Stop-Motion Animation and Horror Among the Highlights of the 2026 Festival of Animation Berlin

Animation as far as the eye can see: the 9th edition of the Festival of Animation Berlin will take place from 8 to 11 October 2026. Alongside numerous international animated short films from around the world, the festival will present large-scale works in the FAB Dimensional exhibition and offer an industry programme with the Berlin Animation HUB.

“These are not easy times for culture – and that also applies to artistic animated film, which unfortunately still receives too little support. That is why we are all the more pleased to be able to create a space again this year in which outstanding filmmakers and their original films can engage in exchange with industry colleagues and Berliners. And so we also hope that even more people will catch fire for the animation format at this year’s festival- Pia Djukic, Festival of Animation Berlin artistic director

Festival focus: “Motion Handmade”

Under the headline “Motion Handmade”, the festival places a special focus on stop‑motion animation – the materials and diverse techniques, but also the collaboration between different people that makes the final result possible. In this spirit, the FAB trailer was created as a collective, playful project and simultaneous homage to Berlin, shot at recognisable locations around the city and entirely outside the animation studio: the renowned directors Felicia Bergström, Alberto Couceiro, Matthias Daenschel, Jan Gadermann (Student Academy Award 2022 for LAIKA & NEMO), Tine Kluth (Grimme Prize 2023 for the SANDMÄNNCHEN episode RECYCLING-MASCHINE), Izabela Plucińska (Silver Bear 2005 for JAM SESSION) and Dina Velikovskaya have united their distinctive artistic signatures in the widest range of techniques – from clay and stop‑motion animation through experimental analogue processes to digital compositing.

A first taste of the stop‑motion focus will be offered on 2 October: at the Stop Motion Walk, an oversized bear figure on a bicycle created by Dina Velikovskaya and Sana Schönle will be brought to life frame by frame in front of Berlin’s Rotes Rathaus from 3 pm. The action celebrates the art of handmade animation while also drawing attention to the funding challenges facing the animation scene.

International Competition at FAB

A selection jury comprising around 25 film and culture professionals has chosen 161 films from 78 countries (out of 791 submissions) for the competition sections Pink Panda (pre‑school, primary school and teens), New Talents, International Animated Film, German Animated Film and Animated Commissioned Film.

Films like the Portuguese feminist drama 'Because Today is Saturday' by Alice Eça Guimarães (Portugal), the Ukrainian/Estonian retelling of recent Ukrainian history 'Kyiv Cake' by Mykyta Lyskov, the stop-motion flight comedy 'Carcassone-Acapulco' by Marjorie Caup & Olivier Héraud, the colorful extravaganza 'Dollhouse Elephant' by Jenny Jokela grace the FAB competition programme.

The German Animated Film competition will open the festival. The road movie 'With Tapes and Toasts in the Car' by Kiana Naghshineh and 'Procrastination Yoga!' by Paulina Ziolkowska are two of the films in that programme

Dollhouse Elephant, Jenny Jokela

Horror film special with three programmes + further specials

Horror films are not just shockers; through their socially critical impulses, they leave a lasting impact. Max Breckwoldt, a cultural worker and scholar specializing in horror film, has curated three programmes for the festival together with artistic director Pia Djukic

• Everything Under Control (Promise) with a sci‑fi focus (Horror Programme I)
• It’s Probably Nothing on the theme of body horror (Horror Programme II)
• There’s Nothing Unusual Out There, which deals with folk horror (Horror Programme III)

Among the films shown are several internationally awarded festival favorites. Some picks to take note of: the futuristic mockumentary 'Acid City' by Jack Wedge and Will Freudenheim (US) and Bruno Tondeur's post-apocalyptic 'Like A Beast' (Belgium)

 Further film specials include Ashkan Rahgozar’s Iranian feature 'Juliet and the King' inspired by Disney’s Golden Age, and a competition programme from London’s Factual Animation Film Festival (FAFF), which since 2015 has been dedicated exclusively to animated documentary films and documentary short animations.

Crab Diane by Ryan McCown, one of the films that participate in the Horror Animation programme of the 2026 FAB

Our Coverage of Festival of Animation Berlin

The 9th Festival of Animation Berlin takes place 8-11 October 2026. The opening ceremony features a performance by performance artist, dancer and comedian Semion Bazavlouk.

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