthia Erivo, Harriet – Der Weg in die Freiheit), die inzwischen als Böse Hexe des Westens verteufelt wird, lebt im Exil in den Wäldern, wo sie ihren Kampf für die Freiheit der zum Schweigen gezwungenen Tiere fortführt. Verzweifelt versucht sie, die Wahrheit über den Zauberer (Jeff Goldblum, Jurassic Park) ans Licht zu bringen. Unterdessen ist Glinda (Ariana Grande, Don’t Look Up) für ganz Oz zum strahlenden Symbol des Guten geworden. Sie lebt im Palast in der Smaragdstadt und schwelgt in den Annehmlichkeiten von Ruhm und Ansehen. Auf Anweisung von Madame Akaber (Oscar®-Preisträgerin Michelle Yeoh) dient Glinda als schillernde Trostspenderin, die den Bewohnern von Oz versichern soll, dass unter der Herrschaft des Zauberers alles zum Besten steht. Zwar wächst Glindas Ruhm immer weiter und die spektakuläre Hochzeit mit Prinz Fiyero (Olivier-Preisträger und Emmy- und SAG-Kandidat Jonathan Bailey, Fellow Travelers) steht unmittelbar bevor, doch noch immer leidet sie unter der Trennung von Elphaba. Obwohl sie sich bemüht, eine Versöhnung zwischen Elphaba und dem Zauberer herbeizuführen, entfernen sich die beiden Freundinnen nur noch mehr voneinander. Dies hat nicht nur Auswirkungen auf Moq (Tony-Nominierter Ethan Slater, The Man Behind the Camera) und Fiyero, sondern gefährdet auch die Sicherheit von Elphabas Schwester Nessarose (Marissa Bode, Wicked) – und plötzlich kommt auch noch ein Mädchen aus Kansas ins Spiel. Als sich ein wütender Mob gegen die vermeintlich Böse Hexe erhebt, müssen Glinda und Elphaba ein letztes Mal zusammenfinden. Ihre außergewöhnliche Freundschaft ist der Schlüssel zu ihrem Schicksal, und es bleibt ihnen nur, einander in schonungsloser Ehrlichkeit und tiefem Mitgefühl zu begegnen, um sich selbst und ganz Oz zum Guten zu verändern.

Regie bei WICKED: TEIL 2 führte erneut der preisgekrönte Regisseur Jon M. Chu (In the Heights). Auch der spektakuläre Cast ist wieder dabei, angeführt von den Oscar®-nominierten Superstars Cynthia Erivo und Ariana Grande. In weiteren Rollen sind die Emmy-Nominierten Bowen Yang und Bronwyn James als Glindas ergebene Gehilfen Pfanny und SchönSchön zu sehen. BAFTA- und Grammy-Kandidatin Sharon D. Clarke (Caroline, or Change) leiht Elphabas Kindermädchen Zuckerbär ihre Stimme. Produziert wurde der Film abermals von Tony- und Emmy-Preisträger Marc Platt (La La Land) und vom mehrfachen Tony-Gewinner David Stone (The Boys in the Band). Die ausführende Produktion übernahmen Stephen Schwartz (Godspell), David Nicksay (Verhandlungssache), Jared LeBoff (Scott Pilgrim gegen den Rest der Welt), Winnie Holzman (Roadies) und Dana Fox (New Girl).

Der erste Teil von Wicked, der im November 2024 in die Kinos kam, erhielt zehn Oscar®-Nominierungen, unter anderem als Bester Film, und gewann schließlich in den Kategorien Bestes Kostümdesign und Bestes Produktionsdesign. Bis heute hat Wicked weltweit 750 Millionen US-Dollar eingespielt. WICKED: TEIL 2 basiert auf dem bahnbrechenden Musical, dessen Musik und Liedtexte aus der Feder des legendären Grammy- und Oscar®-Preisträgers Stephen Schwartz stammen und dessen Buch Winnie Holzman nach dem Bestseller-Roman von Gregory Maguire schrieb. Das Drehbuch zum Film verfasste sie gemeinsam mit Dana Fox. Der Score stammt von John Powell und Stephen Schwartz, die Musik und die Liedtexte von Stephen Schwartz.

The Making of „A Sparrow´s Song“

See how the Student Academy Award winning short film A Sparrow’s Song was created using Katana for look development and lighting, and Nuke for compositing.

Vincent Maurer, Lead Technical Director, and Tobias Eckerlin, Director — both graduates from Filmakademie — will walk you through the project, starting with the concept and visual style, and showing how they established a clear creative direction while understanding the unique challenges of a student production.

You’ll explore their look development and lighting workflows, including the creation of a robust pipeline with Katana, that helped to accelerate these stages through templating, material variations, and multishot workflows, so they could ultimately focus on being creative. They’ll show you how they worked creatively with lighting to help tell the story by setting the tone and mood throughout the film. Finally, they’ll explain their compositing template in Nuke, and how they made use of AOVs and custom tools to bring everything together and achieve the final look.

Join the Katana discord: https://discord.com/channels/60080420…

About Us: Foundry creates award-winning creative software so global studios can turn incredible ideas into reality.

https://www.filmakademie.de/de/news-aktuelles/article/fabw-animationsfilm-gewinnt-student-academy-award

To Gaza With Love | Palestine Solidarity | Help Gaza Live Stream

The Global Animation Community unites in solidarity with Gaza to form AC4PAL. AC4Pal was created to support the work of Haneen Koraz, an animator based in Gaza who has been running animation workshops with displaced children and women across the region. The project „To Gaza with Love: A Global Anijam“ brings together 329 short films from over 50 countries, created by animators, students, and studios in a collective act of solidarity with the people of Gaza. This Live Stream is the launch of all films that were submitted to our campaign, an act of creative resistance.

Read More about our initiative: https://bit.ly/CartoonBrewToGazaWithLove

Check out our Interactive map to see where the film making teams came from https://togazawith.love/

To watch more videos from ‘To Gaza with Love’: https://bit.ly/ToGazaWithLoveYouTube

LAUPHEIM, GERMANY - SEPTEMBER 19: Gabriele M. Walther shows the trophy at the Carl Laemmle Produzentenpreis 2025 (Producer Award) at Schloss Laupheim on September 19, 2025 in Laupheim, Germany. (Photo by Thomas Niedermueller/Getty Images for Carl Laemmle UG)
LAUPHEIM, GERMANY - SEPTEMBER 19: Gabriele M. Walther shows the trophy at the Carl Laemmle Produzentenpreis 2025 (Producer Award) at Schloss Laupheim on September 19, 2025 in Laupheim, Germany. (Photo by Thomas Niedermueller/Getty Images for Carl Laemmle UG)

Gabriele M. Walther mit dem Carl Laemmle Produzentenpreis 2025 geehrt / Der Carl Laemmle Talentpreis 2025 geht an den Produzenten Gerrit Klein

Credits Foto: Thomas Niedermüller / Getty Images for Carl Laemmle Produzentenpreis UG

Berlin/Laupheim, 19. September 2025 – Produzentin und Drehbuchautorin Gabriele M. Walther wurde heute im Rahmen einer feierlichen Gala im Schloss Großlaupheim für ihre außergewöhnliche Vielseitigkeit, ihren unternehmerischen Mut und ihren prägenden Beitrag zum deutschen Animationsfilm mit dem Carl Laemmle Produzentenpreis geehrt. Erstmals in diesem Jahr kamen die Nominierungen für den Ehrenpreis aus den Sektionen der Produktionsallianz. Zudem wurde erstmals der Carl Laemmle VFF Talentpreis an den Produzenten Gerrit Klein verliehen.

https://carl-laemmle-produzentenpreis.de/preistraegerin-2025/
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Als erster eigenständiger deutscher Produzentenpreis zeichnet der Carl Laemmle Produzentenpreis jährlich das Lebenswerk einer herausragenden Produzentenpersönlichkeit aus und stellt zugleich generell die besondere Leistung der Produzentinnen und Produzenten im kreativen und wirtschaftlichen Prozess des Filmschaffens in besonderer Weise heraus.

„Gabriele Walther zeichnet sich nicht nur durch ihre kreative Kraft, sondern auch durch außergewöhnliche unternehmerische Risikobereitschaft aus. Immer wieder hat sie Projekte realisiert, die Mut zum Neuen erforderten – seien es ambitionierte Kinoproduktionen, die Etablierung neuer Animationsmarken oder eigenfinanzierte Pilotprojekte“, so ein Auszug aus der Jurybegründung.

Die mit den Produzent:innen Wiebke Andresen (Letterbox Film), Christian Beetz (Beetz Brothers Film) und Jean-Young Kwak (Amalia Film) sowie Moderator Louis Klamroth („Hart aber fair“) und Filmmäzen Adrian Kutter (Gründer Biberacher Festspiele) hochkarätig besetzte Jury würdigt mit Gabriele M. Walther eine Produzentin, „die mit Pioniergeist, kreativer Kraft und der Förderung von Frauen in der Medienbranche den Geist Carl Laemmles in besonderer Weise weiterträgt.“

Für die Jury sprach die Geschäftsführerin und Produzentin der Amalia Film GmbH Jean-Young Kwak: „Ihr unerschütterlicher Glaube an die Kraft guter Geschichten und ihr unternehmerischer Weitblick haben ihr ermöglicht, Trends frühzeitig zu erkennen und die deutsche Film- und Fernsehlandschaft nachhaltig zu prägen. Ihre Bereitschaft, kreative Risiken einzugehen und neue Wege zu beschreiten, ist beispielhaft und trägt entscheidend zu ihrem außergewöhnlichen Erfolg bei.“

Der Filmproduzent Bernhard zu Castell, Chief Distribution Officer und Geschäftsführer LEONINE Studios, ehrte die Preisträgerin in seiner Laudatio: „Gabriele Walther hat nicht nur die deutsche Filmwelt mit ihren Werken bereichert, sondern mit einer Kraft, die nur aus ehrlicher Überzeugung und Begeisterung erwächst, einen nachhaltigen Einfluss auf die gesamte Branche ausgeübt.“
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Preisträgerin Gabriele M. Walther betonte in ihrer Dankesrede: „Ich versuche Veränderungen herbeizuführen, das verbindet mich mit Carl Laemmle. Diesen Ehrenpreis teile ich mit allen Frauen in der Branche. Ich danke meinem wunderbaren Team und all meinen langjährigen Weggefährtinnen und Weggefährten.“

Michelle Müntefering, CEO und Sprecherin des Gesamtvorstands der Produktionsallianz: „Gabriele Walther ist eine produzentische Wegbereiterin mit enormer Kreativität und unerschütterlichem Mut und steht damit in der Tradition des Namensgebers dieses Preises, Carl Laemmle. Ihre außergewöhnliche unternehmerische Kraft hat die deutsche Filmwirtschaft verändert und gerade für Produzentinnen Türen geöffnet, die lange verschlossen schienen. Sie engagiert sich nachhaltig für die Sichtbarkeit und Förderung von Frauen in der Medienwelt und gestaltet damit deren Zukunft maßgeblich mit.“

Ingo Bergmann, Oberbürgermeister der Stadt Laupheim: „Die heutige Verleihung des Carl-Laemmle-Produzentenpreises war ein besonderer Moment für unsere Stadt. Wir haben das Andenken an Carl Laemmle gewürdigt und mit Gabriela M. Walter eine Produzentin für ihr beeindruckendes Lebenswerk geehrt. Ich gratuliere Frau Walter herzlich zu dieser Auszeichnung und danke allen Beteiligten für einen rundum gelungenen Abend.“

 

Der traditionsreiche Carl Laemmle Produzentenpreis wird im Jahr 2025 erstmals um eine zukunftsorientierte Kategorie erweitert: Aufstrebende Produzent:innen werden künftig mit dem von der VFF Verwertungsgesellschaft der Film- und Fernsehproduzenten gestifteten Carl Laemmle VFF Talentpreis ausgezeichnet. Der Preis ist mit 15.000 Euro dotiert und beinhaltet eine zweijährige Fördermitgliedschaft in der Produktionsallianz, die Zugang zu Netzwerken, Veranstaltungen und filmpolitischen Diskursen eröffnet.

Der Preisträger des Carl Laemmle VFF Talentpreises 2025 ist Gerrit Klein, Geschäftsführer Giganten Film Produktions GmbH, für den Spielfilm „Vier minus drei“.

Stellvertretend für die Jury überreichte der Moderator Louis Klamroth denCarl Laemmle VFF Talentpreis: „Mit VIER MINUS DREI realisiert Gerrit Klein einen Film, der persönliche Betroffenheit, unternehmerisches Risiko und künstlerische Verantwortung eindrucksvoll vereint. Er ermöglicht die Adaption einer realen Verlustgeschichte, verhandelt komplexe Rechtefragen und wahrt dabei stets die künstlerische Integrität des Projekts. Eine Produzentenleistung, die beeindruckend ist und Maßstäbe setzt.“

Dazu Jennifer Stahl, Geschäftsführerin der Carl Laemmle Produzentenpreis UG und der Produktionsallianz Campus: „Der Carl Laemmle VFF Talentpreis ist ein echter Booster für den produzentischen Nachwuchs und eine kluge Investition in die Zukunft unserer Branche. Mit dem Preis fördern wir Produzent:innen, die erste Produktionen erfolgreich umgesetzt haben und nun den langen Atem für die nächsten Schritte brauchen. Die Vernetzung mit Schlüsselfiguren der Branche und das Schöpfen aus deren Erfahrungen sind für sie gerade in dieser Phase von unschätzbarem Wert.“

Zur feierlichen Gala im Schloss Großlaupheim kamen 400 geladene Gäste aus Film, Fernsehen, Politik und Wirtschaft, darunter Ingo Bergmann (Oberbürgermeister der Stadt Laupheim), Michelle Müntefering (CEO und Sprecherin des Gesamtvorstands der Produktionsallianz), Cem Özdemir (Bundesminister a.D.), Staatssekretär Arne Braun (Ministerium für Wissenschaft, Forschung und Kunst Baden-Württemberg), Jurymitglied Louis Klamroth (Moderator „Hart aber fair“), die Schauspieler:innen Johannes Heinrichs, Bettina Zimmermann, Kai Wiesinger, Lukas Sauer uvm.

 

Die Gala wurde von Dennenesch Zoudé moderiert.

NEW EUROPEAN ANIMATION SERIES MAKE THEIR DEBUT IN TOULOUSE AT THE 36TH CARTOON FORUM

Foto: Tuesday morning, Pitching sessions © CARTOON

Cartoon Forum, the pitching and co-production forum for European animated series, is celebrating its 36th edition on September 15-18 in the French city of Toulouse, where 75 new animated series and TV specials projects will be pitched to find new partners for accelerating their development and distribution. Producers, broadcasters, distributors, investors, streaming platforms, book publishers, and game developers are among the participants registered at this annual meeting organized by CARTOON, an international non-profit association based in Brussels. Besides the pitching sessions, the agenda also includes a number of networking activities and special sessions aimed at strengthening European cooperation.

https://www.cartoon-media.eu/forum/projects/discover-the-projects

Shortlisted from 108 submissions, the selected projects hail from 20 countries, and amount to 391 hours of new content and a budget of 339.5 million EUR. France leads the line-up with 30 projects, followed by Ireland with 7, Belgium with 6, Spain with 5, and Poland with 4. Germany and Italy are represented by 3 series, while Czechia, the Netherlands, Greece, and Serbia are participating with 2 each.

Headed by Poland, the CEE countries have a total of 11 projects, including series from Serbia (2), Czechia (2), Bosnia, Latvia and Bulgaria (one each). The Nordic countries, meanwhile, have a total of 4 projects, one per country: Finland, Sweden, Denmark and Iceland. Portugal and Armenia (non-EU country in the Creative Europe Programme) have one project each in the selection. Regarding the selection criteria, Cartoon Forum Selection Committee explained that original creations and the emergence of new IPs ranked high in the selection process due to the current economic challenges facing the industry.

One third of the projects were developed by companies participating for the first time in a CARTOON event, highlighting the continued relevance of Cartoon Forum as a platform for accelerating the financing and development of animated series in Europe.

THE SELECTION AT A GLANCE

Series targeting children – from pre-school to children 11-years-old – and family remain the main focus of European animation production with an 80% of the projects targeting these audiences. In contrast, projects aimed at teenagers and young adults/adults have seen a slight drop, representing 20% of the selection. The average budget per series stands at 4.53 million EUR, while 33 projects arrive in Toulouse with two or more countries on board, confirming the importance of co- production in the overall financing of series. Concerning animation techniques, 2D continues to be the most widely used in European series to up to 68% of the projects selected, four times more than those developed in 3D. A 37% of the projects feature female heroes or approach their stories from a female perspective, while 17% promote diversity and inclusion, and 15%, environmental issues. Diversity also reaches the genres of the projects, which feature comedies, adventure, action, and science fiction, among others. Comics, books or other media continue to be a source of inspiration for the European series: this year 27% of the selected projects are adaptations.

Two TV series and one TV special from the Occitanie region have made it into the line-up: “The Zzli Brothers” (Xbo films) and “Welcome to Happycracy” (Manégann Films & Xbo films). One, “Atomic” (Studio Zmei, Bulgaria), has previously participated at Cartoon Springboard, CARTOON’s pitching event dedicated to new talents in animation. Germany’s series “3 Captains” (Studio FILM BILDER) and “Wing it like Lilly” (Wolkenlenker) were selected through Animation Production Days (APD), while “Tiny Fox and Great Boar” (EGoFILM Production, Poland) was selected through CEE Animation Forum.
In 2023, the European Broadcasting Union (EBU), France Télévisions, and CARTOON joined forces in EBU Co-Development Initiative, a collaborative model for animation focused on co-funding the development of pilot episodes. This year, 15 European broadcasters will select at least one project presented at Cartoon Forum to receive this fund. The selected project from last year’s edition, “My Life is a Manga” (Brain Comet and Blue Spirit, France), will be presenting its latest developments at the event.

© Celia Lenoir

BEYOND THE PITCHING SESSIONS
Besides the projects’ presentations, the agenda includes a number of activities aimed at strengthening cooperation and promoting networking, such as Animated UK Meets Europe and Fill the Gap.

Thomas Meyer-Hermann, Studio FILM BILDER – Tuesday afternoon, Happy Hour Magelis © Celia Lenoir

A collaboration between Animation UK and CARTOON, with the support of BBC Children’s and Education, Animated UK Meets Europe looks to showcase UK talent and creativity in European markets with the aim to obtaining European co-production and distribution partners. To be held on Wednesday, September 17, the second edition of this event created in 2023 will feature three UK’s series selected by the BBC and S4C: “Amelia Fang” produced by CAKE Entertainment & Germany’s DCM, “Let’s Play in Tiger Bay” produced by Hoho Entertainment & Bumpybox, and “The Adventures of Robin Robin” produced by Aardman Animations. Following the pitching sessions, Funding the Future: Unlocking the Power of Co- Productions in Animation, a talk moderated by Vanessa Chapman and featuring prominent European broadcasters, will further emphasize the importance of public service broadcasting and cross-border collaborations.
The slowdown suffered by the animation industry in recent years has given rise to various financing challenges and a reduction in the number of projects being green lit into production. To support producers in these difficult times and respond more effectively to the current needs of the industry, CARTOON has implemented two new networking initiatives: Matchmaking sessions and Fill the Gap. The participants in the former will hold 20’ meetings with the companies they are interested in, while the laper  offers Cartoon Forum pitching producers from previous editions, whose projects have not yet secured the necessary funding to go into production, a showcase for visibility.
Ten companies from seven countries are in the running for the Cartoon Forum Tributes, which seek to celebrate the dedication and creativity of key players in the European animation industry over the previous year. The awards are broken down into three categories – Broadcaster, Investor/Distributor, and Producer of the Year – whose winners will be voted by the professionals attending Cartoon Forum. Danish Broadcasting Corporation (DR) and Radio Televisión Española (RTVE) – Denmark and Spain public broadcasters, respectively – were nominated for Broadcaster of the Year together with France’s leading private free-to-air channel TF1. Animation features prominently in the catalogues of the three finalists in the Investor/Distributor of the Year category: Spain’s Liquid Rock Entertainment, France’s Mediatoon Distribution, and UK’s Meta Media Entertainment. Lastly, the Producer of the Year category will be contested between Belgium’s Creative Conspiracy, Poland’s Grupa Smacznego / GS Animation, France’s SILEX FILMS, and Germany’s Studio FILM BILDER.

A PLACE FOR TOMORROW’S PROFESSIONALS

Training tomorrow’s professionals and engaging with the public are also on Cartoon Forum’s agenda through the Coaching Programme and Toons d’Ici. Coordinated by Agnès Bizzaro, the former makes it possible for young talents from 13 animation and arts schools from Toulouse and the region Occitanie to have a broad overview of the industry and the challenges that are faced when implementing a project. More than 80 students will engage in this initiative that, besides an overview on CARTOON and Carton Forum work, case studies and masterclasses, will feature the Mini-Pitch workshop, in which six projects will be presented.

ABOUT CARTOON FORUM
Created in 1990 to boost the co-production and distribution of European animation for television and new media platforms, Cartoon Forum has helped 1,017 animation series obtain financing to the tune of 3.69 billion EUR. The 36th Cartoon Forum is organised by CARTOON – European Association of Animation Film with the support of Creative Europe – MEDIA, CNC (Centre national du cinéma et de l’image animée), Région Occitanie, Mairie de Toulouse, Toulouse Métropole, Casino Barrière and France Télévisions (FTV).

Tuesday morning, Welcome Words © CARTOON

Coming 2026: ONE PIECE: Season 2 | Sneak Peek | Netflix

The Straw Hat crew is BACK!

Get ready to set sail for the treacherous Grand Line as Luffy, Zoro, Nami, Usopp, and Sanji return for Season 2 of ONE PIECE: INTO THE GRAND LINE.

New dangers, new friends, and legendary treasures await our beloved crew!

https://www.netflix.com/tudum/articles/one-piece-season-renewed

Season 2 will unleash “fiercer adversaries and the most perilous quests yet,” according to the official synopsis. “Luffy and the Straw Hats set sail for the extraordinary Grand Line — a legendary stretch of sea where danger and wonder await at every turn. As they journey  through this unpredictable realm in search of the world’s greatest treasure, they’ll encounter bizarre islands and a host of formidable new enemies.”

ONE PIECE Season 2 co-showrunner, writer, and executive producer Matt Owens revealed in a previous conversation with Tudum that Dr. Kureha will definitely be part of Season 2. “When the Season 2 writers’ room got together, we knew how far we were going to get and that this character Dr. Kureha was going to be a big part of the season.”

Season 2 will introduce viewers to some other fan favorites next season, including the beloved reindeer-boy hybrid Tony Tony Chopper. Plus, the Straw Hats are going to be in the Grand Line — “The place that we were talking about all of Season 1, we’re in it now,” said Owens

Watch on Netflix: https://www.netflix.com/title/81218765

About Netflix: Netflix is one of the world’s leading entertainment services, with over 300 million paid memberships in over 190 countries enjoying TV series, films and games across a wide variety of genres and languages. Members can play, pause and resume watching as much as they want, anytime, anywhere, and can change their plans at any time.

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