Factual Animation Film Festival

FAFF celebrates factual and documentary animation - the first festival of its kind anywhere. FAFF takes place both online and offline, enabling filmmakers in this blossoming medium to connect and collaborate.

As well as as our film programme, FAFF 2023 will host interviews with the filmmakers. There will be awards for the best film of the festival.

All mediums and techniques of animation are welcome, on any topic as long as it is non-fictional in nature. Please see the category descriptions for more information.

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FAQs

What kinds of films are eligible?
- Examples of "factual animation" include:
- An animated film about a factual subject
- About dreams or hallucinations
- Telling a family story
- Representations of physical and mental health conditions
- Visualises folklore, prejudice and other 'invisible' subjects
- A factual story told though a fictional character
- A public service announcement
- News and reportage
- About historical events
- An educational film
- A biopic
- About social issues
- An explainer video
- Visualises statistics or abstract concepts
- An NGO, social or political campaign film

Does my film have to be a documentary?
- No. It just needs be a predominantly animated film that covers a factual, real subject.

I've made a film, but I'm not sure it's 'animated enough'. Is it?
- Your film should either prominently use animation, or use it at points to explore its core themes. We want to show films that don't rely solely on live action footage to explore topics. We will also consider experimental films, that play with images and sound through cropping, cutting, speeding up, slowing down, reversing, mixing, filtering etc.

I am a national of a country excluded from the international banking system. Can I still submit my film?
- In the spirit of artistic freedom and cooperation, Iranians and other nationals affected by international sanctions may still submit their animation project to FAFF. Please email us for details of how to do so.

I am in Iran. Can you provide submission waivers?
- In principle, yes, though we ask that you conform to our stipulations and only submit animated docs. We issue waivers on a case-by-case basis.

I am resident in an African Union country. Are there any special offers for animators like me?
- There's much exciting animation from Africa, but we rarely receive submissions from filmmakers based on the continent. This year we are offering free entry to African animators - defined as those resident in countries and territories that are part of the African Union. Please email us for more info.

I cannot afford the submission fee. May I still submit my film?
- Organising film festivals is expensive and, without sponsorship or government grants, it is very difficult to be financially sustainable. We have kept the submission fees as low as possible and only in very rare cases will we offer waivers. If you have created something truly remarkable, and genuinely cannot afford the fee, get in contact and we'll see what we can do. If you can afford the submission fee, please don't ask us for a waiver.