Thessaloniki Animation Festival

Thessaloniki Animation Festival

Also known as: TAF
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Thessaloniki Animation Festival (TAF) is a free-entry animation festival in Thessaloniki, Greece, first held in 2015 by the non-profit AddArt, which organises it with the Municipality of Thessaloniki. Filmmakers submit without a fee. The international and national competitions are judged by a jury and topped by the Golden, Silver and Bronze Octopus awards, with special prizes for storytelling, student work, Balkan films and the audience's favourite. The festival is on BAFTA's list of qualifying festivals for British Short Animation.

Alongside screenings, TAF hosts masterclasses, talks, workshops, game presentations and programmes for children, families and school students. Since 2020 it has run the Balkan Animation Forum, where Balkan-based artists pitch projects in development and meet producers. Since the pandemic the festival works in a hybrid format: the 2026 edition takes place 15–18 October 2026 at Warehouse D in the Port of Thessaloniki and continues online on the festival website.

Country

Greece

Focus

Animation

Categories

Animation, Short, Student

Awards and prizes

Main awards: - Golden Octopus Award (1st place) - Silver Octopus Award (2nd place) - Bronze Octopus Award (3rd place) Special awards: - Storytelling Award - Student Film Award - Best Balkan Film Award - "Select Respect" Award - Audience Award TAF is a qualifying festival for the BAFTA British Short Animation award.

Festival rules

Submission is free and goes through FilmFreeway. Categories: animated short film, student animated short film, animated film about human rights, and kids' animated short film. - Films must be in English or have English dubbing or subtitles; running time up to 20 minutes. - Short, student and kids' films must be produced within the last 2 years; films about human rights within the last year and must comment directly on human rights. - Student films: the director or producers must have been students when the film was made. - Kids' films: suitable for ages 1–6 (without dialogue) or 7–16. - Selected films must send a screening copy by the festival's deadline to be screened and compete; an accepted film cannot be withdrawn. - The festival may place entries in another category and may screen selected films at other non-profit events to promote the festival.

Contacts

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