Fantoche 2025 is open to films applying all animation techniques, including combinations of live action and animation, lasting a maximum of forty minutes and completed after 31st December 2023.

Fantoche is Switzerland’s most prestigious animated film festival and is one of the leading events for the medium in the world. It takes place every year in September over the course of six days in the Swiss town of Baden. The festival, which benefits from broad media coverage, attracts both industry professionals and the general public – over 30,000 ticket sales were recorded in 2024

The diverse festival programme comprises more than 300 animated short and features films from around the world every year. The schedule is augmented by a wide range of presentations, panels, lectures and exhibitions. Each year, Fantoche holds both an international and a Swiss competition for short animated productions. Under the guidance of the curators, it addresses and explores an array of key themes and shines the spotlight on new, multimedia-based and interactive forms of animation. Fantoche maintains various partnerships with national and international cultural events and festivals, and is involved in cultural exchange throughout the year.

Fantoche is an officially accredited festival for both the Academy Awards® and BAFTA, qualifying selected films for consideration.

The "International Competition" and the "Swiss Competition" are the heart of the Fantoche festival, highlighting top animation from both around the world and Switzerland.

International Competition: Total prize fund 22'000 CHF
Swiss Competition: Total prize fund 20'000 CHF
Kids Film Competition: Total prize fund 3'000 CHF

INTERNATIONAL COMPETITION
In its “International Competition”, Fantoche showcases the best and most interesting new examples of animated short film production worldwide. The competition is a potent mix of contemporary animated film and illustrates the impressive diversity and power of this medium.

Films using all types of animation techniques can be entered, including the combination of live action and animated film, with a maximum duration of 40 minutes. Student films, independent productions, art-film commissions and game sequences will be treated equally. Commercial advertising films are excluded from the competition.

Experimentation and tradition
The main criterion for film selection is innovation. Fantoche’s “International Competition” principally offers a forum for animated films which veer away from conventions of the genre in terms of aesthetics, content or technique, which scrutinize them skillfully or which are audacious enough to turn them on their head. It particularly welcomes projects which push the boundaries of expression of animation further, which seek to experiment and which stand apart thanks to their artistic independence.

However, Fantoche is interested, at the same time, in classical, conventional auteur films, and its selection includes animated films which offer a striking, persuasive blend of idea and implementation, and of content and form. They are deliberately juxtaposed with experimental entries. This is because Fantoche is trying to locate the friction that exists between vision and tradition, offering an insight into the creative wealth of animated film-making.

Young talent and established filmmakers
Fantoche has refined the profile and the prize categories for its “International Competition” over the years. Its preference for the unconventional, audacious and visionary means that it also offers a prominent platform to young talent and students, in particular. And Fantoche occupies a significant position within the international animated film fraternity by deliberately juxtaposing eccentric, artistic auteur films and outstanding classical works.

Selection and prize concept
To judge the competition projects submitted, Fantoche engages experts from all areas of film production and training, storytelling and sound design. The composition of the jury changes from year to year. The prize concept adopts the selection criteria and gives equal weight to student films and experimental competition contributions as well as the already established festival films.

An international three-person jury will select films for awards in the categories:
– Best Film: For a convincing combination of idea and implementation, content and form.
– High Risk: For visionary originality and the uncompromising exploration of the art of animation.
– Audience Award: The public also chooses their favorite film.
– Youth Award for Best New Talent: Awarded by a Swiss jury of eight young cinephiles to the best debut or student film from all competitions.
Golden Wings Award: Awarded by the Flying Film Festival jury for the best anidoc across all competitions.

Fantoche launched the “Swiss Competition” in 2009 to give home-grown animators a chance to gain a prominent footing on an international festival stage. All Swiss film productions entered in the “International Competition” are automatically entered in the “Swiss Competition” too. They can be nominated simultaneously for both competitions.

Students, new talent and renowned film-makers
As for the “International Competition”, submission is open to films of all kinds of animation techniques, including combinations of live action and animation, which last a maximum of fourty minutes. Student films, independent productions, films by well-known directors and art-film commissions are given equal consideration and evaluated together. Commercial advertising films are excluded from the competition.

SWISS COMPETITION
The selection criteria for the “Swiss Competition” correspond to those of the “International Competition”: We want to see new trends, fresh talents and interesting experiments, alongside established auteur films and animation. All Swiss productions which are entered in the “International Competition” are also added to the selection for the “Swiss Competition” and can be nominated for both competitions at the same time.

Films using all types of animation techniques can be entered, including the combination of live action and animated film, with a maximum duration of 40 minutes. Student films, independent productions, art-film commissions and game sequences will be treated equally. Commercial advertising films are excluded from the competition.

Selection: Open, independent, refreshing
The entries in the “Swiss Competition” are selected by experts in the field of animated film production and distribution. If one of the selection members has a conflict of interest, they will sit out the selection process for that year.

Awards
The Fantoche “Swiss Competition” is the only animated film contest in Switzerland with an international scope, judged by a international jury:
– Best Swiss: For a convincing combination of idea and implementation, content and form.
– High Swiss Risk: For visionary originality and the uncompromising exploration of the art of animation.
– Fantastic Swiss: For the best fantastic Swiss film.
– Youth Award for Best New Talent: Awarded by a Swiss jury of eight young cinephiles to the best debut or student film from all competitions.
– Golden Wings Award: Awarded by the Flying Film Festival jury for the best anidoc across all competitions.

KIDS FILM COMPETITION
Every year, Fantoche screens current animated film productions for kids and young people in two programmes of short films for the age groups 4 to 7 and 8 to 12. Since 2009 the films have been judged by a children’s jury and by the younger members of the public.

The short films of the “Kids Film Competition” are chosen from the entries for the “International Competition” and for the “Swiss Competition”. The selection is always made in close consultation with the “Zauberlaterne” (The Magic Lantern), the film club for kids. The main criteria applied are that they have good, clever story lines, are packed with ideas, cover a variety of themes and exemplify different techniques.

We’re keen to know what our youngest visitors think
The films are judged by a jury of seven children aged between 6 and 12 which will award the “Best Kids” Award. These children are picked from among the members of the children’s film club. Fantoche and “Zauberlaterne” will look after them as they get together at the festival to watch, discuss and judge the films. At the official awards ceremony, they outline their impressions, explain how they reached their decision and award the prize to the winning filmmaker. The younger members of the general public also get the chance to pick their favorite film using a voting slip, and so select the “Young Audience Award”.

Awards
Kids and young people love animation, so we value their voices. The Kids Jury and Audience Award give them a say—which also matters greatly to filmmakers:
– Best Kids: For what the Kids Jury thinks, is the best film.
– Audience Award: Chosen by the kids in the audience.
– Youth Award for Best New Talent: Awarded by a Swiss jury of eight young cinephiles to the best debut or student film from all competitions.
– Golden Wings Award: Awarded by the Flying Film Festival jury for the best anidoc across all competitions.

COMPETITION REGULATIONS 2025

1. ORGANISER
Organiser of the Fantoche International Animation Film Festival in Baden, Switzerland is the independent, non-profit association Fantoche, registered in Baden, Switzerland.

2. CRITERIA
The competitions are open to any audiovisual animation, created frame by frame, with a maximum running time of forty minutes and completed after the 31st of December 2023. Eligible for the Swiss Competition are films by Swiss filmmakers, filmmakers living in Switzerland or with Swiss producers or co-producers. Fantoche is an officially accredited festival for both the Academy Awards® and BAFTA, qualifying selected films for consideration.

3. REGISTRATION FOR THE COMPETITION
No entry fee is required.
Films must be submitted preferably via the FilmFreeway platform (filmfreeway.com/festival/fantoche) or alternatively via excel submission form (fantoche.ch/
en/call-for-entry-2025) by the 11th of May 2025. The registration forms should be complete upon submission, including film credits, image material, synopsis and director’s filmography.
Please note, that films with non-English dialogue must include English subtitles.
Fantoche may consider unfinished works (Work in Progress) if they are sufficiently advanced to be evaluated, and the submitter guarantees completion by the 31st of July 2025. In such cases, the title and the beginning of the film must clearly indicate that it is a Work in Progress. Please contact film@fantoche.ch if the Work in Progress copy is to be replaced by a more recent version.

4. SELECTION
Three selection committees will select the films for the International Competition, the Swiss Competition and the Kids Film Competition. The selection committee can also consider individual works for other parts of the festival, particularly the ‘Panorama’ or ‘Music Video Darlings’ programme (out of competition).
The list of selected films will be published on www.fantoche.ch on the 8th of July 2025.

5. NOTIFICATION AND INVITATION
The festival will notify the film submitter via email if their film has been selected and will also request the required materials for promotional purposes and screenings at that time. Once notified, submitters have until the 30th of June 2025 to withdraw their film from the programme. After this date, films may not be withdrawn.
If a film is not selected, Fantoche will notify the submitter via FilmFreeway by the 6th of July 2025. Along with the selection notification, invitation and accreditation forms will be provided and should be returned by 31st of July 2025.
Fantoche is pleased to welcome filmmakers whose works have been selected for Fantoche 2025. The festival offers, where possible, free accommodation and meals for one member of the film team. In some cases, a contribution towards travel expenses may also be reimbursed.

6. FILM COPIES
Selected films must be submitted in DCP format (24 fps, 25 fps or 30 fps, unencrypted) or as ProRes 422 HQ. 5.1 surround sound is recommended, otherwise stereo will suffice. They can be submitted on USB Keys, external hard disks or digitally by FTP, WeTransfer, etc. Selected works must be received by the Fantoche festival office in pristine projection condition by the 31st of July 2025 at the latest. Please contact film@fantoche.ch for further information on postal delivery.

7. SUBTITLES
Fantoche will provide subtitles for selected films in competition. The festival will cover all costs associated with this process, provided that the submitter supplies the complete time-coded transcript of the original dialogue and/or commentary, along with an English translation. These documents will be requested if the film is selected for competition. Subtitling will be provided to the filmmaker free of charge.

8. SCREENING AT THE FESTIVAL
The festival reserves the right to screen selected films multiple times during Fantoche 2025. No screening fees will be paid for these cinema showings. For any online screenings, Fantoche will contact the filmmaker in advance to discuss and agree upon the terms and conditions.

9. COMPETITIONS, AWARDS AND JURY
International Competition
A three-person jury will award prizes in two categories: Best Film (CHF 10’000) and High Risk (CHF 5’000). The International Audience Award (CHF 7’000) will be chosen by the audience. The total prize fund of CHF 22’000 will be complemented by in-kind awards for Special Mentions.

Swiss Competition
An international jury of three will award prizes in the following categories: Best Swiss Film (CHF 10’000), High Swiss Risk (CHF 5’000), and Fantastic Swiss (in-kind). The Swiss Audience Award (CHF 4’000), selected by the audience, also includes a screening contract with SSR (Schweizerische Radio- und Fernsehgesellschaft) Play Swiss online platform. The total prize fund amounts to CHF 20’000, with in-kind awards for Special Mentions.

Kids Film Competition
A seven-person kids’ jury will award the Best Kids Film (CHF 2’000). The Kids Audience Award (CHF 1’000) will be selected by the audience. The total prize fund amounts to CHF 3’000, with in-kind awards for Special Mentions.

Youth Award for Best New Talent
A Swiss jury of eight young cinephiles will award the Youth Award for Best New Talent (CHF 3’000). Eligible films for this award include those directed by first-time directors and/or student filmmakers from the International, Swiss, and Kids Competitions.

Golden Wings Award
A jury from the Flying Film Festival will award the Best Anidoc prize. All anidocs from the International, Swiss, and Kids Competitions are eligible for this award. The winner will receive an in-kind award in cooperation with Swiss International Airlines.
Further information on the individual awards can be found on www.fantoche.ch.

The juries’ and audiences’ decisions will be announced during the awards ceremony in Baden on the 7th of September 2025. Every film selected for the competition programmes will receive a certificate.

10. ARCHIVE
During the festival some submitted films will be made available for the press and attending filmmakers through access to our online film library (“Filmothek”) via FilmFreeway until the end of October 2025. After the festival, selected films will be deposited in the festival archive and will be made available for academic research.

11. FESTIVAL ADVERTISING
By accepting the present regulations, the entrant authorises Fantoche to reproduce and broadcast an extract or trailer of the films selected for the festival free of charge. These extracts are limited to a maximum of ten percent of the total running time of the film. They will only be used for the promotion of the festival in TV and web programmes, interviews and reports.

12. AFTER THE FESTIVAL
Fantoche is entitled to screen awarded films as part of its annual activities in Switzerland between September 2025 and September 2026. Fantoche shall not pay any screening fees for these activities. For any screening abroad, Fantoche will contact the filmmaker in advance to negotiate terms and conditions. Fantoche is also entitled to provide the award-winning films in low-res on the Fantoche AR application (brochure and app) for a period of one year until September 2026.

13. RIGHTS
Each entrant declares to be the author or rights owner of the submitted film and to own all literary, dramatic and musical rights guaranteeing Fantoche against any claims, conflicts and legal action concerning the presentation of the film. The information requested, including photos, is required for electronic and paper (website and brochure) media linked to Fantoche. This information will also be used on the Internet and Fantoche’s database.

14. VALIDITY OF REGULATIONS
The submitter accepts these regulations by submitting a film. In case of dispute, Fantoche is granted the right of decision. Place of jurisdiction is Baden, Switzerland.

Baden, January 2025

Fantoche – International Animation Film Festival
P.O.Box CH – 5400 Baden, Switzerland
Tel: +41 56 290 14 44
mail@fantoche.ch
www.fantoche.ch

Address for courier deliveries:
Fantoche – International Animation Film Festival
Bruggerstr. 37, CH – 5400 Baden, Switzerland

In charge of programme coordination:
Xenia Nguyen, nguyen@fantoche.ch

Overall Rating
Quality
Value
Communication
Hospitality
Networking
  • Kanykei Orozoeva

    We were very happy that our film got selected to this wonderful festival and even won a special mention!

    December 2024
  • The Festival was as always really well organized, people were relaxed, having a good time. The weather fit perfectly, too. Lots of people showed up at the screenings, which was wonderful.
    Thanks to the all the helpers involved!

    September 2024
  • Alistair Kerr

    I attended the festival this year and had a wonderful time it was great to be amongst many talented and creative people and we were looked after well.
    I look forward to submitting an animation next year.👍🏻😎

    September 2024
  • Lotti Bauer

    I just love it. Thank you for everything.

    September 2024
  • A top-level festival. It was a pleasure to be in your program. Keep going guys.

    September 2023