Set in magical Dingle, on the most westerly peninsula of Europe, Animation Dingle, in partnership with JAM Media, is now in its 12th year and celebrates student creativity and excellence in Irish and International animation.

Animation Dingle is NOW an Academy qualifying festival for Short Film Awards.

Animation Dingle Festival is delighted to announce that it has been approved as an Academy qualifying festival for the Short Film Awards.

The recipient of Animation Dingle’s Best Irish Professional Short Award is eligible for consideration in the Animation Short Film category of the Academy Awards® without the standard theatrical run, provided the film otherwise complies with the Academy rules.

Animation Dingle is also a Student Academy Awards® qualifying festival.

The festival has been listed by Animation Magazine in their TOP 25 EVENTS IN THE WORLD NOT-TO-BE-MISSED!

The festival was created for students, has been moulded by them, and is composed of four parts—Conference, Workshops, Screenings and Awards.

ANIMATION DINGLE FESTIVAL 2024
MARCH 22-23 2024

Testimonials:

Jackie Edwards, Head of BBC Children’s Animation.
“The best festival I’ve ever attended!”

Peter Lord // Aardman Animations
"I was blown away by my first visit to Animation Dingle – and I’m not talking about Atlantic gales. The status and the quality of the many speakers is outstanding – you’ll see and hear some fascinating talks from some of the best-informed, best placed people in the industry. At the same time, the presence of so many students of animation - talented, ambitious and committed gives the festival a glorious youthful energy which doesn’t end with them; there’s no shortage of energy either in the lovely team that keep the whole thing running. Add to that a beautiful location and an Irish welcome, in the pubs and out, which is just about this side of caricature and I tell you, you’ve got a recipe for a terrific experience and an irresistible festival".

Bobby Podesta // PIXAR
"Being able to speak at Animation Dingle provided an opportunity to not only share my own story as an animator in the entertainment industry over the last twenty-five years, but be reminded of the shared enthusiasm and creativity that is so abundant in the next generation of animators".

Alice Webb // BBC
"Animation Dingle is a real gem in the animation and creative industries crown. It punches well above its weight in terms of attracting top talent, execs and an ever growing array of animation students. It is rare to find such dedication, authenticity and ambition in one place – which is why people return year after year. And the glorious Kerry backdrop and very warm welcome helps too!"

Tim Patterson // Nickelodeon
"Looking out to one of the world's most beautiful places I think how blessed and lucky I am to be invited to what I regard in many ways as the future of what I think our industry will be."

An important aspect of the event is the way it connects young Irish talent and creativity. It provides new entrants, graduates and third-level students with access to international decision-makers who they can look to for advice, direction and valuable insights.
Eileen Bell, Senior Business Development Advisor at Enterprise Ireland.

Dingle-Tastic - thank you! We feel so fortunate to be amongst such talent and that energy is so contagious. It will power us thru our year – it’s why we do what we do, really.
Michelle Sullivan VP, Creative Exec – Gaumont TV

The festival is home to the Murakami Award for animation and recipients have included: Jimmy T. Murakami (The Snowman), Richie Baneham (Avatar), Tomm Moore (Song of the Sea), Don Bluth and Gary Goldman for their legacy, Aidan Hickey, Cathal Gaffney and Darragh O’Connell of Brown Bag Films, Nora Twomey, Cartoon Saloon (The Breadwinner), Rob Cullen, Boulder Media, Eileen Bell, Enterprise Ireland and Steve Woods.

Animation Dingle has seen Keynotes and presentations from Disney, Amazon Studios, Nickelodeon, Apple, Netflix, Pixar, Aardman Animations, Triggerfish, Golden Wolf, Toon Boom, Locksmith Animations, Unreal Engine, RTÉ, CBBC, Milkshake, Channel 5, Screen Ireland, Cartoon Saloon, JAM Media, Brown Bag Films, Kavaleer, Boulder Media, Egg Post Production.

The festival showcases and recognises the best of student animated film with our Student Animation Awards, as well as screening a programme of animation from Ireland and around the globe.

The festival's many events include: Studio Fair, masterclasses, workshops, portfolio pitching sessions, The Big Pitcher, AD D&D, YAOTY (Young Animator of the Year), Sketch Day Trail, and much more.
Please see www.animationdingle.com for details closer to the time.

Special guests have included;
Don Hall, Director (Winnie the Pooh, Big Hero 6, Moana, Raya and the Last Dragon)
Alison Ruthland, Pixar (Onward)
Bobby Podesta, Supervising Animator at Pixar Animation Studios
Bonnie Arnold, Producer (Toy Story, How To Train Your Dragon)
Nora Twomey, Co-founder and Creative Director of Cartoon Saloon (The Breadwinner)
Tara Sorensen, Head of Kids Programming, Amazon Studios
Bob Peterson, Pixar (Up, Finding Nemo)
Peter Lord, Aardman Animations (Chicken Run, Early Man)
Dean DeBlois, DreamWorks (How To Train Your Dragon, Lilo & Stitch))
Russell Hicks, Nickelodeon
Orion Ross, Vice President, Content - Animation, Digital & Acquisitions Disney Channels EMEA
David Levine, VP, Programming, Production and Strategic Development, Disney Channels EMEA
Oscar winners Richie Baneham (Avatar) and Patrick Osborne (Feast)
Oscar nominated Tomm Moore (Song of The Sea, Wolfwalkers)
Dan Katcher (Game of Thrones - Dragon designer)
Ryan Woodward (Iron Man, The Avengers)
Jimmy T. Murakami (The Snowman)
David Morehead (Head of Layout on Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse)
Keith Sintay, senior animator (The Last Jedi, Solo: A Star Wars story
Matthias Lechner Art Director of Environments (Ralph Breaks The Internet, Zootopia)
Wouter Tulp Character Designer with Sony Pictures Animation
Cécile Blondel, Gobelins of Paris
Christian De Vita, Storyboard Artist (Fantastic Mr. Fox)

“Fantastic week in Ireland. Thanks Animation Dingle for having us, and to the friends, students and attendees that made it memorable.”
Dean DeBlois, Writer, Director, Executive Producer How to Train your Dragon series

“Animation Dingle serves as a reminder to focus on what’s most important in fostering creativity – growing and cultivating students’ imagination. Ireland has become a force in animation and Dingle is the perfect place to celebrate this emergence as you breathe in the fresh air and soak up the sights of this stunning seaside town.”
Tara Sorensen, Creative Development, Apple

Professional Awards

Best Irish Animated Short Award
The recipient of Animation Dingle’s Best Irish Professional Short Award will now be eligible for consideration in the Animation Short Film category of the Academy Awards® without the standard theatrical run, provided the film otherwise complies with the Academy rules.
Professional entries via FilmFreeway from Ireland and N. Ireland considered in this category.

Best International Animated Short Award
Professional entries via FilmFreeway from all countries outside Ireland are considered in this category.

Animation Student Awards

Animation Dingle will select a number of animated short films from our submissions and exhibit the work in our unique venues throughout the festival.

Animation Dingle is now a Student Academy AwardsⓇ approved Festival. This means for you that Student Films Selected and nominated for an award can now go forward to be nominated in the Student Academy AwardsⓇ in their Animation category providing it otherwise complies with the Academy rules.
The festival hosts our Animation Student Awards ceremony at the festival. On the night, our special guests to the festival present the awards to the winning students.

A representative of award nominated films will be invited to attend the awards ceremony and the festival.

Animators of selected films screening at the festival will be offered a free festival accreditation along with priority booking to other animators involved in the production of the selected film to attend the overall festival.

International and Irish Categories of student awards include:
Best International Student Animation Award
Best Director
Best Stop-motion

Irish Categories of student awards include:
Best Irish Student Animation Award
Best Design/Art Direction
Best Writer
Best Music/Sound Design
Best Animation
Best 3D/CGI
Best 2D

Best Sting Award
Contact the festival for details to apply
Student's entries received from colleges (see website and/or social media for details)

Best Game Sting Award
Contact the festival for details to apply

YAOTY (Young Animator Of The Year Award)
Open to Irish 4th, 5th and 6th year secondary students and students in Yr 11, Yr 12 and 6th Form in Northern Ireland.
See YAOTY on FilmFreeway for further information and how to enter.
https://filmfreeway.com/festival/YAOTY

The Big Pitcher
The winner receives a 6 month internship with JAM Media. For further information please see www.animationdingle.com closer to the time.

The Murakami Award
Recipients of this prestigious award have included Jimmy T. Murakami, Richie Baneham, Tomm Moore, Gary Goldman & Don Bluth, Aidan Hickey, Darragh O' Connell & Cathal Gaffney (Brown Bag Films), Nora Twomey (Cartoon Saloon), Rob Cullen, Boulder Media, Eileen Bell, Enterprise Ireland and Steve Woods.

GENERAL RULES
We welcome short films for consideration to the festival
We are open to all genres of animated film
Feature films can contact the festival directly for consideration

In Competition:
Student Animated Films (Irish & International)
Professional Best Irish Short Film
Professional Best International Short Film

Accepted Screening Formats:
• Submit your film to us as a Pro Res File 4:2:2 - Frame Rate 24 FPS/Stereo/1:85 cinema. For films screening in The Phoenix Cinema we will convert films into a DCP package
• (For short and feature films screening in St. James’ Church or Beehive Theatre: a QUICKTIME compatible file with preference for the higher quality ProRes codecs.)
• You will also receive a dedicated link to upload your film to our virtual screening platform. You can inform us at this point of any territory restrictions in exhibiting your film.
We will not screen on DVD
• Submissions with unpaid fees will not be considered for selection.

DEADLINE
Final deadline for all submissions is 4pm Friday 8th Dec 2023.
Films submitted after the deadline will not be considered.

NOTIFICATION
• You will receive an email by 19th January 2024 notifying you if your film has been accepted to the festival.
• Should you be successful, we will need a high res image. We may use an image from your film or a trailer or clip to promote the festival. This may include: television, radio, our website or social media.
• As a selected filmmaker you are responsible for ensuring the safe delivery of your film to the festival and all costs relating to it. If you have delivered your film on a hard drive, we will return the film to you after the festival. If you are attending the festival you can arrange to pick up your film after its screening. We can forward your film to another festival after its screening at Animation Dingle by prior arrangement only.
• We will let you know when to send the film to us.
• Please note you will receive an email from FilmFreeway to acknowledge receipt of entries.
• All foreign language entries must provide English subtitles

Other Rules of entry
• Runtime for a Feature: minimum 50 minutes
• Runtime for a Short: under 30 minutes
• Completion Date: only Projects completed after January 1, 2023 will be considered
• Submissions may originate from anywhere in the world, however, all non-English speaking films must have English subtitles
• Films available publicly online will not be accepted. Any film that has been previously broadcast (television or video-on-demand) in Ireland shall have less priority in being programmed for the festival
• Projects may have distribution status
• Animation Dingle does not pay screening fees
• The selection and scheduling of films screened at the festival is entirely at the discretion of the Festival Director
• No cuts or changes in any film will be made by Animation Dingle for any reason
• Due to the large amount of submissions received Animation Dingle cannot enter into any discussion regarding films that are not selected for the festival
• Animation Dingle does not accept any responsibility for damage to prints or hard drives
• By applying to Animation Dingle you accept the above rules of entry

Overall Rating
Quality
Value
Communication
Hospitality
Networking
  • Connor Richmond

    Wonderful festival and the staff were lovely to deal with, even though we didn't make it in person. It was great to watch so many gorgeous films online. Thanks for screening our film - our first time at Animation Dingle!

    April 2023
  • Maing Caochong

    In the animation industry, this is definitely a great festival! Thank you Animation Dingle for nominating INNERMOST for Best International Professional Award. This is a great honor for me and my whole team! And gives our team the confidence to continue to challenge new creations!

    April 2023
  • I've been coming to animation Dingle for 6 years now and it only gets better. Every animator should come here at least once if you want to actually meet with the creators and get inspired. I can't recommend this more.

    Thank you so much for the honour of having us there and giving us an award, it was magical.

    April 2023
  • Kevin Koch

    Thank you for selecting our short anima-doc and having a great online festival for our team who couldn't be in Ireland unfortunately!

    April 2023
  • Eoin O'Kane

    💯 💯 💯 💯 💯

    March 2022