The Festival is a small venue with capacity of 80 guests. On the Friday June 20th and Saturday June 20th 2025 the films that have been chosen by the Judges will be shown, there will be a peoples choice award with a cash prize selected by the guests. On Sunday June 22nd 2025 there will be workshops for the guests relating to film making and animation. Our website will provide details and tickets available.
www.hasff.org

Awards & Prizes

PRIZES
Best Animated Short $1000
Best Live Action Short Film $1000
Critics choice $500
Best Student Film (Animation or Live Action) Ben McKinnon Excellence Award $1000

One film can be awarded only one prize, in the event of a tie the prize will be split between the two films and in the event the film already has won a prize it will go to the runner up.

Rules & Terms

The Hudson Animation & Short Festival is open to only Canadians.
You do not have to attend the festival to submit a film.
Entry Form opens JANUARY 20TH, 2026 at 12:00AM Eastern Daylight Time.
Entry deadline: MAY 31ST, 2026 at 11:59PM Eastern Daylight Time.
Only films and animations completed after Jan 1st, 2025 are eligible.
Early bird SUBMISSION FREE: January-February–March 2026
Regular deadline SUBMISSION 15$: April 2026.
Late deadline SUBMISSION 20$: MAY 2026.
We only accept entries submitted via FilmFreeway link.
Each entry may only be submitted once.
Only one film or animation from one director.
Live Action films should be under 15 minutes.
We accept only film and animation formats: MP4 H264 or H265 at 1080p.
Entries must include at least 3 stills from the film (@ 2K or 1920×1080), a director’s photo (72 dpi, @ 500 x 500 pixels in jpg or png), and a director’s short biography and short film synopsis.
If your film has dialogue that is not in English, it should have English subtitles,
While we are not opposed to AI-assisted works, submissions should at least show 75% of the artists’ hand.
We do NOT accept pornographic films, hate films, films with religious or political agendas, dance videos, music videos.

If any entries are discovered to be plagiarized or copies of pre-existing films, the entrant(s) will be disqualified.

Include 3 stills from the film (300 dpi, jpg or png), a director’s photo (72 dpi, jpg or png), and a director’s short biography and short film synopsis. These will only be used to promote your film in the festival.
The Festival reserves the right to use excerpts from selected works, pictures and trailers, for the Festival’s promotional purposes.
10 Reviews
Overall Rating
Quality
Value
Communication
Hospitality
Networking
  • Ron Butler

    Great festival! Thank you so much for including our short film, Ezda, in the program! We’re honored to be part of it!

    July 2025
    Helpful
  • G. Scott MacLeod

    I encourage HASFF to continue with its diverse and excellent program of animated and short films. In addition to the very useful film workshops offered and prizes awarded on the last day. I enjoyed my time at the festival with the staff, filmmakers and public. Hudson is a wonderful destination town. I highly recommend going and supporting this new festival.

    July 2025
    Helpful
  • Orima Bendisse

    I really enjoyed my experience with the Hudson Animation and Short Film Festival. The organizers are dedicated to the Festival and they were patient with my uploading difficulties. Long live the festival.
    Orima Bendisse

    June 2025
    Helpful
  • Amir Zargara

    Thanks for having us :)

    June 2025
    Helpful
  • David Rendall

    Great festival. A wide selection of well made live action and animated films. Was honoured to premiere my short TRIAGE there and win best short film and best live-action short film. Passionate organizers and the best part were the industry professionals who came in to teach a full day of workshops. Think this festival is really going to catch on and grow. Highly recommend. Thank you!

    May 2024
    Helpful