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.