The New York Short Animation Festival (NYSAF) celebrates creativity and innovation in animation. We showcase works from students, teens, and professionals, believing that every animation—from classroom projects to professional productions—deserves recognition. Our mission is to provide a platform for animators at various stages of their careers to share their work and gain visibility.

NYSAF offers categories for Stop Motion, 2D Animation, 3D Animation, and AI Animation. Younger animators (pre-school & elementary) can submit for FREE to encourage emerging talent from an early age. To ensure fairness, individual and group submissions are limited to college and professional animators. Our goal is to inspire a vibrant community of animators and provide opportunities for their work to be seen and appreciated.

Awards & Prizes

Awards

Best Stop Motion
Best 2D Animation
Best 3D Animation
Best AI Animation
Best Director
Best Animation
Best Experimental Animation
Best Character Design
Best Visual Effects
Best Student Director
Best Student Animation
Best Individual Student Animation
Best Student Narrative Animation
Best Student Experimental Animation
Best Student Character Design
Best Student Visual Effects
Audience Choice Award
Best Creativity Award
Best Stop Motion of the year
Best 2D Animation of the year
Best 3D Animation of the year
Best AI Animation of the year

Prizes

Festival Laurels & Certificate: Honorable Mentions, Semi-Finalists, Finalists, and Winners in each category will receive the official NYSAF Festival Laurels and a certificate of recognition.

Online Screening: Quartly Winning animations will be showcased through an online screening, gaining global exposure.

Invitation to the In-Person Festival: All Winners will be invited to attend the in-person festival event, where they can network with fellow animators and industry professionals.

Quarterly and Yearly Competitions: Quarterly winners automatically enter the yearly competition. Yearly winners will have their work screened in-person at the festival.

Rules & Terms

By submitting to the New York Short Animation Festival (NYSAF), you agree to the following rules and guidelines. Please read them carefully to ensure that your submission is made to the appropriate category; failure to do so may result in disqualification.

1. Film Length:
All animations must have a total runtime of no more than 15 minutes, including credits.

2. Eligibility for Student Films:
Student filmmakers must provide proof of student status at the time of production, either through a valid student ID or relevant documentation.
Student films must be submitted within one year of the filmmaker’s graduation date.

3. Submission Format:
All submissions must be provided in a digital format, with a minimum resolution of 1080p HD. Physical copies will not be accepted.

4. Original Content:
All submitted films must be the original work of the participant(s). By submitting, the entrant guarantees that they hold all necessary rights to the content, including music, sound, and footage. Films containing unlicensed or copyrighted material without permission will be disqualified.

5. Language:
Films not in English must include English subtitles.

6. Entry Fees:
All entry fees are non-refundable, even in the event of a submission withdrawal.

7. Categories:
Filmmakers can submit their work to the appropriate category based on the medium and team structure (e.g., Individual or Group). Films can be submitted to multiple categories if relevant, but each submission requires a separate entry fee.

8. Rights & Usage:
By submitting your film, you grant NYSAF the rights to screen your film in the online festival and, if applicable, in-person during the festival event.
NYSAF reserves the right to use clips or stills from selected films for promotional purposes (e.g., trailers, website, social media).

9. Selection Process:
All submissions will be reviewed by a panel of industry professionals. The decisions of the jury are final.
Selected films will be notified via the contact details provided during submission. It is the responsibility of the filmmaker to ensure accurate contact information.

10. Disqualification:
NYSAF reserves the right to disqualify any film that does not comply with the rules and regulations, including failure to provide proof of student status (if applicable) or submission of incomplete work.

11. Notification of Winners:
Winners will be announced on our official website and contacted directly via email.

12. Festival Participation:
If your film is selected, you agree to provide any additional materials required for the screening or promotional purposes in a timely manner.