Sweaty Eyeballs Animation Festival (SEAF) celebrates the world’s most boundary-pushing, mind-blowing animation. This annual festival is focused on supporting unique, experimental and diverse voices in the field of animation, with a lean toward off-the-wall humor and energy.

SEAF returns November 6-7, 2026!
We remain dedicated to the search for innovative storytelling and craft, and we are working to create meaningful connections across geographic and stylistic divides. The festival is fully In-Person in 2026 with screenings at Falvey Hall Theatre at the Maryland Institute College of Art in Baltimore, Maryland USA.

SCREENINGS FOR 2026
This year the festival will include multiple programs of International animated short films, a Baltimore Showcase, animator retrospectives, special screenings of independent feature films, workshops and more.
For the Baltimore Showcase, submissions must be a film produced within 50 miles of Baltimore City to qualify.

WHAT DO WE LOOK FOR?
SEAF accepts animated shorts (under 20 minutes). DO NOT SUBMIT LIVE-ACTION FILMS. We look for contemporary animated work from across the globe which best highlights the expressive potential of the medium, and pushes limits of what animation means. We are looking for work that is appropriate for any age range.

WHO ARE WE?
Sweaty Eyeballs began in 2012 as the brainchild of animator and Towson University professor Phil Davis as a way to bring unique voices in international and independent animation to Baltimore audiences. The festival was a single night invitational screening from 2012-2018 with a diverse array of animated narrative, documentary, music video, and experimental work pushing the boundaries of art, craft, and technology. In 2017 the programming of Sweaty Eyeballs expanded to include a monthly animation screening series in collaboration with the Maryland Film Festival and the SNF Parkway Theatre, and in 2019, our first full festival was held, with roaring success.

Awards & Prizes

Golden Eyeball - Grand Prize
Best of Baltimore Prize
Audience Choice Prize

The above prizes will be awarded based on votes by a jury of film/animation professionals and the audience choice award will be chosen by the audience members attending the festival. Jurors will be selected by the Festival Director of Programming.

Rules & Terms

Sweaty Eyeballs Animation Festival is accepting submissions for the following categories: International Competition and Baltimore Showcase. Contact phil@sweatyeyeballs.com for information or if you have questions about categories of submission.

General Conditions:
• Sweaty Eyeballs welcomes all animation techniques for submission
• Sweaty Eyeballs welcomes professional and student work
• Narrative, documentary, and experimental work are all encouraged for submission
• Sweaty Eyeballs does not have a category for commissioned films, advertising films, or
sponsored content, but music videos are encouraged to submit
• Films for young audiences (ages 5-12) as well as for adult audiences are encouraged to submit
• Films must be completed after January 1st, 2025
• Films must not exceed 20 minutes
• Films that are already available to stream online are still eligible
• Applicant must be the rightful owner of the submitted film and own any literary or
music rights.
• Applicants may submit more than one film, but a separate submission must
accompany each film
• Sweaty Eyeballs does not pay screening fees for films selected in competition
programs

Submission Fees:

June 28 - Earlybird Deadline - $10, $5 for students
July 31 - Regular Deadline - $15, $10 for students
August 21 - Final Deadline - $25, $15 for students

Submission Procedure:

• Filmmakers are required to complete an application form via FilmFreeway
• Film application must include 2-4 film stills, synopsis, filmmaker address/country of origin, and filmmaker bio
• If submitting a student film please include the School Name and Location in your presskit info on FilmFreeway
• Sweaty Eyeballs only accepts online submission links for preview of films (Vimeo/Youtube, etc.)
• Online links to films may be public or private with a password
• Film must be complete at the time of submission, no works in progress will be considered
• Films with languages other than English must have English subtitles

Technical Requirements:

Preview Copy of film - Sweaty Eyeballs accepts link/urls to film including vimeo or youtube
Screening Copy - Apple ProRes 422 or H.264, HD or 4K resolution, stereo or 5.1 surround sound

Sweaty Eyeballs reserves the right to refuse a screening copy of poor technical quality or that does not match above specifications. Films with dialogue in any language other than English must have English subtitles.

Film Selection & Notification:

Film selections are carried out by the Festival Director of Programming in collaboration with a pre-screening committee of professional animators/filmmakers. Final selections and awards are determined by the Festival Director of Programming and a jury of animation professionals chosen by the Festival Director of Programming.

Filmmakers will be notified of selection status by September 27, 2026. Selected films for competition will be announced on the festival website by October 5, 2026.

Screening Copy Delivery:

Screening copies of all films accepted to competition programs must be delivered via specified upload link (will be sent in email) by October 12, 2026 at the latest.
Any issues with screening copy file uploads must be sent to phil@sweatyeyeballs.com

Acceptance of Terms:

By submitting a film the entrant guarantees that they have obtained all appropriate rights and clearances, and that they have legal right to both enter their film and, if selected, screen it publicly within the Sweaty Eyeballs Animation Festival.

19 Reviews
Overall Rating
Quality
Value
Communication
Hospitality
Networking
  • Nathan King

    Wonderful festival, honored to be a part of it.

    November 2024
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  • TIMA AFLITUNOV

    Sweaty Eyeballs Animation Festival was a lot of fun! One of the best venues for creatives. Great people, great event and great animation! I had lots of fun and my family and friends enjoyed it very much.

    October 2024
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  • Eric Millikin

    Amazing film festival! Great series of events (art exhibition, talks, performances, etc,) as part of Sweaty Eyeballs. So great! I was glad to be a part of it!

    October 2024
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  • Jamie Griffiths

    Thanks so much to sweaty eyeballs for awarding me with the best student film prize!! I wish I could have been there in person. Wonderful festival with a lot of personality & love put into it!

    October 2024
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  • Matt Partridge

    Lovely festival. Thank you the support and choosing my film Best Day Ever.

    October 2023
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