Anima: The Brussels Animation Film Festival

Festival Description

Anima, The Brussels Animation Film Festival, seeks to promote animated films from all over the world and encourage dialogue between professionals, filmmakers and the public. The Festival presents an official selection with a national and international competition for short and feature films, an information category with retrospective and themed programmes, and a series of conferences entitled Futuranima. Anima is also recognized as a qualifying festival by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences for the Oscar for Best Animated Short Film

2026 Call for Entries (Archive)

The 45th edition of the Brussels International Animation Film Festival will take place from 20 February to 1 March 2026.
The Anima Festival is open to all animated films completed 18 months before the beginning of the Festival, regardless of format, origin or technique

A - Official selection - in competition
1) International professional short films
2) International student films
3) International short films for children
4) Feature films
5) National short films.

B - Official selection - out of competition

Depending on the programme, the Festival may also add programmes or films out of competition in the following categories:
- International professional short films
- International short films for children
- Feature films
- National short films
- Animated documentaries
-Short Films in virtual reality
- Music videos and commercials

• Entry Form
  
• Rules & Regulations
• Deadline: 3 October 2025

2025 Festival Coverage

• Michael Dudok de Wit on Ecological Animation at Anima Festival 2025
• Belgian National Competition at Anima Festival 2025: Report
• Winners of the Anima Festival 2025
• Anima Festival 2025: Industry Highlights
• Selected Films 2025
• Memoir of a Snail to Open Anima Festival 2025

2024 Festival Coverage

• Report on Anima Festival 2024
• Our Top Picks from Anima Festival 2024
• Anima Festival winners
• Anima Industry Events
• Mars Express opens Anima Festival 2024
• Anima Festival 2024: Selection Results

2023 Festival Coverage

• Anima Festival 2023 Report: Shorts Programmes
• Queer Animation at Anima Brussels 2023
• Anima Festival 2023 Winners
• Anima Brussels 2023: The Industry Events to Attend
• 'Nayola' Opens Anima Brussels Festival
• Selection Results

2022 Festival Coverage

• Belgian Animation: Our Top 2022 Picks
• 2022 Festival Awards
• The Summit of Gods Opens Anima Festival
• On the Relevance of Metaphorics: Apropos of Anima Brussels 2022
• Czech Animation Celebrated at Anima Brussels 2022
• Selection Results

2021 Festival Coverage

• 2021 Festival Awards

• Anima Festival Opens with Wolfwalkers (CANCELLED)
• 169 Animation Films for Anima Brussels 2021
• Five Masterclasses for Anima Brussels 2021
• Anima Festival to Showcase Korea in its 2021 edition

2020 Festival Coverage

• 2020 Anima Brussels Awards
• Marona's Fantastic Tale to Open Anima Brussels 2020
• Selection results for Anima Brussels 2020
• Belgian and International Animation Professionals at Futuranima Brussels
• Northern Lights Focus, Melusine Production at Anima Brussels
• Animation for Adults at Anima Brussels
• Check the schedule for 2020 Anima Festival

2019 Festival Coverage:

• Rosto Reruns, Bloem, Funan Win Anima Festival Awards
• Anima Festival Opens with Another Day of Life
• Anima Festival: Focus on France

2018 Festival Coverage:

• Guide to talks and masterclasses of the 37th Anima Brussels festival
• Anima Festival Showcases Estonia in its 2018 Edition
• Cowboys and Indians Doc on Vincent Patar and Stéphane Aubier premieres at the 2018 Anima Brussels fest
• Selected short films
• Feature films
• Full Schedule

NB: 2027 Festival Dates are tentative