'Arco' Wins the European Film Award for Beat European Animated Feature 2026

The 2025 Annecy Cristal winner 'Arco' by Ugo Bienvenu was also the winner in the European Animated Feature Film at the 38th European Film Awards (17 January 2026, Berlin).

The sci-fi film won the hearts of the majority of the 5.400 European Film members (the specific award for animation is presented in co-operation with CARTOON, the European Association of Animation Film.

In 2075, a ten-year-old girl, Iris, witnesses a mysterious boy in a rainbow suit falling from the sky. It’s Arco. He comes from an idyllic far future where time travel is possible. Iris shelters him and will do whatever it takes to help him return to his time - Film Synopsis

The film was produced by Félix de Givry, Sophie Mas, Ugo Bienvenu and Natalie Portman, who also voices one of the characters (Iris' mother) in the English version -and appeared on the EFA stage as well, along with director Ugo Bienvenu.

Watch the 'Arco' trailer:

The other nominees:

• DOG OF GOD (DIEVA SUNS) (Latvia, United States), directed by Raitis Ābele & Lauris Ābele.
• LITTLE AMELIE (AMÉLIE ET LA MÉTAPHYSIQUE DES TUBES) (France), directed by Maïlys Vallade & Liane-Cho Han
• OLIVIA AND THE INVISIBLE EARTHQUAKE (L'OLÍVIA I EL TERRATRÈMOL INVISIBLE) (Spain, France, Belgium, Switzerland, Chile), directed by Irene Iborra Rizo
• TALES FROM THE MAGIC GARDEN (POHADKY PO BABICCE) (Czech Republic, Slovakia, Slovenia, France), directed by David Súkup, Patrik Pašš, Leon Vidmar & Jean-Claude Rozec

An Annecy  'Arco' interview with Ugo Bienvenu

'Flow' by Gints Zilbalodis was the recipient of the 2025 European Film Awards trophy for Best Animated Feature. The 2026 ceremony did not reward an animation short film. The European Short Film -Prix Vimeo award went to 'City of Poets' by Sara Rajaei (The Netherlands).

The  38th European Film Awards ceremony took place at Haus der Kulturen der Welt in Berlin (17 January 2026).