Fest Anča International Animation Festival is unique in being the only Slovak multimedia festival focused on animated film targeted mainly at a mature audience. It is the first film festival in Slovakia with the prestigious status of Academy Awards® Qualifying Festival. The festival aims to raise awareness about animated film as an autonomous art form, and to educate about its multiple types and aspects.

The competitive programme comprises a selection of the stand-out animated films completed in the last two years. The festival includes an international competition of animated short films, music videos, and Slovak animation. Through non-competitive thematic sections and focuses, Fest Anča presents artistic and production milestones in the history of animation. Additional accompanying events include presentations, exhibitions, workshops, concerts, film screenings for children. The festival’s industry forum is targeted at film professionals with a focus on the planning, development and presentation of animated film projects.

At Fest Anča 2024 you can compete for Anča Awards in the following categories:

– Best Animated Short
– Best Student Animated Short
– Best Animated Music Video
– Best Animated Short for Children
– Best Slovak Animated Short

BEST ANIMATED SHORT

Best Animated Short is the international competition of short animated films made in the last two years. The winning film will be selected by a three-member international committee.
The winner of the Anča Award for the Best Animated Short will be awarded €1500.

BEST STUDENT ANIMATED SHORT

Fest Anča will also award the best student short animated film made in the last two years in the international competition of short animated films. The winning student film will be selected by an international committee.
The winner of the Anča Award for the Best Student Animated Short will be awarded €1000.

BEST ANIMATED MUSIC VIDEO

Best Animated Music Video is the international competition of animated music videos made in the last two years. An international committee will select the winner.
The winner of the Anča Award for the Best Animated Music Video will be awarded €1000.

BEST ANIMATED SHORT FOR CHILDREN

Best Animated Short for Children is the international competition of short animated films for children made in the last two years. And because adults (as we know) don’t understand much at all, the winning film will be selected by a special children’s committee!
The winner of the Anča Award for the Best Animated Short for Children will be awarded €1000.

BEST SLOVAK ANIMATED SHORT

Best Slovak Animated Short is the Slovak competition of short animated films made in the last two years. An international committee will select the winner.
The winner of the Anča Award for the Best Slovak Animated Short will be awarded €1500.

17th Fest Anča International Animation Festival → 25th June – 30th June 2024

Article I

Fest Anča International Animation Festival (hereinafter the ’Festival’) is a specialised film festival organised by o.z. ANČA, registered office at Štefánikova 16, 811 04 Bratislava (www.festanca.sk). Its aim is to contribute to the development and promotion of animation and the animated film industry.

Article II

The 17th year will take place in Žilina from 25th June – 30th June 2024.

Article III

At Fest Anča 2024 you can compete for Anča Awards in the following categories:
a) Best Animated Short (The international competition of short animated films)
b) Best Student Animated Short (The international competition of student short animated films)
c) Best Animated Music Video (The international competition of animated music videos)
d) Best Animated Short for Children (The international competition of short animated films for children)
e) Best Slovak Animated Short (The Slovak competition of short animated films).

Fest Anča International Animation Festival is the first film festival in Slovakia with the prestigious status of Academy Awards® Qualifying Festival. Short films awarded with the Anča Award in the categories Best Animated Short Film and Best Slovak Animated Short Film can thus compete in the short film category at the upcoming Oscars®.

Only animated films under 30 minutes completed after 1st January 2022 are accepted into the Festival’s competition programme. Only works with the majority participation of a Slovak producer or a Slovak filmmaker may be entered into the Slovak competition of short animated films.The Festival’s non-competitive programme includes focuses, workshops, retrospectives, tributes, exhibitions and discussions.

This year’s call for entries is open via FilmFreeway.com. The submission process is open from 31st October 2023 to 31st January 2024 and will take place in three phases. Earlybird submission is free until 30th November 2023. Submissions registered during the period between 1st December and 31st December 2023 will be subject to a registration fee of EUR 5 per film. Submissions registered during the period between 1st January and 31st January 2024 (Late Deadline) will be subject to a registration fee of EUR 10 per film.

Article IV

The screening formats of the films are to be specified after the films have been officially selected. All films selected for all the Festival sections are screened in the original versions, and must be provided with English subtitles (unless the original version is in English). This is the responsibility of participants.

Article V

The selection of competitive films is carried out by a committee appointed by the Festival organisers. The programme schedule and order of screening sections are set by the Festival organisers.
Owners of screening rights (hereinafter the “submitters”) may submit their films to the 17th Fest Anča till 31st January 2024 for all the international competitions. Entry forms for competitive sections are available at the FilmFreeway webpage: https://filmfreeway.com/FestAnca2024.
If a submitter does not provide a screening file of a submitted film, they will be disqualified from the selection process.

Article VI

The applicant agrees that films with the majority participation of a Slovak producer or a Slovak filmmaker may be automatically assessed during the pre-selection and included in the Slovak competition of short animated films.

Article VII

No selected film can be withdrawn from the Festival programme after its participation has been officially confirmed by the submitter (a film submission acts as the official confirmation). Copies sent for competition will not be returned, such copies become part of the Festival’s archive.
The Festival committee reserves the right to select submitted films for both competitive and non-competitive sections. Submitters will be informed about the results of the selection process by 31st March 2024.

Article VIII

Submitters are obliged to follow the instructions for the delivery of copies of selected films. The instructions will be enclosed in a letter confirming a film’s selection for the programme. Submitters will send copies of the selected films in the requested format immediately after receiving detailed instructions from the Festival organisers. Films selected for competitive and non-competitive sections will be screened without entitlement to screening fees.
A submitter authorises o.z. ANČA to include the film on an online platform (with prior agreement on time limit and territory) if the event or part of the event has to be held online.

Article IX

By sending entry forms, submitters give o. z. ANČA the right to use 20% of a film with a maximum 1 minute sequence from the selected film to promote the Fest Anča 2024 in any media.
During the Festival, teasers of selected films will be screened at the festival venues, in TV spots promoting Fest Anča, on the website of the Festival, on social media platforms and in multimedia presentations during the festival.
Fest Anča reserves the right to use film stills in promotional materials (festival catalogue, festival journal, leaflets, posters, billboards, website, and multimedia presentations), and provide them to the media for the purpose of disseminating information about the Festival.

Article X

The Festival organisers decide about guest invitations, and the Festival gives priority to filmmakers of selected competition films. A submitter whose film is selected for the programme (either competitive or non-competitive) will receive an accreditation for the festival. Travel expenses are dealt with individually, and are covered up to the amount determined by the Festival’s current financial circumstances. The Festival reserves the right to prioritise the travel and accommodation expenses of the authors of films selected for competition. Hospitality terms for invited guests of the Festival shall be arranged individually, and specified in their personal invitations by email.

Article XI

International juries will be composed of prominent representatives of culture, film theory, and film journalism, as well as filmmakers and producers. There will be one international jury for Anča Awards in the Best Animated Short category and in the Best Student Animated Short category. Another international jury will award the Anča Award in the Best Animated Music Video category. The third international jury will decide the Anča Award in the Best Slovak Animated Short category. The Anča Award in the Best Animated Short for Children category will be decided by the children participating in the projections.
Members of juries must not have participated in the making of any films in the competition that they are judging. Jury members are sworn to secrecy. Festival organisers may attend jury deliberations, but cannot take part in voting. A jury comes to its decision according to the criteria upon which they all agree. A jury announces results at the final ceremony. A jury may award special mentions.

Article XII

The sending of a completed entry form and film constitutes a submitter’s full acceptance of the Festival’s rules and regulations.

Overall Rating
Quality
Value
Communication
Hospitality
Networking
  • It was an honor to have my film "The Lovers" screened at the Fest Anca alongside a selection of films from other brilliant filmmakers, will be attending again next year!

    November 2023
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    Response from festival:

    Thank you <3 Looking forward to see you, Rimma!

  • Honored to have been a part of this, thank you very much Anča fest! ❤️

    October 2023
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    Response from festival:

    Thank youu <333!

  • Participating in the Fest Anča festival was a unique and heartwarming experience. Although we couldn't be physically present, the festival's charm transcended distance, and our animation short "The Body" was proudly selected to be part of this exceptional event.

    Fest Anča's intimate and welcoming atmosphere reached us even from afar. The fact that our work was recognized and showcased speaks volumes about the festival's discerning curation. Additionally, being noticed at Zippy Frames added an extra layer of recognition that warmed our creative spirits.

    We are eager to continue our journey and, hopefully, embrace the festival in person in the future.

    August 2023
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    Response from festival:

    Thank you very much for your review, Rimma! Fingers crossed with your future projects :) See you soon!

  • I loved Fest Anča selection. Always so unique and diverse!
    I think is very important to Hispanic animators have the opportunity to share and be part of European festivals.

    July 2023
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    Response from festival:

    Dear Karina, many thanks for your kind words <3

  • Alex Crumbie

    A really fantastic festival! I was very happy that Confessions of an English Ant-Eater was screened. Loads of great films to be watched and fun to be had.

    July 2023
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    Response from festival:

    Thank you, Alex! Looking forward to your next film(s)!