Animator Festival

About the festival

International Animated Film Festival ANIMATOR is one of the three festivals in Poland (and the only animated film festival) to receive Oscar® qualifying status from the American Film Academy. This means that a short film that wins the Festival's Grand Prix, the Golden Pegasus, is on a fast track to being considered for an Oscar® nomination in the Best Animated Short Film category and can compete for this prestigious award.

ANIMATOR helps authors win international recognition. It attracts attention of film industry professionals from all over the world. For the last 14 years, the Festival has won the hearts of international audiences, critics and artists. It has honoured the greatest ones and helped debutantes to earn a name for themselves.

ANIMATOR is regularly visited by recognized authors, directors, animators (Maciek Szczerbowski, Michaela Pavlátová, Theodore Ushev, Quay Brothers, Emily Hubley, Eric Goldberg, Tim Allen, David Silverman, Signe Baumane, Mike Johnson), producers (Julie Roy, NFBC, David Sproxton, Aardman Animations, Ron Diamond, Acme Filmworks, Heather Henson) and representatives of fellow animation festivals (Annecy IAFF, Ottawa IAF, Animafest Zagreb). The Festival's guests are always happy to share their experience, reveal some tricks of the trade, teach workshops and actively contribute to the event's prestige. ANIMATOR also stands for meetings, discussions, interactions and a great deal of music. Its relationship with animation is particularly cherished here. In addition to the main prizes, the International Jury awards the Special Prize for Best Music Film or Best Film Music.

2023 Call for entries:

COMPETITION CATEGORIES:

• International Short Film Competition
  - duration: up to 30 minutes;
  - completion date: after 31 December 2020;
  - animation technique: all techniques are welcome (min. 51% of the film duration has to be animated)
  - who can apply: arts schools, film schools, production companies, film institutions, individuals or other parties holding the necessary rights;
  - premiere condition for submissions from Poland – meaning: only premieres of Polish short films may be submitted to the Short Film Competition (Polish short films that do not meet this condition can be submitted to a separate festival competition category - the Polish Animated Film Competition)
  - Main Prize: Golden Pegasus (45,000.00 PLN, approx. 9,400.00 EUR), 2nd Prize: Silver Pegasus (12,000.00 PLN, approx. 2,500.00 EUR), 3rd Prize: Bronze Pegasus (6,000.00 PLN, approx. 1,250.00 EUR), Best Music Film or Best Film Music Award (2,000.00 PLN, approx. 420.00 EUR), Best Student Film Award (2,000.00 PLN, approx. 420.00 EUR); Audience Award for Best Short Film; Volunteer Award for Best Short Film
  - The winner of the Golden Pegasus is on a fast track to being considered for an Oscar® nomination in the Best Animated Short Film category and can compete for this prestigious award;
  - series, trailers, commercials and intros are not eligible for the Short Film Competition.

• International Feature Film Competition
  - duration: above 40 minutes;
  - completion date: after 31 December 2020;
  - animation technique: all techniques are welcome (min. 51% of the film duration has to be animated)
  - who can apply: film distributors, production companies, film institutions, individuals or other parties holding the necessary rights;
  - only 4 animated feature films will be selected to this competition category!
  - Best Feature Film Award (30,000.00 PLN, approx. 6,350.00 EUR); Audience Award for Best Feature Film
  
  
• International Animated Series Competition
  - single episodes of TV and webseries (including TV specials, pilot episodes, mini-series episodes & TV films);
  - completion date: after 31 December 2020;
  - animation technique: all techniques are welcome (min. 51% of the film duration has to be animated)
  - who can apply: film distributors, production companies, film institutions, individuals or other parties holding the necessary rights;
  - Best Animated Series Award (5,000.00 PLN, approx. 1,000.00 EUR); Audience Award for Best Animated Series; Kids Jury Award for Best Animated Series
  - short films, trailers, commercials and intros are not eligible for the Series Competition.
  
  
•  Polish Animated Film Competition
  - films made in Poland or made by Polish artists abroad, co-produced by Polish producers;
  - duration: up to 30 minutes;
  - completion date: after 31 December 2021;
  - animation technique: all techniques are welcome
  - who can apply: arts schools, film schools, production companies, film institutions, individuals or other parties holding the necessary rights;
  - Award for the Best Polish Short Film, the Golden Animusz - GRAND PRIX of the Polish Competition (12,000.00 PLN, approx. 2,500.00 EUR), 2nd Prize: Silver Animusz (4,000.00 PLN, approx. 840.00 EUR), 3rd Prize: Bronze Animusz (2,000.00 PLN, approx. 420.00 EUR); Audience Award for Best Polish Film;
  - series, trailers, commercials and intros are not eligible for the Polish Competition

• Festival Regulations
• Submit via FilmFreeway
• Deadline: 20 February 2023 

2020 Festival Coverage

• Festival Winners
• Festival Schedule
• Selected Feature Films 

2019 Festival Coverage

• 2019 Schedule
• Awarded films

NB: 2024 Festival Dates are tentative