Insomnia International Animation Film Festival

The 2026 international competition awards the Insomnia Grand Prix for the best film; Profnastil for international short animation; Debutoriya for young animation; Equilibristics for non-narrative or experimental animation; Child Dreams for animation for young audiences; Music of the Night for music video; and the prize for the best Russian film. The jury also grants a Special Prize and Special Mentions. The organisers may introduce or change cash awards and establish additional prizes. The separate children’s competition awards three prizes in each of its three age groups, an overall Grand Prix and three Hearts of Sleepless Viewers audience awards. Selected authors receive electronic diplomas; winners receive diplomas and commemorative gifts.

2026 international competition: short animated films in any animation technique, first released on or after 1 January 2024. The regulations exclude animated series, trailers and promotional clips. Individuals and organisations may submit through the organisers or international festival platforms. Each applicant may submit up to four works, with no more than two in one category; organisers may move a film to another category or select it for an out-of-competition screening. Submissions run from 15 September 2025 through 1 May 2026; later entries have no guaranteed consideration. Entries require a title in English or Russian, crew and production-studio information, a synopsis, stills and a timed subtitle text. Screenings use Full HD; DCP or high-bitrate H.264 files are preferred. Applicants are responsible for all rights. The regulations restrict violent, discriminatory, pornographic and profane material and require compliance with Russian law. Submission grants non-exclusive, unpaid festival screening, promotional and Russian translation rights. Awarded films and works selected for the Best of Insomnia 2026 programme may receive up to ten screenings in the festival’s Russian tour. The Russian regulations prevail over the English version. The separate Insomnia. Children 2026 competition is free and accepts individual or group films made by authors aged 16 or younger at production. Films must date from 1 January 2024 onward, have no previous participation in this children’s competition, and run 40 seconds to 10 minutes including credits. Russian citizenship or Russian-language work made abroad is required; films must be in Russian or have Russian subtitles. Studios may submit up to six films, at most two per age category; independent individual entrants may submit two. Films require at least 8 frames per second and HD or Full HD H.264 video. Adult-led productions, AI-created films, unfinished films and work using ready-made animation assets are excluded; a teacher’s contribution must not exceed 40%, including editing. Applications run from 15 April to 15 May 2026, with later entries not guaranteed consideration. Rights clearance and consent to festival screenings and promotion are required. Full conditions appear on the international and children’s competition pages.