Oscar-Winning Filmmaker Jan Pinkava Appointed As Head Of Germany’s Animationsinstitut

Germany’s Filmakademie Baden-Wuerttemberg has appointed Oscar-winning filmmaker Jan Pinkava to head the Animationsinstitut, the school’s prestigious animation and vfx department.

With Pinkava’s appointment, The Animationsinstitut continues its tradition of high-profile appointments to the position. Before Pinkava, the school’s last full-time head was celebrated filmmaker Andreas Hykade (Ring of Fire, Altötting), whose films won awards at Annecy, Ottawa, Tallin Black Nights, Sitges, and many other festivals.

Details of Pinkava’s appointment:

• In June of this year, Pinkava will succeed interim head Thomas Schadt, who took over from Hykade last fall when he transitioned to a full-time teaching role as head of animation directing.
• Pinkava is a 30-year animation industry veteran and the former creative director for Google Spotlight Stories. He received an Oscar for directing the Pixar animated short Geri’s Game in 1998 and another nomination in 2008 for writing the feature animation Ratatouille (2007). In 2017 he was nominated for a Daytime Emmy for producing Jorge Gutiérrez’s Son of Jaguar.
• Said Pinkava of his new role: “I am beyond honored to have been appointed Head of the Animationsinstitut. The school has an extraordinary reputation, dedicated staff, brilliant teachers, outstanding graduates, and highly talented students. What could be more worthwhile than to build on this legacy?”
• Arne Braun, state secretary in the Ministry of Science, Research, and Arts Baden-Wuerttemberg, added: “With Jan Pinkava, a superb industry expert joins the Animationsinstitut. His film Ratatouille, which he created in collaboration with Brad Bird, is one for the Hall of Fame of animated film. I am sure that he will foster the Animationsinstitut’s reputation as a regional pioneer for innovation, as well as an international educational institution. Jan Pinkava is keen to contribute his international experience to a new and young environment and thus, will shape the future of the institute.”