Fredrikstad Animation Festival (FAF) has been awarded the Plankebærerprisen (Plankbearer's Award) 2026 by Fredrikstad Bryggeriets Venner (in collaboration with Hansa Borg Brewery). One of the city's most prestigious honors, the award has been given since 1996 to individuals, teams, and organizations that have put Fredrikstad on the map in a positive way, nationally and/or internationally. The award is named after the working-class heroes who built the city in the mid-1800s, when timber was the country’s largest export, and Fredrikstad was the hub for sawmill activity in Norway. The city’s population jumped from 3,000 to 10,000 in just twenty years, and like those pioneers, the award is given to those who put labor into building the city up.  

A Festival That Carries the City's Name to the World

After relocating to Fredrikstad in 2000, Fredrikstad Animation Festival has grown into the leading animation festival in the Nordic region. Held each year in the heart of Fredrikstad, the festival brings together animation filmmakers, students, and industry professionals from across, welcoming local audiences to share in the art and culture of animation. With guests from world-renowned studios including Pixar, Disney, and Aardman, and a competition program drawing entries from more than 25 countries, the festival has become a true international brand and a source of genuine civic pride for Fredrikstad.

The festival is organized by the Norwegian Animation Forum. Each year, the festival also has a distinction of short-listing films for the Amanda Awards, Norway's most prominent film prize.

An Honor That Belongs to the Whole City

We are incredibly proud and happy to receive the Plankebærer Award. The fact that this is the first time Fredrikstad Animation Festival has received an award and that it is being presented by a local committee, makes it even more special. It is particularly heartening that our hard work in building up the festival is being recognized locally, as we know the festival holds a very special place in Fredrikstad, and Fredrikstad holds an extra special place in the hearts of our international audience - Anders Narverud Moen, Festival Director.

The prize is awarded by Fredrikstad Bryggeriets Venner in keeping with its founding mission: to celebrate those who lift Fredrikstad up and make the city proud. Past recipients include director, writer, and producer Harald Zwart, and industrial designer and entrepreneur Bård Eker.

Our Coverage of Fredrikstad Animation Festival

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