Welcome to the official submission page for the Freiluft Film & Animation Fest, an international festival of independent films in the open air. We gather the best contemporary films and animation from around the world to present them at night in the dark on the big screen.

!!! The program is aimed at adults, 18+. It features a variety of animation genres, from comedy to horror.

Who Can Submit?
We welcome submissions from both established and emerging authors, studios, and independent filmmakers worldwide. Whether your film is a short, feature-length, or experimental animatio

Our judging committee will review all submitted entries, ensuring that at least 50% of the selected works will be by German authors. The remaining spots will be allocated to international projects. We will choose as many winners as we can fit into our 9-hour continuous animation program.

Additionally, we have non-competitive slots reserved for invited guests and special programs.

The selection process will be handled by the festival's artistic committee. All submissions will be carefully reviewed. If your work is selected, you will first receive a nominee status. Among the nominees, we will determine those who will be officially selected for screening at the event. After the event, the winners of the festival will be decided through additional voting by the members of the artistic committee as well as audience voting.

Awards & Prizes

Winners in each category will receive official laurels, a certificate, and be featured in a special compilation of the best films from the festival. Additionally, selected films may be included in touring screenings at other international festivals.

Rules & Terms

SUBMISSION GUIDELINES
We strongly encourage you to review the following carefully. By submitting your project, you acknowledge that you have read and agreed to all the rules and terms below. Projects submitted by our final deadline that adhere to these terms will be considered for inclusion in the 2025 or 2026 Freiluft Animation Festival.

For further questions, please refer to our FAQ or contact us directly.

ELIGIBILITY REGULATIONS
Completion/Premiere Date: Films submitted must have premiered on or after January 2022.

Presentation: Selected films will be screened at our festival in various venues, including outdoor locations. Films must be provided in digital formats, such as DCP or other specified formats. Technical details and delivery instructions will be sent upon acceptance.

Language: All foreign language films must include the original language soundtrack with English and German subtitles. Closed caption files must be available for all accepted films.

Prior Submissions: If you have previously submitted a film to our festival, you may re-submit it if it has been significantly altered, re-edited, or re-made since the initial submission. The film’s premiere date must still be on or after January 2022. If you have any questions regarding your eligibility, please contact us.

ACCEPTED FILMS
All selected films must be in their final form by the notification date. Upon acceptance, the festival reserves the right to use an excerpt from the film for promotional purposes. Screening schedules, venues, and formats are determined at the festival’s discretion.

Please note: The festival does not pay screening fees for submitted films.

REFUNDS & DISQUALIFICATION
Refunds will not be provided for disqualified submissions or withdrawals after the project is marked as "In Consideration." The festival reserves the right to disqualify any submission without refund at any stage.

RIGHTS AND LEGAL TERMS
Rights & Permissions: By submitting a film to the Freiluft Animation Fest, the submitter confirms that they have the necessary rights, licenses, and permissions for all elements of the film, including but not limited to music, images, and any third-party content. The submitter must have the authority to submit the film for public screening at the festival and to grant the festival organizers the right to exhibit the film.

Screening Rights: By submitting, you grant the Freiluft Animation Fest the non-exclusive right to screen your film during the festival dates. This includes live public screenings, as well as the possibility of online screenings, should the festival host virtual events.

Liability: The festival organizers will not be held liable for any claims, damages, or liabilities arising from the exhibition of the submitted film. The submitter agrees to indemnify and hold harmless the Freiluft Animation Fest, its affiliates, and sponsors from any claims related to unauthorized use of copyrighted materials within the film or any breach of these terms.

Copyright: The submitter confirms that the film does not infringe upon any intellectual property rights, including copyright, trademark, or any other proprietary rights of any third party. Any legal disputes related to the submitted film will be the sole responsibility of the submitter.

Acceptance of Terms: By submitting your project, you acknowledge that you have read, understood, and agreed to the festival's rules and terms. All submissions will be considered final, and submission fees are non-refundable.

SUBTITLES REQUIREMENT
To ensure that all our festival-goers can fully enjoy the films, we kindly ask that non-German language films include German subtitles for the final screening. However, at the submission stage, we are happy to accept films either in English or with English subtitles.

If your film is selected, we will work with you to provide or arrange for German subtitles, ensuring that your work reaches the widest possible audience in Germany.