FOUNDING of Filmakademie Baden-Wuerttemberg by PROF. ALBRECHT ADE as a wholly owned subsidiary of the state of Baden-Wuerttemberg. On 14 October, teaching begins in temporary facilities on Rheinlandstraße in Ludwigsburg with courses offered in Screenwriting, Directing, Cinematography, Experimental Film, Animation, Film Music, Production, and Advertising Film. From 220 applicants, 82 students are selected.

In the first year of the DEVELOPMENT PHASE at the provisional location on Rheinlandstraße, essential experiences are gained in teaching, recruiting outstanding industry professionals as lecturers, and collaborating in production teams.

On 10 September, FABW relocates to the renovated MATHILDENAREAL, which includes the buildings on Mathildenstraße and Alleenstraße, as well as the Caligari Cinema. During the day, these facilities are used for teaching, while in the evenings and on weekends, the cinema is operated as a public venue by Kinokult e.V (external).

LAUNCH OF THE PROJECT-BASED STUDY PROGRAMME with departments including Screenwriting and Dramaturgy, Fiction Film, Documentary Film, Science and Corporate Film, Advertising Film, Animation Film and Digital Image Design, Film Music, and Production. Notable lecturers include Peter Märthesheimer, Christoph Fromm, Nico Hofmann, Lutz Konermann, Dr Ebbo Demant, Thomas Schadt, Helga Reidemeister, Clemens Keiffenheim, Volker Schlegel, Thomas Haegele, Cong Su, and Bastian Clevé.

The café and bistro BLAUER ENGEL opens, serving as a canteen for Filmakademie students but also open to the general public.

In April, FABW´s promotional association FRIENDS OF THE FILMAKADEMIE is established.

In July, the Filmakademie hosts the first Ludwigsburg Film Festival, featuring European short films at the Caligari cinema, the sound stage, and as an open-air event under the new tent roof. Thanks to a partnership with the Wüstenrot Foundation, the EUROPEAN SHORT FILM BIENNALE is held on the Filmakademie grounds until 2005.

In collaboration with the House of Economy in Stuttgart, and prompted by the President of the State Trade Office, Gisela Meister-Scheufelen, Professor Albrecht Ade, and Professor Thomas Haegele, the FMX – FILM & MEDIA EXCHANGE (external) is launched during the 7th International Animated Film Festival. Today, the FMX is one of the most significant international events for showcasing digital media.

From 1997 onwards, Filmakademie Baden-Wuerttemberg GmbH receives funding from the state budget.

Former Filmakademie student and staff member VOLKER ENGEL wins the VISUAL EFFECTS OSCAR® for his work as VFX Supervisor on Roland Emmerich’s blockbuster INDEPENDENCE DAY. He brought a team of animation students to Hollywood to collaborate on the visual effects.

The feature film ROCHADE wins a STUDENT ACADEMY AWARD (OSCAR®).

French President Jacques Chirac and German Chancellor Gerhard Schröder agree to establish a GERMAN-FRENCH FILM ACADEMY. Talks at the federal level lead to the creation of the Atelier Ludwigsburg-Paris at Filmakademie Baden-Wuerttemberg and the French film school La fémis in Paris in 2000.

The ATELIER LUDWIGSBURG-PARIS (external) begins operations. Funded by the Robert Bosch Foundation and in partnership with the German-French Institute in Ludwigsburg, three symposia are held with distinguished speakers, including director Jean-Jacques Annaud (THE NAME OF THE ROSE), Prof. Dr. Peter Sloterdijk, and Prof. Régis Debray.

FABW expands its curriculum with the project-based PRODUCTION DESIGN study course.

The new METROPOLIS building is officially opened by state Prime Minister Erwin Teufel. It houses the Atelier Ludwigsburg-Paris, the library & video library, the casting office, and the production design workshop.

DR. ARTHUR HOFER succeeds Prof. Albrecht Ade as ARTISTIC DIRECTOR of Filmakademie Baden-Wuerttemberg.

FABW expands its curriculum with EDITING and SERIES PRODUCING, becoming the first film school in Germany to offer a specialised focus on series production.

In January, the INSTITUTE FOR ANIMATION, VISUAL EFFECTS AND DIGITAL POST-PRODUCTION - now: ANIMATIONSINSTITUT (external) - is founded as a largely independent branch of Filmakademie Baden-Wuerttemberg. It is responsible for the training of all students specialising in animation.

The first HOLLYWOOD WORKSHOP LOS ANGELES is held in collaboration with the California film school UCLA, offering selected Filmakademie students seminars, set visits, and studio tours, providing them with first-hand insights into the American film industry. The annual workshop is funded by the foundation BADEN-WÜRTTEMBERG STIFTUNG (external) as part of its Baden-Württemberg Scholarship.

The feature film NICHTS BEREUEN (No Regrets) wins the Golden Award at the GERMAN FILM AWARDS.

The graduation film DAS VERLANGEN (The Longing) wins the GOLDEN LEOPARD at the Locarno International Film Festival.

The new Series Producing and Editing courses, along with several other departments, move into the newly inaugurated LUBITSCH building. Its core feature is a SECOND SOUND STAGE AND RECORDING STUDIO of about 400 sqm, designed specifically for series production but also multifunctional for events or film screenings.

The animated film DAS RAD (Rocks) is nominated for an ACADEMY AWARD (OSCAR®) for Best Short Film.

The City of Ludwigsburg offers various historic gatehouses to local institutions. The Filmakademie is granted the Aldinger Gatehouse. Under the initiative of Artistic Director Prof. Dr. Arthur Hofer, and with support from the Kreissparkasse Ludwigsburg and the Werbewelt agency, the children´s film house KINDERFILMHAUS LUDWIGSBURG (external) opens in October. It is run independently by Filmakademie students who guide young and adult visitors through the house using their own films, drawings, puppets, and models, demonstrating how films of different genres are made and allowing children to engage and try things themselves.

With Dr. Ing. h.c. F. Porsche AG as the main sponsor, the PORSCHE AWARDS are established. The ceremony takes place at the Filmakademie and is aimed at emerging talents in international advertising film, with a jury of experienced professionals from the industry.

PROF. THOMAS SCHADT takes over the management of FABW, initially as ARTISTIC DIRECTOR, and from 2007 as the sole MANAGING DIRECTOR.

The state government and the Baden-Württemberg State Foundation provide financial support to the Filmakademie for the acquisition of HIGH-DEFINITION VIDEO equipment over a period of three years, which is established as an additional and comprehensive training, production, and post-production standard at the Filmakademie.

Starting from the 2007/2008 academic year, Corporate and Science Film is replaced by the new study emphasis EDUCATIONAL AND SCIENCE FILM. Also, in 2007/2008, the study emphasis INTERACTIVE MEDIA is launched.

The feature film NIMMERMEER (Nevermore) is awarded a STUDENT ACADEMY AWARD (OSCAR®).

Thanks to extensive funding from the Baden-Wuerttemberg Stiftung`s "Future Initiative", the Filmakademie is able to invest extensively in HD TECHNOLOGY. In order for students to become familiar with and utilise the entire workflow of digital techniques, not only were new devices acquired, but the training was also adapted to the new technology, running alongside the existing curriculum.

The renowned English NATIONAL FILM AND TELEVISION SCHOOL / NFTS (external) in Beaconsfield, near London, becomes a COOPERATION PARTNER of the Atelier Ludwigsburg-Paris.

The newly established ACADEMY OF PERFORMING ARTS BADEN-WUERTTEMBERG (external) opens in close proximity to the Filmakademie on the shared Akademiehof campus. Various synergies and collaborations with the FABW, especially in teaching, are part of the mandate and concept of the new academy.

The GERMAN SHORT FILM AWARD is presented for the first time at Filmakademie Baden-Wuerttemberg. The award winners receive the prize from the hands of the Federal Government Commissioner for Culture and the Media, Bernd Neumann. Among the winning films is the FABW production DIE HAUSHALTSHILFE (The Help).

The inauguration of the new 3D TECHNOLOGY at the Caligari Cinema and the opening of the MURNAU building, which houses the Film Music & Sound Design course. Within this course, the new study emphasis FILM SOUND PRODUCTION & FILM SOUND DESIGN begins its operation in the 2010/11 academic year.

PROF. JOCHEN KUHN, head of the Experimental Film department, is awarded the TEACHING PRIZE OF THE STATE OF BADEN-WUERTTEMBERG for his outstanding achievements as a lecturer.

The feature film DAS LIED IN MIR (The Day I Was Not Born) wins the GERMAN FILM AWARD for Best Film Music.

Filmakademie Baden-Wuerttemberg celebrates its 20TH ANNIVERSARY. At the same time, the departments of Production Design and Film Acting celebrate their tenth anniversary.

The study emphasis Educational and Science Film is broadened in content. Along with the reorientation, the course is renamed. It is now called TV JOURNALISM – CULTURE EDUCATION SCIENCE.

The short film VON HUNDEN UND PFERDEN (Of Dogs and Horses) receives a STUDENT ACADEMY AWARD (OSCAR®) – Silver Medal.

In honour of the 80th birthday of its founding director, the Filmakademie's Studio 2 is renamed the ALBRECHT ADE STUDIO.

FABW receives the EUROPEAN FILM CULTURE AWARD from the Pro Europa Foundation. "At Filmakademie Baden-Wuerttemberg, the balancing act between student dreams and utopias on the one hand and the real demands of the market on the other is successfully managed," explains Iris Berben, President of the German Film Academy and also a recipient of the Cultural Award, justifying the jury's decision at the Ludwigsburg Forum am Schlosspark before invited guests.

The German branch of the ATELIER LUDWIGSBURG-PARIS receives new management under internationally successful producers GERHARD MEIXNER and ROMAN PAUL.

PROF. THOMAS SCHADT begins his THIRD TERM as Director and Managing Director of the Filmakademie.

FABW responds to the increasing internationalisation and integration of foreign guest students by introducing an English-language curriculum, the INTERNATIONAL CLASS.

Filmakademie Baden-Wuerttemberg installs a DOLBY ATMOS SOUND SYSTEM in its in-house film sound mixing facilities, making it the first film school in Europe to do so. The first films to utilise this sound format include THE HOBBIT: AN UNEXPECTED JOURNEY, LIFE OF PI, and GRAVITY.

The diploma film WEDDING CAKE, produced at the Animationsinstitut, wins the “Best Student Film” award at the 41st ANNIE AWARDS.

Prof. Thomas Haegele steps down as HEAD OF THE ANIMATIONSINSTITUT. His successor is internationally recognised animation artist PROF. ANDREAS HYKADE, a graduate and long-time lecturer at the Filmakademie.

The short film ERLEDIGUNG EINER SACHE (The Last Will) is awarded a STUDENT ACADEMY AWARD (OSCAR®) – Silver Medal.

For the second time after 2009, the GERMAN SHORT FILM AWARD ceremony takes place at FABW, this time in spatial collaboration with the nearby Academy of Performing Arts. The awards are presented by the Federal Government Commissioner for Culture and the Media, Minister of State Prof. Monika Grütters. The Filmakademie production HELIKOPTER-HAUSARREST receives a Special Award.

The Animationsinstitut launches the project-related continuing education programme VR NOW (external) with support from the Ministry of Science, Research and the Arts of Baden-Wuerttemberg and MFG Baden-Wuerttemberg. The programme aims to produce innovative content in the field of Virtual Reality (VR) at the highest artistic and technical level with a market-oriented focus. The project is closely supported by the Research & Development department of the Animationsinstitut.

With the 2016 graduation class, FABW now has over 1,700 ALUMNI.

The diploma documentary film ABOVE AND BELOW wins the GERMAN FILM AWARD for Best Documentary and Best Cinematography, as well as the SWISS FILM AWARD in the categories of Best Documentary, Best Editing, and the Jury's Special Award for Best Sound Mixing.

Filmakademie Baden-Wuerttemberg celebrates its 25TH ANNIVERSARY with a week of festivities from July 14-17. During the celebrations, the Chamber of Industry and Commerce Stuttgart Region awards the Filmakademie for its contributions to the regional economy. Prior to this, Prof. Thomas Schadt had already received an honorary award for the Filmakademie from the City of Ludwigsburg.

The diploma feature film 24 WEEKS receives a SILVER LOLA as “Best Feature Film” at the GERMAN FILM AWARDS.

The US trade magazine THE HOLLYWOOD REPORTER ranks Filmakademie Baden-Wuerttemberg among the top ten international film schools for the third consecutive year.

The prestigious international award and mentoring platform "The Rookies" ranks the Filmakademie’s ANIMATIONSINSTITUT as the Best Visual Effects School in the world in its annual RANKING. In the category of Best Animation School, the Filmakademie is ranked second.

The documentary GALAMSEY – A HANDFUL OF GOLD, created in the TV Journalism study emphasis, wins a STUDENT ACADEMY AWARD (OSCAR®), making it the fifth production from FABW to receive this award.

Filmakademie launches its new publication series EDITION FABW. The first publication is the short story collection "SCHLUSS-STRICHE" (Drawing Lines), featuring stories from students and alumni of the Filmakademie and the Academy of Performing Arts. The patron of the book is the publisher of Diogenes Verlag, PHILIPP KEEL.

The diploma film CITIPATI, produced at the Animationsinstitut, wins the “Best Student Project” award at the 44th ANNIE AWARDS.

At the VES AWARDS, the diploma film BREAKING POINT receives an award in the category "Outstanding Visual Effects in a Student Project".

The short film EIN KRÖTENLIED (A Toad´s Song) wins the "Best in Show" award at SIGGRAPH 2017. This awards the diploma project from alumni of FBW´s Animationsinstitut with the main prize at the world’s most important event in computer graphics and interactive techniques.

Filmakademie signs the WIN-CHARTA of the state of Baden-Wuerttemberg, the first nationwide sustainability management system specifically for small and medium-sized businesses. In this framework, companies commit to developing and communicating their own initiatives for economic, ecological, and social action.

The diploma documentary film CLOSING TIME wins a "Leopard" at the 71st LOCARNO FILM FESTIVAL, receiving the Special Jury Award.

The diploma film AUGENBLICKE, produced at the Animationsinstitut, is nominated for the STUDENT ACADEMY AWARD (OSCAR®) in the Animation category, as well as at the BAFTA Student Film Awards.

The US trade magazine THE HOLLYWOOD REPORTER ranks Filmakademie Baden-Wuerttemberg with its Animationsinstitut in its annual ranking of the ten best film schools in the world for education in Visual Effects, as the only German and one of two European film schools.

The brand study “DEUTSCHLANDS BESTE”, commissioned by the magazine FOCUS MONEY, names Filmakademie Baden-Wuerttemberg one of the best public universities in Germany. In the FOCUS ranking of all universities and colleges in Germany, the Ludwigsburg film school is ranked 11th, securing the top spot among the listed public art universities.

The debut film SYSTEMSPRENGER (System Crasher) wins a SILVER BEAR at the Berlinale and is selected as Germany’s official entry for the Foreign Language Oscar®. The screenplay was developed by author and director Nora Fingscheidt as part of her studies at Filmakademie.

FABW introduces 8 POSTGRADUATE DIPLOMA COURSES: Animation / Animation & Effects Producing, Animation / Technical Directing, TV Journalism, Film Music, Film Sound Production & Film Sound Design, Interactive Media, Motion Design, and Production Design. The prerequisite for applying is a completed degree in a related field.

PROF. ANDREAS HYKADE, head of the Animationsinstitut, is appointed a MEMBER OF THE ACADEMY OF MOTION PICTURE ARTS AND SCIENCES.

THE HOLLYWOOD REPORTER ranks Filmakademie Baden-Wuerttemberg with its Animationsinstitut among the top ten film schools in the world for education in Visual Effects.

PROF. THOMAS SCHADT extends his contract as Director and Managing Director of Filmakademie Baden-Wuerttemberg, beginning his FOURTH TERM.

The diploma film THE TROUBLE WITH BEING BORN wins the SPECIAL JURY PRIZE in the newly established “Encounters” competition at the 70th BERLINALE.

The already award-winning animated film THE BEAUTY wins a STUDENT OSCAR® in the Animation category, as well as the prestigious international VES AWARD.

The debut film SYSTEMSPRENGER wins 8 LOLAS at the German Film Awards. Also, BERLIN ALEXANDERPLATZ, featuring many FABW alumni, receives 5 awards.

Filmakademie establishes an INTERNATIONAL OFFICE to prepare students for an increasingly interconnected global job market, aiming to significantly expand student mobility, internationalisation of teaching, and bilingual (German-English) course offerings.

The curriculum is expanded with the new specialization in EXECUTIVE & LINE PRODUCING, targeting career changers from the film and media industry with a focus on financial, entrepreneurial, and organisational management in film and media production.

The Filmakademie celebrates its 30th ANNIVERSARY with a week of festivities, including the presentation of the PORSCHE AWARDS and CALIGARI AWARDS from the Friends of FABW Association, the premiere reading of the 4th short story collection "SUMMER" in the Edition FABW, the industry event SCREEN.TIME INTERNATIONAL, and a festive ceremony.

PROF. JOCHEN KUHN retires after 30 years of service as Head of Experimental Film 1 at FABW. In recognition of his outstanding contributions, the sound stage Studio 1 is named the "Jochen Kuhn Studio".

The short narrative film TALA'VISION wins the GOLD STUDENT OSCAR® in the Narrative / International Film Schools category. With 7 Student Oscars® won, Filmakademie shares first place among film schools outside the USA. TALA'VISION also makes it to the Oscar® 2022 shortlist for Best Short Film.

PROF. ANDREAS HYKADE ends his role as Head of Animationsinstitut at the Filmakademie, in order to focus solely on teaching as the Head of "Animation Directing" at the Animationsinstitut from the start of the 2022/23 academic year. Until a successor is appointed, Prof. Thomas Schadt temporarily takes over the leadership of the Animationsinstitut.

Thanks to various grants and partnerships, such as those with the City of Ludwigsburg, the Art, Culture, and Education Foundation of the Kreissparkasse Ludwigsburg, and a private donation from Prof. Nico Hofmann, the foyer of the KINDERFILMHAUS Ludwigsburg has been renovated, a large part of the exhibits and sets updated, the concept revised, and the surrounding area of the building refurbished.

The game A JUGGLER’S TALE, created at the Animationsinstitut, wins, among other prizes, the GERMAN COMPUTER FILM AWARD.

With the graduation class of 2022, there are now over 2,500 GRADUATES participating in the FABW Alumni Network.

From autumn 2023, FABW offers a BILINGUAL PROJECT STUDY PROGRAMME (English/German) in various specialisations, further opening its doors to international students.

At the international conference FMX in Stuttgart, internationally renowned producer, director, author, animation artist, and Oscar® winner JAN PINKAVA is introduced as the new Director of the ANIMATIONSINSTITUT at FABW.

The animated film A CALLING. FROM THE DESERT. TO THE SEA. wins the STUDENT VES AWARD.

In Los Angeles, Filmakademie Baden-Wuerttemberg is awarded a Specialty Award at the US International Awards as FILM SCHOOL OF THE YEAR.

The PORSCHE AWARDS competition for emerging international commercial filmmakers takes place for the 20th time at the FABW in Ludwigsburg. The anniversary also marks the end of the successful partnership with the Stuttgart automobile manufacturer as the main sponsor of the event.

The FRIENDS OF THE FILMAKADEMIE promotional association celebrates its 30th anniversary. During this time, members and sponsors have generated approximately one million euros for student projects, primarily through the annual awarding of the Caligari Prizes.

The FABW production HAUS AM HANG (Halfway House) is the only entry by a German film school to be nominated by the British Academy of Film and Television Arts for a YUGO BAFTA STUDENT AWARD and ultimately wins the award in the ‘Live Action’ category.

MELODIES OF BARKING DOGS wins the German Short Film Award 2024 in the category “Feature Film up to 10 Minutes”. The prize is awarded by the Minister of State for Culture and the Media, Claudia Roth. The film was created as part of the Atelier Ludwigsburg-Paris postgraduate programme.