Animator FEST - European Youth Festival of Animated Film

The jury awards the Grand Prix for Short Film, Best Student Film and Best Children and Youth Film. It may also give special awards for achievements outside the main prize categories.

2026 entry conditions: animated films up to 15 minutes, made after 1 January 2023. Any frame-by-frame or computer animation technique is accepted; mixed live-action/animation films must contain more than 50% animation. Competition is for European films; films from outside Europe may receive non-competitive screenings. A school or author may submit more than one film. Entry is free. The 2026 submission deadline is 31 May; pre-selection results are sent by email before 5 August. Submit through FilmFreeway or send the completed entry form, an MP4 pre-selection copy, at least two film stills at 300 dpi, a synopsis of up to 500 characters and a brief author biography to animatorfestjagodina@gmail.com. The official entry form also requests a synopsis of no more than 50 words. Films require embedded English subtitles unless their spoken language is English. Participation implies acceptance of the festival regulations. Films cannot be withdrawn after submission. The festival guarantees the authors’ rights specified in the entry form. The official 2026 form is valid without a signature or seal and constitutes acceptance of the regulations. The entry form provides separate Yes/No authorizations for television use of up to 5% of a film for information and festival promotion; public, non-commercial screenings in Animator Fest special programmes at schools, cultural associations, film societies and festivals; and online promotional use of film photographs. These permissions are choices on the form.