Dublin Animation Film Festival (DAFF) is a non-profit, volunteer-run festival of animated short films with a focus on Irish animation, which it has promoted in Europe and the USA. Its first screening took place in Blackrock Village, County Dublin, in 2011; after two more editions in Blackrock it moved to the Pavilion Theatre in Dún Laoghaire, added a special guest Q&A from 2014 to 2019, and screened online in 2020 and 2021. It now runs at the Mill Theatre in Dundrum.
The competition takes animated shorts of up to 15 minutes in Irish and international categories for professional, student and graduate films, alongside awards for storytelling and stop motion and an Audience Choice Award decided by audience ballot. The 2026 edition takes place in Dundrum in November 2026.
Awards and prizes
The 2026 guidelines list these award categories: Irish Short Film, International Short Film, Irish Student or Graduate Short Film, International Student or Graduate Short Film, Best Original Screenplay or Storytelling, and Best Stop Motion Short Film.
The judging panel may also present awards for Social Recognition (a short film with a social or charitable message), Best Co-Production, Best Film in the Irish Language, Best Soundtrack, Best Comedy or Musical Short Film and Best 2D Animation. An Honourable Mention may be made for any category.
An Audience Choice Award goes to the shown film with the most audience votes. Winners receive an award trophy, presented at a prize giving ceremony on the day of the festival.
Festival rules
Dublin Animation Film Festival CLG, a company registered in Ireland, runs the competition. Entries are submitted through the online entry form; postal entries are not permitted, and there is no entry fee.
Each film must be predominantly a work of animation, be a single short film of no more than 15 minutes including credits, and have been completed or released on or after 1 January 2024. Episodes from a television series and television commercials are not accepted. Entrants must be over 18 and be the original author or authors of the film (producer or director).
Entries for the 2026 competition must not be created in whole or in part using artificial intelligence or generative AI technologies. Films must be entirely original works and must not contain live footage or images without the appropriate copyright permissions. Music must be available for festival judging and screenings on a licence-free, no-royalty basis.
A judging panel chosen by the organisers reviews eligible entries, and only films selected for screening are notified.
