Festival Animanie, the international festival of animated films and games, is a competition of works made by children, youth and students, taking place in Pilsen, Czech Republic. Every year we gather in the city of Pilsen to screen animated movies made by both children and adults up to 26 of age.

The Main Award called Animanicka, specially designed by students of West Bohemian University, is given in each category. This unique trophy with an original look differs every year. It is given in three age categories (MINI up to 13 years, MIDI 14—19 years and MAXI 20—26 years). The competition is separated into international and Czechoslovak categories.

Other awards given include:
Honorable Mention (diploma)
Student Jury Award (diploma)
Children Jury Award (diploma)
Audience Award (diploma)

Only audiovisual works created by animation techniques are accepted for the competition. If a work is created by a combination of multiple techniques, then animation must either prevail or be essential to the impression of the work.

Entries must not be created before 2023. Entries submitted AND accepted into the competition in previous years cannot be submitted again.

We accept entries via FilmFreeway.com at https://filmfreeway.com/Animanie/. For the International Competition, registration is possible from 1 April to 1 August 2025. For Czechoslovak competition, the deadline is 1. September 2025.

The winners of Czechoslovak Competition can be, with their approval, nominated to the national film competition České vize.

After closing the applications, pre-selection of films for the competition will take place. The program council, consisting of Animánie lecturers, program department and the festival management, decides about accepting the films submitted. The acceptance of the film into the competition falls fully within the competency of the organizer. The list of accepted films will be published in the first half of October 2025 at www.festival-animanie.cz in the section Accepted films“.

Entries have to meet the submitting conditions and technical requirements of the organizer.

The contestant is required to send subtitles in .srt format, not otherwise.

Festival Animánie is allowed to screen the films accepted into the competition free of charge within the event AND, in the case of the awarded films, also at the follow-up event "Animánie na Šumavě" or other third-party events that would show interest in the festival winners’ films.

The author whose film is screened at the festival provides Animánie, z.s. the permission to use the work itself free of charge, as well as submitted photographic, graphic and text materials of the work for the festival catalogue, website, promotional printed materials, final report and DVD with the festival output, all without limitation of territory, time, quantity and usage.

Overall Rating
Quality
Value
Communication
Hospitality
Networking
  • Nadège Herrygers

    Merci pour l'organisation et de mettre en avant le talent des enfants et des jeunes.
    Longue vie au festival Animanie!

    November 2024
  • The festival was nice overall, but as someone who isn't czech and with my film in the competition, i didn't really feel like a guest. There weren't many english accesible workshops/movies sadly. The opening of the festival was indeed english accesible (they had a translator through some special headphones) which was nice. Other than that the festival was really nice, but as a foreigner it was pretty hard to get around, hard to network and meet knew people. Something that really struck me was that, even though there were more foreign competitors guests, after the competition screenings , there were no q&a sessions. It was kind of weird cuz i came all the way to Czech Republic but i didn't really get treated as a guest, more like a tourist.

    November 2024
  • Nilram Ranjbar

    Thank you so much Animanie film festival. You help me so much and i thank you really. You are best festival. My name is Nilram and i am 11 years girl .

    November 2024
  • Irene Tedeschi

    A great festival and team. They really took care even of those who couldn’t attend personally the event.

    November 2023
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    Response from festival:

    Thank you Irene! It was a pleasure to have you in the competition!

  • A truly amazing event! Festival Animánie surpassed my expectations. A 4-day event packed full of workshops and activities demonstrating incredible passion for the artistry of animation and games. I am honored to have received the Student Jury Award for my film IN THE SHADOWS as well as the positive written feedback from the jury.

    As a recent graduate with little experience, I have struggled to find festivals interested in student work, especially animated shorts. To be accepted by such a major festival whose goal it is to celebrate the work of young people and give them a chance to shine is a wonderful thing. The low cost of the application is the cherry on top that makes this festival so accessible to many first-time filmmakers such as myself.

    They keep their website updated, in both Czech and English, and provide good communication to filmmakers directly via email. They're also active on Facebook and Instagram, posting many photos and videos during the event to showcase what it's like for anyone unable to attend in person. The degree of professionalism is a tier above most festivals. Also worth mentioning the graphics and web design, which are incredibly charming and well done. I love the little characters. All in all, no aspect is lacking. I can't recommend this festival enough.

    November 2023
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    Response from festival:

    Nico, thank you for your kind words, you and your film In the Shadows will be remembered! :) Congratulations again and see you someday!