Archive notice: This article was originally published on November 11, 2008. Links and embedded videos are preserved as part of the historical record.
“If we succeed in using our initiative to establish the Stuttgart region as an internationally competitive VFX location in the global market for major film projects,” emphasized MFG Managing Director Gabriele Röthemeyer at the award ceremony, “this image will have an impact on the entire industry. We expect not only positive economic effects, but also greater appeal for the region in the nationwide race for the industry’s top position.”
The “Digital AV Initiative Baden-Württemberg” project submitted by MFG Film Funding is one of twelve winners of the regional cluster competition, selected by an independent jury from a total of 36 applications. For a maximum term of three years, the project can receive funding from the Ministry of Economic Affairs’ ERDF resources amounting to 50% of eligible costs, up to a maximum of €300,000.
Until now, no region in Germany has been able to establish itself as the location for the rapidly developing digital audiovisual production sector. The Stuttgart region benefits from combining a traditionally technology-driven business location with existing creative and artistic expertise and an outstanding range of educational opportunities.
The newly recognized “Digital AV Initiative Baden-Württemberg” is intended, as a first step, to connect the fairly large number of VFX providers in the Stuttgart region and thereby further strengthen and coordinate collaboration along the value chain. The innovative capacity of the local industry is to be increased through closer links with educational and research institutions in the region, such as the Baden-Württemberg Film Academy’s Institute of Animation and the Stuttgart Media University (HdM). Opportunities for cooperation and synergy are to be identified and used more effectively. Convergences with other sectors of the economy are to be explored and their participants brought into the network.
With the planned regional collaborative project for the VFX industry, MFG Film Funding aims to support the creation of shared technical and organizational structures. These will make it possible to offer international film production companies the region’s combined capacity as a “Virtual VFX Major,” providing the required reliability and quality to handle major projects.
Further links:
- Further information
