APD is a curated business platform for the European and international animation industry with approximately 160 participants each year. Animation producers from over 20 countries present their projects from the fields of film, TV series, games and cross-media to potential co-production partners and investors in pre-planned one-on-one meetings. Each year, around 50 projects are selected from a growing number of submissions for presentation at APD, many of which are still at an early stage of development. Eight of the selected projects are chosen as part of the APD Talent Programme, which gives European newcomers the opportunity to present their projects in a professional environment.
In the carefully planned one-to-one meetings, producers can evaluate the market potential of their projects and find potential partners for further development. In addition to production companies and studios, around 60 representatives of European broadcasters and SVOD providers, distributors and funding institutions take part in APD each year. They appreciate the opportunity to discover high-quality and commercially promising as well as particularly innovative projects and talents. APD thus offers an excellent starting point for initiating international co-productions.
The APD Conference is also part of the programme. In practice-oriented case studies, technological innovations or new distribution and financing strategies for animation projects are presented and discussed. In a second conference part, broadcasters and distributors present their current programming needs and future programming strategies. Networking events in a familiar atmosphere offer the opportunity to continue the discussions and to deepen new contacts in an uncomplicated way.
The Stuttgart International Festival of Animated Film (ITFS) and the FMX – Film & Media Exchange, two world-renowned industry events, will take place at the same time as APD. They are characterised by presenting and discussing the entire range of creative forms of expression and technological innovations in the field of animation and related disciplines. Thanks to the special combination of film festival, conference and financing market, the three events have developed into a unique platform in Europe that attracts up to 6,000 industry professionals to Stuttgart every year.
Who can participate
- European producers with a fresh, innovative project for which they are looking for co-production partners and investors
- Production companies and studios looking for projects in which they can participate
- Representatives of broadcasters, streaming platforms, distributors, publishers, world sales agents and investors looking for innovative animation projects
- National and international funding institutions for film, television and digital media
- Young European talents who would like to apply for the APD Talent Programme
What type of projects can be submitted?
- TV series, TV specials, feature films, games, mobile content, cross and transmedia animation projects (incl. hybrid formats containing at least 50% animation)
- short film projects, but only if they can be further developed into other formats
- projects should be at concept and development stage
- they should be suitable for and open to European co-productions
- they should have potential for IP (Intellectual Property) development and for European and international distribution
We are particularly looking forward to receiving projects that convincingly integrate topics such as diversity and ecological sustainability, both in terms of content and in their development and realisation.