The New York Short Animation Festival (NYSAF) is an IMDb-qualifying festival that celebrates animation in all its forms — from a young student's first film to a seasoned professional's latest work. We believe every animated story deserves an audience, and we are committed to supporting animators at every level, from every corner of the world.

NYSAF runs four seasonal competitions throughout the year. Each season ends with two online screenings that showcase the work submitted during that period. Seasonal winners move forward to our annual competition, where the best films are chosen for an in-person screening in New York City. A special Jury Selection screening rounds out our program — ten screenings in total each year.

We are proud to partner with Cine Universitario UACJ in Mexico, offering the possibility of additional screenings for selected films. These opportunities are extended by separate invitation after the festival, giving filmmakers a chance to reach audiences beyond New York.

All submissions are grouped by age, so every participant competes with peers at a similar stage of their journey. College students and professionals can enter individually or as a group. Younger animators — from pre-school through elementary school — can submit for free, because we want to encourage creativity from the very beginning.

At NYSAF, every submission matters. We share all submitted films on our social media platforms, recognizing the effort and vision that goes into each one — regardless of whether it is selected for screening.

NYSAF is more than a competition. It is a place for animators to tell their stories, find their audience, and be seen — in New York, in Mexico, and around the world.

Awards

Best Stop Motion
Best 2D Animation
Best 3D Animation
Best AI Animation
Best Director
Best Animation
Best Individual Animation
Best Narrative Animation
Best Experimental Animation
Best Story
Best Music Video
Best Character Design
Best Visual Effects
Best Creative Award
Best Poster Design
Best Trailer
Best Student Director
Best Student Animation
Best Individual Student Animation
Best Student Narrative Animation
Best Student Experimental Animation
Best Student Story
Best Student Music Video
Best Student Character Design
Best Student Visual Effects
Best Student Creative Award
Best Student Poster Design
Best Student Trailer
Audience Choice Award
Best Stop Motion of the year
Best 2D Animation of the year
Best 3D 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, celebrating their creative achievement.

Online Screenings
Quarterly winning animations will be showcased through our online screenings, providing creators with valuable global visibility and helping their work reach audiences around the world.

Invitation to the In-Person Festival
All seasonal winners will be invited to attend our in-person festival in New York City, where they can connect with fellow animators, industry professionals, and audiences in a vibrant creative environment.

Seasonal and Annual Competitions
Seasonal winners automatically advance to the annual competition, where the year’s most outstanding works will be screened in person at the festival. Annual winners will also receive a free official trophy as part of their recognition.

International Screening Opportunities
Through our partnership with Cine Universitario UACJ in Mexico, there may also be additional screening opportunities in Mexico. These opportunities are not automatic and will be offered by separate invitation and notification to selected participants after the festival.

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.

Overall Rating
Quality
Value
Communication
Hospitality
Networking
  • It was a truly wonderful experience to be part of the Animation section at this festival. The organization, curation, and overall atmosphere were inspiring. It was an honor to share our work among so many talented creators and storytellers.

    October 2025
    Response from festival:

    Thank you so much, Carlos! We’re happy to hear you enjoyed the festival. It was a blast having your film, and we can’t wait to see what you come up with next!

  • Minhyeok Jung

    Thank you to NYSAF for kindly answering all of my questions and for your warm support. I’m planning to travel from Korea to New York to attend the event, and I truly appreciate your thoughtful consideration. I sincerely hope that this animation festival will continue to grow and attract even more people in the future.

    September 2025
    Response from festival:

    Thank you so much for your message, Minhyeok.
    We are really glad you will be coming all the way from Korea. That means a lot to us. Thank you again for sharing your work with us. We look forward to welcoming you in New York.

  • It’s such an honour that our work Sakura Gansha has won the Best in the AI Animation (Group) – Professional Animators category! The trophies look absolutely stunning, and I’m really looking forward to the festival celebrations on the day – it’s going to be brilliant.

    September 2025
    Response from festival:

    Thank you so much, Sijin, and big congratulations again on Sakura Gansha. It’s such a beautiful and powerful piece, and we’re truly happy to have your work in this year’s festival.
    Really glad you love the trophies. Looking forward to celebrating together on Oct 18th.