MONSTRA | Lisbon Animation Festival presents animated cinema in dialogue with the other arts: besides screenings, its programme includes exhibitions, masterclasses, workshops and meetings that connect animation with other artistic disciplines. The festival dates back to 2000 and added a competitive section in 2007. It is organised by Taumotrópio and MONSTRUOSA – Associação Cultural, and its touring extension, MONSTRA à Solta, takes programmes to other towns in Portugal and abroad. Its main screening venues include Cinema São Jorge and the Cinemateca Portuguesa.
Competition films must be at least 60% animation, in any technique. The international sections cover feature films, long shorts, short films, super-short films under two minutes, student films and MONSTRINHA, a competition for children and young audiences. The Vasco Granja Competition is reserved for Portuguese films; its Grand Prix is an incentive towards the winner's next animated film. The 26th edition takes place on 11–21 March 2027.
Awards and prizes
Feature Film Competition: Grand Prix MONSTRA; Jury Special Award.
Long Shorts Competition: Grand Prix MONSTRA.
Short Film Competition: Grand Prix MONSTRA; Jury Special Award; Best Portuguese Short Film.
Super Short Film Competition: Grand Prix MONSTRA; Best Portuguese Super Short Film.
Student Short Film Competition: Grand Prix MONSTRA; Best Portuguese Student Short Film; Best Student Short Film (Junior Jury); Best Portuguese Student Short Film (Junior Jury).
MONSTRINHA, Short Film Competition for Children and Young Audiences: MONSTRINHA Grand Prix; Jury Special Award.
Portuguese Competition: Grand Prix Vasco Granja | SPA; Jury Special Award.
Perspectives Competition: Perspectives Award, chosen by the public.
Each category may also give a special mention, and every category except the Super Short Film Competition has an Audience Award.
The Grand Prix Vasco Granja | SPA is an incentive for new animation projects: at least EUR 2,500 towards the winning director's next animated film, paid in two instalments, plus a trophy and certificate. The new film credits MONSTRA and the competition sponsors and premieres at MONSTRA unless agreed otherwise.
Festival rules
Eligibility
- Animated films made image by image, in any animation technique, without thematic or aesthetic restrictions. Animated sequences must make up more than 60% of the film's running time.
- Films not previously submitted to the competition. For the 2027 edition: completed after 1 January 2025.
- Applicants must clearly describe the animation techniques used, including any use of generative imaging tools or artificial intelligence.
- Films nearing completion may be entered as work in progress (WIP in the title and a WIP card at the start of the viewing copy); the selection jury decides whether they can be evaluated.
- Films with dialogue or on-screen text must provide English subtitles as an .SRT file.
Competition categories
- Feature Film Competition: films longer than 40 minutes.
- Long Shorts Competition: 15 to 45 minutes.
- Short Film Competition: 2 to 15 minutes.
- Super Short Film Competition: under 2 minutes, excluding credits.
- Student Competition: 2 to 20 minutes, produced in a university context.
- Portuguese Competition (Vasco Granja): any film up to 45 minutes produced in Portugal, by a director with a Portuguese tax number (NIF) who has lived in Portugal for at least one year.
- MONSTRINHA, Short Film Competition for Children and Young Audiences: films up to 30 minutes aimed at children and young audiences. Applicants authorise Portuguese dubbing for MONSTRINHA screenings.
Submission
- Entries are submitted via FilmFreeway by the distributor, rights holder or director, up to 5 entries per filmmaker.
- Entry is generally free; the Feature Film, Long Shorts and Short Film competitions charge a non-refundable fee.
- Premiere status is not required, but must be declared.
- Selected filmmakers are notified by email and send a screening copy (preferably DCP; ProRes or H264 accepted; MONSTRINHA: ProRes or H264) together with the authorisation form.
- The festival does not pay screening fees for films selected for competition.
- One director per selected film is invited to Lisbon, with 1 to 5 nights of accommodation depending on the category and premiere status.
Source: MONSTRA 2027 film submission terms and conditions.
