FMX 2026: The Trailer is out!

Celebrating its 30th edition in 2026, FMX is taking a field trip, returning to where it all began: the Campus of Filmakademie Baden-Wuerttemberg and its Animationsinstitut. 🏫 We are currently working on a few special treats 🍬 ON CAMPUS.

FMX 2025 Key Visual

On set in the yard of FABW: the filming of “Bus Buddy” © Justus Bloennigen/Filmakademie Baden-Wuerttemberg

“Bus Buddy”: The FMX 2026 Trailer

“The requirement was to create a sense of connection, that’s what FMX is all about”, says director Julian Mehn about the FMX 2026 trailer. „We wanted something unexpected to happen in an everyday situation, and our concept artist came up with the idea of the bus growing legs.” The transforming vehicle is just one of many quotes: “The trailer really is a tribute to those who have inspired us”, says Julian, “there is ,Shape of Water‘ in the raindrops and ,Avatar‘ in the hovering rocks.”

The biggest challenge proved to be the last shot, which now is the FMX Key Visual – “because it literally shows the ROAD AHEAD”, Julian states. “It should look hopeful, not threatening or gloomy, like a world you want to get into. That’s why the sunrise was very important to us.”

Time was very limited, so the team went as practical as possible. “We parked the bus in the Filmakademie yard for a week to shoot the inside scenes and to scan the vehicle to be able to rebuild it digitally”, says Julian. “We had some interesting moments, once it started snowing, which didn’t fit in at all with the summer night we are showing.”

The bus is able to communicate in an alien language. “First we just put the word ,Somewhere’ on the route display”, says Julian, “but it didn’t feel right. We needed to work within the mysterious dimension of the plot. So we developed a full alphabet.”

Another noteworthy detail is the bespoke film score, recorded live with an orchestra in Sofia. “A lot of work and a lot of love from a lot of people went into this trailer, and it really is a great honor”, says Julian. “We really hope it gets people in the mood for the conference sessions.”

A key feature of FMX is the participation of its partners: companies and creatives give tech insights, present projects, highlight services and showcase the latest tools.

There are plenty of opportunities to do so:

In the Marketplace, attendees can experience the latest innovations and products of industry-leading companies and start-ups.

Workshops, Masterclasses and Company Suites will dig deep into the expertise of our international partners.

Established and up and coming studios scout talent in the Recruiting Hub.

International film and media schools present themselves in the School Campus.

Find the FMX 2026 Partner Opportunities here ;

https://fmx.de/en/partners/partner-opportunities/overview

and information on Premium Partnerships here.

https://fmx.de/en/partners/partnerships