MinnAnimate
📝 Sign up as a festival representative to manage this page!
MinnAnimate presents independent animated short films in Minneapolis, Minnesota, with an emphasis on work from the American Midwest. Its selection gives particular attention to independent animators, students and young filmmakers, while also including films from beyond the region. The festival dates back to 2012 and operates as an LLC with fiscal sponsorship from Springboard for the Arts.
The dates for the 2026 edition are 12–13 September at Trylon Cinema. Four short-film programmes accompany a retrospective devoted to Sishir Bommakanti. Filmmaker conversations follow the screenings, and a sketchbook show-and-tell provides another setting for participants to share their work.
Country
United States (USA)
Focus
Animation
Categories
Animation, Music Video, Short, Student
Festival rules
The 2026 regulations accept films completed after 1 January 2025 that use animation as their principal production method. All genres, including music videos, are eligible. Selection prioritizes independent animators, students and youth, and films from the American Midwest. Entries are submitted through FilmFreeway. Films made in the Midwest enter free; other entries cost US$5. Entrants must hold the rights to the film and its audiovisual materials, permit promotional use of publicity materials or excerpts, and supply full-resolution screening files if selected.
Contacts
- minnanimate.com
- minnanimate@gmail.com — General enquiries and partnerships
- filmfreeway.com — Film submissions and regulations
- instagram.com — Official festival updates