International Animated Film Festival ANIMATOR is one of the three festivals in Poland (and the only animated film festival) to receive Oscar® qualifying status from the American Film Academy. This means that a short film that wins the Festival's Grand Prix, the Golden Pegasus, is on a fast track to being considered for an Oscar® nomination in the Best Animated Short Film category and can compete for this prestigious award.

ANIMATOR helps authors win international recognition. It attracts attention of film industry professionals from all over the world. For the last 16 years, the Festival has won the hearts of international audiences, critics and artists. It has honoured the greatest ones and helped debutantes to earn a name for themselves.
ANIMATOR is regularly visited by recognized authors, directors, animators (Maciek Szczerbowski, Michaela Pavlátová, Theodore Ushev, Quay Brothers, Keiichi Hara, Eric Goldberg, Tim Allen, David Silverman, Signe Baumane, Mike Johnson, Daniel Gill, Sara Gunnarsdóttir, Tim Webber, Alex Pelletier, Mike Hollingsworth, Peter Chung, Hisko Hulsing), producers (Julie Roy, NFBC, David Sproxton, Aardman Animations, Ron Diamond, Acme Filmworks, Heather Henson) and representatives of fellow animation festivals (Annecy IAFF, Ottawa IAF, Animafest Zagreb). The Festival's guests are always happy to share their experience, reveal some tricks of the trade, teach workshops and actively contribute to the event's prestige. ANIMATOR also stands for meetings, discussions, interactions and a great deal of music. Its relationship with animation is particularly cherished here. In addition to the main prizes, the International Jury awards the Special Prize for Best Music Film or Best Film Music and the Special Prize for Student Film.

ANIMATOR 2024 will be taking place from 25 to 30 June in Poznan, Poland and 01 06 July - online. Entries can be submitted free of charge until December 17, 2023. The prize pool sums up to 120 000 PLN (over 25 000 EUR).

Awards & Prizes

International Short Film Competition:
Grand Prix: Golden Pegasus (45 000 PLN, approx. 10 070 EUR),
2nd Prize: Silver Pegasus (12 000 PLN, approx. 2 680 EUR),
3rd Prize: Bronze Pegasus (6 000 PLN, approx. 1 340 EUR),
Best Music Film or Best Film Music Award - in memoriam of Wojciech Juszczak (2 000 PLN, approx. 440 EUR),
Best Student Film Award - in memoriam of Marcin Giżycki (2 000 PLN, approx. 440 EUR);
Audience Award for the Best Short Film
Volunteer Award for the Best Short Film
The winner of the Golden Pegasus is on a fast track to being considered for an Oscar® nomination in the Best Animated Short Film category and can compete for this prestigious award.

International Feature Film Competition:
Best Feature Film Award (30 000 PLN, approx. 6 700 EUR)
Audience Award for the Best Feature Film

Polish Animated Film Competition:
Golden Animusz - Grand Prix of the ANIMATOR.PL competition (12 000 PLN, approx. 2,680 EUR),
2nd Prize: Silver Animusz (4 000 PLN, approx. 890 EUR),
3rd Prize: Bronze Animusz (2 000 PLN, approx. 440 EUR)
Audience Award for the Best Polish Film

International Animated Series Competition:
Best Animated Series Award (5 000 PLN, approx. 1 110 EUR)
Audience Award for the Best Series episode
Kids Jury Award for the Best Series episode

Rules & Terms

Regulations for all 4 competition categories are available for download on ANIMATOR Festival's website: https://animator-festival.com

COMPETITION CATEGORIES:
1. International Short Film Competition
- duration: up to 30 minutes;
- completion date: after 31 December 2021;
- animation technique: all techniques are welcome (min. 51% of the film duration has to be animated)
- who can apply: arts schools, film schools, production companies, film institutions, individuals or other parties holding the necessary rights;
- Main Prize: Golden Pegasus (45,000.00 PLN, approx. 10,070.00 EUR), 2nd Prize: Silver Pegasus (12,000.00 PLN, approx. 2,680.00 EUR), 3rd Prize: Bronze Pegasus (6,000.00 PLN, approx. 1,340.00 EUR), Best Music Film or Best Film Music Award (2,000.00 PLN, approx. 440.00 EUR), Best Student Film Award (2,000.00 PLN, approx. 440.00 EUR);
- The winner of the Golden Pegasus is on a fast track to being considered for an Oscar® nomination in the Best Animated Short Film category and can compete for this prestigious award;
- series, trailers, commercials and intros are not eligible for the Short Film Competition.

2. International Feature Film Competition
- duration: above 40 minutes;
- completion date: after 31 December 2021;
- animation technique: all techniques are welcome (min. 51% of the film duration has to be animated)
- who can apply: film distributors, production companies, film institutions, individuals or other parties holding the necessary rights;
- Best Feature Film Award (30,000.00 PLN, approx. 6,700.00 EUR);

3. International Animated Series Competition
- single episodes of TV and webseries (including TV specials, pilot episodes, mini-series episodes & TV films);
- completion date: after 31 December 2021;
- animation technique: all techniques are welcome (min. 51% of the film duration has to be animated)
- who can apply: film distributors, production companies, film institutions, individuals or other parties holding the necessary rights;
- Best Animated Series Award (5,000.00 PLN, approx. 1,110.00 EUR);
- short films, trailers, commercials and intros are not eligible for the Series Competition.

4. Polish Animated Film Competition
- films made in Poland or made by Polish artists abroad, co-produced by Polish producers;
- films made in Poland or made by Polish artists abroad, co-produced by Polish producers;
- duration: up to 30 minutes;
- completion date: after 31 December 2022;
- animation technique: all techniques are welcome
- who can apply: arts schools, film schools, production companies, film institutions, individuals or other parties holding the necessary rights;
- Award for the Best Polish Short Film, the Golden Animusz - GRAND PRIX of the Polish Competition (12,000.00 PLN, approx. 2,680.00 EUR), 2nd Prize: Silver Animusz (4,000.00 PLN, approx. 890.00 EUR), 3rd Prize: Bronze Animusz (2,000.00 PLN, approx. 440.00 EUR);
- series, trailers, commercials and intros are not eligible for the Polish Competition.
8 Reviews
Overall Rating
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  • Jade Dandan Evangelista

    We thank you Animator for the kind words and for the honorable mention of Wetsitales : The Hawk and The Hen. Hoping we can visit future versions of the festival.

    July 2023
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  • Azad Sadeghi

    Especially thanks to international animated film festival, and jury. We Really enjoyed and I think one of the perfect festival I've ever seen 🙏. I wish hope keep going every year.

    July 2023
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  • Benjamin Hackman

    Was very happy to have our film, "The Algonquin Bridge" included in this year's ANIMATOR festival. The whole staff were very professional, welcoming, and relatively quick to answer all questions. Would definitely encourage other animators to submit their work to this festival. An overall good experience. Thanks for having us!

    July 2023
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  • Rebekah Louisa Smith

    A fantastic film festival who have incredible communication and passion for the films that they screen. Thank you so much for having the Polish premiere of FLITE. The filmmakers loved every minute of the festival

    July 2023
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  • Ilgın Saçan

    Such a great experience even though I wasn't there in person. Thank you for selecting "In the Woods", it was an honor!

    July 2022
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