The Walt Disney Family Museum’s Teen Animation Festival International (TAFI) celebrates animation created by artists ages 13 through 19. TAFI invites entries from around the world and offers both educational and collaborative opportunities as well as a chance to win great prizes. Previous awards have included family memberships to The Walt Disney Family Museum, portfolio reviews with industry professionals, and Bay Area professional animation studio tours.

2019 marks the Walt Disney Family Museum’s sixth year as host to an animation festival specifically designed for teens. Beginning in 2014 with nine high schools, participation continues to increase year-to-year. The 2018 festival included screenings of Official Festival Selections, portfolio reviews, a panel discussion with animators from the gaming industry, a lecture by the 2017 Festival Winner, and a keynote address from animator Mark Walsh. Honors were presented for outstanding achievement, based on judging from a panel of industry professionals. Awards were presented to the Festival Grand Prize Winner, Festival Runner-Up Winner, Category First and Second Place Winners, and Special Award Winners.

In 2019, TAFI will highlight excellence in high school animation programs as well as outstanding achievement by individual students. The five submission categories (School Show Reel, Individual Reel, 2D Short Film, 3D Short Film, and Stop-motion or Experimental Short Film), reflect the breadth and creative variety of student productions.

To submit your film, please follow the link here: https://form.jotform.com/81795375399174

In celebration of The Walt Disney Family Museum’s 10th anniversary, we will honor TAFI participants with additional special prizes, including awards bestowed upon winners by the museum’s Board of Directors, Caltrain, the Redford Center, and more. Films that qualify for the Redford Center Award will focus on environmental issues; however, the awards from Caltrain and the Board of Directors do not need to center on a specific theme to qualify, so all films submitted to the 2D, 3D, and Experimental Categories will be considered for awards from these aforementioned parties. Additionally, one specially selected film will be screened from July 4-31 at San Francisco International Airport's Video Arts Exhibition space, which is located pre-security on the departures level of the International Terminal.

All applicants must be between the ages of 13 and 19 during the 2018–19 school year.
Works could have been started anytime, but all works must have been completed after May 1, 2018.
All films must be the eligible applicant’s original work—the films must be written, directed, filmed, and edited by eligible applicants.
Any media uses, including music, must be copyright free or cited per the copyright owner’s terms. No use of non-student IP with approval or copyright infringement allowed.
All submissions must be suitable for the festival audience (MPAA rating of PG-13).
Films that exceed the required time limit will not be accepted—time limit does not include the required slate and black frames.
Submissions must be submitted no later than Sunday, April 7, 2019 at 11:59pm PST. Late submissions will not be considered.

Submissions will be reviewed by a panel of judges from feature film, television, video game studios, and university programs. Each applicant and credited teacher will be invited to the festival on Saturday, June 1, and Sunday, June 2, 2019. Students and teachers credited on films selected for the festival will be invited before all other TAFI entrants. The public is invited to view student work during a screening of select TAFI entries on Sunday, June 2, 2019. All student applicants will receive four free admission tickets to the museum redeemable Saturday, June 1, or Sunday, June 2, 2019.

Submissions include a $25 submission fee; PayPal account required. For financial aid opportunities, send a statement of need to TAFI@wdfmuseum.org on or before Sunday, March 17, 2019. Entries must be submitted no later than Sunday April 7, 2019 at 11:59pm PST.

No copyright infringement allowed, including use of any intellectual property belonging to others (i.e. using characters or voiceovers created by someone else). Any media uses, including music, must be copyright free or cited per the copyright owner’s terms. If you have questions about uses, email TAFI@wdfmuseum.org.