Insomnia International Animation Film Festival

Festival  Description:
Insomnia International Animation Film Festival is the first Russian noncommercial open-air animation festival. Annually, in the summer, we find a meadow, build screens, meet guests, and show the best animation within a couple of nights.

Insomnia International Animation Film Festival Call for Entries

2027 Insomnia Festival call for entries - Currently not open. Submission details will be reported here when announced by the festival.

(2026 Archive)

The Competition is organized in two main nominations:
— “Debyutoriya” (Debut) (an international competition of young animation – works by beginners, students and graduates of film schools);
— “Profnastil” (Professional) (the main international competition of short animated films).

 Short animated films by any animation technique, created not earlier than 1 January 2024, are accepted. Animated series and trailers will not be accepted for participation in the Competition.

Awards: 

— The INSOMNIA Grand Prix – the best work of the Competition;
— The Profnastil Prize – the best work of the international competition of short animated films;
— The Debyutoria Prize – the best work of the international competition of young animation;
— The Equilibrium Prize – the best non-narrative or experimental work of the Competition;
— The Child Dreams Prize - the best work for young audiences of the Competition;
— The Music of the Night Prize - the best music video work of the Competition;
— The Special Prize of the Jury;
— The Special Mention of the Jury.

Important Information: 

• Entry form and regulations via FilmFreeway
• Deadline: 27 February 2026 (early bird), 20 March 2026 (regular), 10 April 2026 (Late Deadline),  1 May 2026 (extended)

Festival Statement:
Another tragedy has been added to this terrible countdown. Russia's main opposition leader, Alexei Navalny, died in mid-February. But there are still real citizens and people in Russia who are not willing to remain silent. Hundreds of thousands of flowers at Alexei Navalny's grave in Moscow were a vivid testimony to this.

Navalny's main motto was the phrase he left to his supporters: "Never give up!" In the face of endless shocks, we do not give up, because we continue to believe that culture and the art of animation can build bridges between different countries, societies and subcultures, stop violence and wars, and contribute to the development of humanism. I remain convinced that modern animation does not entertain, but teaches viewers to see the complexity and diversity of the world around them/

We continue the festival not for the sake of entertainment, but for the victory of humanistic forces. And we believe that animation can save the world.

In all 12 years of its development, the Insomnia Festival has remained an independent and non-governmental event. We will continue this policy now. If we are not directly banned, we will tell the audience about the complexity and beauty of the world around us. And we believe in the triumph of the arts. We would be honored to consider your films for this year's selection - Pavel Shvedov, program director

NB: 2027 Festival Dates are tentative