The 6th edition of the Animation Bucharest International Film Festival (ABIFF) will take place June 5–7, 2026, in Bucharest and 11 other cities across Romania. This vibrant festival celebrates the art of animation through a rich program of synchronized screenings, educational activities, and creative exchanges. ABIFF 2026 aims to unite animation creators and enthusiasts from Romania and abroad, fostering a community where ideas are shared, talents are nurtured, and the next generation of animators is inspired.

Our mission is to celebrate and promote animation as an art form while creating a collaborative environment where professionals and enthusiasts can exchange knowledge, learn from each other, and contribute to the growth of the animation industry. This year’s program features a variety of sections and events for diverse audiences, with a strong focus on Romanian animation and its creators.

ABIFF 2026 Sections:
a) International Short Film Competition – Author’s Section: Showcasing recent short films with a distinct authorial perspective. Films are eligible for the Award for Best Author's Short Film.
b) International Short Film Competition – Children's Section: Featuring recent short films for children aged 3–10, offering a magical journey into animation. Eligible films will compete for the Award for Best Children's Short Film.
c) AnimaXperience: A non-competitive section presenting captivating feature-length authorial animation curated by the Artistic Director.
d) Hybrid International Academic Conference on Animation
e) Online Masterclasses: Two sessions on Production Design in Animation and Co-production & Development Opportunities for Romanian students and young professionals.
f) Online Pitch for Romanian Professionals
g) Hybrid Practical Workshops: Three workshops for Romanian students and teachers, focusing on animation principles and techniques.

ABIFF Animation Bucharest International Festival #6 is produced by Mockra Productions and co-financed by the Administration of the National Cultural Fund (AFCN). The project does not necessarily represent the official position of the Administration of the National Cultural Fund. AFCN shall not be held liable for the project's content or any use to which the project outcome might be put. These are the sole responsibility of the beneficiary of the funding.

Awards & Prizes

A jury of film industry and education professionals will assign the ABIFF 2025 awards. Awards include:
• Award for Best Author's Short Film: 5000 LEI gross (approx. 1000 EUR)
• Award for Best Children's Short Film: 3000 LEI gross (approx. 600 EUR)
• Award for Best Pitch: 5000 LEI gross (approx. 1000 EUR)
The awards will be given to the directors of the films.

Rules & Terms

Edition: #6
Start of Call: January 23, 2026
Dates: June 5-7, 2026

Venue: Bucharest and 11 other cities across Romania

Email: mockra.productions@gmail.com
Web page: https://abiff.ro/

Submission Guidelines for the Two Competitional Sections:
1. Individuals or legal entities from anywhere in the world can participate, regardless of language, as long as they are at least 18 years old.
2. The same director, producer, or sales agent may submit any number of animated works.
3. The submitted films must have a maximum running time of 25 minutes, including all credits.
4. The Animated films must have been produced after January 1, 2025.
5. The submission deadline for free entry is April 1, 2026. Late entries can be submitted until April 23, 2026, with a fee of 15 Euros.
6. All films must have English subtitles.
7. The films submitted to the festival should not be publicly available or freely accessible on online platforms.
8. In case of selection, the films should be submitted in digital file format with the following specifications:
o Clean version (mov/mp4 format) with separate English subtitles (SRT format).
o Video: H.264 encoder, ideal resolution 1080p (1920 × 1080).
o Audio: AAC 48kHz/16bit.
Submission Process:
Fill out the Entry Form on FilmFreeway providing the following information and materials:
• Film and English subtitles
• Name, email address, address, country (for statistical purposes only)
• Selected participants may be asked to provide additional materials/information.
Film Selection and Results:
The Festival Committee will have discretion in selecting films for the festival. The list of selected films will be communicated to the authors/producers/distributors by May 10, 2026. It is strictly prohibited to publicly announce the results before the official press conference, which will be communicated through the festival's official channels.

Rights and Promotion:
By submitting a film, participants confirm that they hold the necessary rights to the film and permit ABIFF to screen the film and to use stills and video excerpts for promotional purposes related to the film and the festival. Films must not violate people's rights, including race, creed, or social status.

Contact Information:
For further information, inquiries, or submissions, please contact:
Email: mockra.productions@gmail.com

Organizers:
Festival Director: Valentin Urziceanu
Artistic Director: Mirona Radu
8 Reviews
Overall Rating
Quality
Value
Communication
Hospitality
Networking
  • mc² film

    Great animation film festival in Romania! Excellent selection and they work a lot to make it a special event. Congrats!

    June 2025
    Helpful
    Response from festival:

    Thank you for the lovely feedback! We put a lot of care into the selection and the overall experience, so it means a lot to hear this. Looking forward to welcoming you again!

  • Melle Windig

    Thank you ABIFF team for screening our short student stop motion film Cell Buddies in the Children's selection. Unfortunately we could not attend the festival in person but the communication was great!

    June 2025
    Helpful
    Response from festival:

    Thank you for sharing Cell Buddies with us! We’re thrilled it was part of the Children’s selection and happy to hear that our communication made the process smooth. We hope to welcome you in person next time!

  • Piret Sigus

    Great festival! Taking place at same time in 12 different locations around Romania - it is such a vitamin shot for both sides: for filmmakers to have wider audience and for audience the possibility to have festival at quite "next door". We wish you luck to keep on rolling the festival for many-many years. Ps! Thank you for recognition!

    September 2024
    Helpful
    Response from festival:

    Thank you! We’re delighted you enjoyed the festival’s format and the way it brings films closer to audiences. Your recognition and wishes are truly appreciated- we hope to keep sharing great films for many years!

  • Maxime Vouillon

    very good festival, very good selection, the team is very nice and the discussions we had very pleasant, I hope to be able to attend the next edition !

    September 2024
    Helpful
    Response from festival:

    Thank you! We’re delighted you enjoyed the festival, the selection, and the conversations. We really hope to see you at the next edition!

  • Joao Ricardo Costa

    Grande festival esperamos participar das próximas edições

    July 2021
    Helpful
    Response from festival:

    Thank you, Joan Ricardo Costa! Wishing you all the best!