Irish Animation in the Spotlight at Stuttgart Festival

Ireland is a country that evokes many images in the mind of the beholder. But beyond its natural beauty, rich folklore and lively pub culture, Ireland has much more to offer. Zeitgeist Ireland 24, a season of Irish arts and culture in Germany, aims to showcase the diversity and creativity of the Irish cultural scene.

One of the events that will highlight the Irish presence in Germany is the Stuttgart International Festival of Animated Film (ITFS) in 2024. The festival will dedicate a special section to Irish animated film, which has been flourishing in recent years. Irish animation studios have developed a wide range of talent and have impressed audiences and critics with their storytelling, visual artistry and new technology. The festival will feature both well-known and new Irish artists, who have produced short and feature-length films in various genres and styles. Some of the films that will be shown include Tomm Moore’s Oscar-nominated WOLFWALKERS, which won the AniMovie feature length film prize at ITFS in 2021.

The festival will also provide a platform for dialogue and exchange between Irish and German animators, as well as the general public. The cinematic programme will be complemented by a supporting programme with artist talks, workshops, panels and more. The festival will offer a unique opportunity to discover the vibrant and innovative animation scene in Ireland, which has always been open to cross-cultural influences and collaborations.

Zeitgeist Ireland 24 is an initiative of the Irish government, launched by Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media, Catherine Martin, and Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs, Micheál Martin. The season will present a variety of Irish cultural events in Germany throughout 2024.