The annual FMX conference is poised to celebrate its 30th anniversary. Organized by Filmakademie Baden-Württemberg, FMX has grown into one of the industry’s most influential conferences, dedicated to animation, effects, and interactive and immersive media. This year, one of the sessions will feature Roland Emmerich, as he discusses his film Independence Day, also celebrating its 30th anniversary.

Wow, how time flies. This year, FMX will mark its 30th year, serving as a high-powered educational forum for students and an industry get-together for artists in animation, visual effects, and digital media. And, FMX is not the only one celebrating a big 3-0. This year also marks the 30th anniversary of director, producer, and screenwriter Roland Emmerich’s blockbuster film Independence Day. And what better place to mark the occasion than among the like-minded attendees at FMX.

The newbies and veterans of FMX appreciate history lessons as they pertain to moviemaking, and Emmerich no doubt will school the crowd well during one of FMX’s many sessions. Hosted by journalist Ian Failes (befores & afters), Emmerich will discuss the making of the film—which received an Oscar for Best Visual Effects in 1997—and its representation as a critical juncture in the trajectory of special effects between miniature modeling and CG techniques. Obviously, there’s much more the filmmaker plans to share in this must-see presentation.

FMX promises more highlights during the conference, which takes place in Stuttgart, Germany, May 5–7, 2026. As always, there will be presentations and panels, which undoubtedly will trigger intense discussion. Other key features include the Marketplace, where attendees can experience the latest innovations and products from leading companies and start-ups, as well as workshops, master classes, and company suites for deep dives. Attendees will also find a recruiting hub where facilities will be scouting talent and an area containing film and media school representatives.

In celebration of the conference’s 30th anniversary, FMX announced a special treat: It is returning to where it all began: the campus of Filmakademie Baden-Wuerttemberg and its Animationsinstitut for some special happenings and content there.

This year, FMX has selected the theme The Road Ahead, and in FMX tradition, students at the Animationsinstitut of Filmakademie Baden-Wuerttemberg (FABW) have created the FMX video trailer, titled “Bus Buddy.” According to Julian Mehn, who directed this year’s trailer, the requirement was to create a sense of connection, which is what FMX is all about. “We wanted something unexpected to happen in an everyday situation, and our concept artist came up with the idea of the bus growing legs,” he said. 

“The trailer really is a tribute to those who have inspired us—there is Shape of Water in the raindrops and Avatar in the hovering rocks,” Mehn said.

This year’s FMX student-created video trailer can be found here.

^{The key visual of FMX 2026. (Source: Filmakademie Baden Württemberg)}

FMX provides a hub for a wide range of important and timely topics, to be showcased with demonstrations, success stories, and detailed explanations of problems/solutions from Oscar and Emmy winners and the people in the trenches.

FMX was founded in 1994 at Filmakademie Baden-Württemberg. Its mission: to help build a strong European entertainment industry. Founders Professor Thomas Haegele, Renate Haegele, and Professor Albrecht Ade saw the opportunities being opened up by digital technology, energized by the era of groundbreaking films like Jurassic Park and, soon after, Toy Story.

The conference grew rapidly alongside the industry it championed. Now, three decades later, FMX turns its attention to the next major transformation in creative production: AI. But it won’t lose sight of what it does best—advancing the conversation on digital production pipelines, animation, real-time technologies, and emerging business models.

Registration is limited, and early-bird pricing ends March 20, 2026.

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