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, Keiichi Hara, Yoshimi Itazu, Masaaki Yusa, Joe Holman), 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 2026 will be taking place from 4th to 12 July in Poznan, Poland. Entries can be submitted free of charge until January 19th, 2026.

Awards & Prizes

International Short Film Competition:
Grand Prix: Golden Pegasus (EUR 11 000 gross),
Best Music Film or Best Film Music Special Award - in memoriam of Wojciech Juszczak (EUR 650 gross),
Best Student Film Special Award - in memoriam of Marcin Giżycki (EUR 650 gross);
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 - Feature Film Competition Grand Prix (EUR 8 000 gross)
Audience Award for the Best Feature Film

Polish Animated Film Competition:
Golden Animusz - Polish Animated Film Competition Grand Prix (PLN 15 000 gross)
Polish Animation Discovery Special Award (PLN 3 000 gross)

International Animated Series Competition:
Best Animated Series Award - Animated Series Competition Grand Prix (EUR 1 250 gross)
Kids Jury Award for the Best Kids Series (EUR 650 gross)

Audience Award for the Best Short Film

Animated Music Videos Thematic Competition:
Open Call Thematic Competition Award (EUR 1 250 gross)

Rules & Terms

Regulations for all 4 competition categories are available for download on ANIMATOR Festival's website: https://animator-festival.com/en/news/submit-your-film-to-the-animator-2026-competitions/
COMPETITION CATEGORIES:
1. International Short Film Competition
- duration: up to 40 minutes;
- completion date: after 31 December 2023 (films with completion date / year of production: 2024, 2025 and 2026) ;
- 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: Grand Prix - Golden Pegasus (EUR 11 000 gross), Best Music Film or Best Film Music Special Award (EUR 650 gross), Best Student Film Special Award (EUR 650 gross);
- 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.
- Short Film Competition Regulations: https://animator-festival.com/content/uploads/2025/10/ANIMATOR-2026_Regulations_Shorts_ENG-1.pdf

2. International Feature Film Competition
- duration: above 40 minutes;
- completion date: after 31 December 2023 (films with completion date / year of production: 2024, 2025 and 2026) ;
- 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 (EUR 8 000 gross);
- Feature Film Competition Regulations: https://animator-festival.com/content/uploads/2025/10/ANIMATOR-2026_Regulations_Feature_ENG.pdf

3. International Animated Series Competition
- TV films / single episodes of TV and webseries (including TV specials, pilot episodes, mini-series episodes & TV films); Only TV and web series/TV and web films may be submitted to the Animated Series Competition. In the description of the entry/submission form, the Entrant should prove that the submitted episode is part of a larger project (it is not an 'ordinary' short film) – meaning: the submitted episode is part of an assumed (pilot / special episodes) or already existing series.
- completion date: after 31 December 2023 (series episodes with completion date / year of production: 2024, 2025 and 2026);
- 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 (EUR 1 250 gross); Best Kids Series Award (EUR 650 gross)
- short films, trailers, commercials and intros are not eligible for the Series Competition.
- Series Competition Regulations: https://animator-festival.com/content/uploads/2025/10/ANIMATOR-2026_Regulations_Series_ENG.pdf

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 40 minutes;
- completion date: after 31 December 2023 (films with completion date / year of production: 2024, 2025 and 2026);
- 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 (PLN 15 000 gross), Polish Animation Discovery Special Award (PLN 3 000 gross);
- series, trailers, commercials and intros are not eligible for the Polish Competition.
- Polish Competition Regulations (in Polish language): https://animator-festival.com/content/uploads/2025/10/ANIMATOR-2026_-Regulamin_Konkurs_Polski-1.pdf

5. Open Call: Animated Music Videos Thematic Competition:
- short animated music videos / video clips may be submitted to the Animated Music Videos Competition
- duration: up to 20 minutes;
- completion date: no restrictions regarding the year of production – the Animated Music Videos Competition accepts music videos created in the 1980s and 1990s, as well as video clips realized in the first 25 years of the 21st century
- animation technique: all techniques are welcome (min. 51% of the film duration has to be animated)
- who can apply: arts schools, film schools, film distributors, production companies, film institutions, individuals or other parties holding the necessary rights;
- Open Call Thematic Competition Award (EUR 1 250 gross)
- Animated Music Videos Competition Regulations: https://animator-festival.com/content/uploads/2025/10/ANIMATED-MUSIC-VIDEOS-COMPETITION-REGULATIONS-2026.pdf

https://animator-festival.com/en/news/hello-music-open-call-animator-2026-animated-music-videos/

The Festival does not charge any fees for film submission. The Festival does not pay screening fees for the films selected for the Competition.
By entering the Festival, the Entrant grants a royalty-free, non-exclusive, territorially unrestricted license to the Organizer to use the film by public screening in the framework of the Competition. Competition films may be shown not more than four (4) times.

The films screened in the Short Film Competition will (along with the films screened in the Series Competition and the National / Polish Short Film Competition) take part in an audience vote to select the winner of the Audience Award for the best short film.

Producers of awarded films grant their non-exclusive, royalty-free, time and territory unlimited license to the Organizer to arrange 10 (ten) screenings of films (at the cinema venue and/or online) as part of domestic and international tour of "Animator 2026" presenting the Competition winners following the Festival. Additional screenings require a written consent of the producer.
10 Reviews
Overall Rating
Quality
Value
Communication
Hospitality
Networking
  • Łukasz Kamiński

    The communication with the festival team was excellent from the very beginning — warm, clear, and incredibly helpful. Everyone was attentive and truly cared about our comfort and well-being throughout the event. The selection of films was both inspiring and thought-provoking, and the overall organization reflected a very high level of professionalism. I felt genuinely welcomed and supported. Thank you for such a meaningful and well-run festival!

    July 2025
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  • Supriyo Roy

    Absolutely amazing in their communications and provided clarity to everything we asked along the way. Tremendous and diverse mix of showings at the event that shows their commitment to the industry as a whole.

    July 2024
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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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