CEE Animation Forum 2026 Winner's: 'Dancing Bears', 'Trois-Fois-Rien', 'Lussekatt'

The winners of the 14th CEE Animation Forum  (10-12 November 2026) were announced in Pilsen (CZ), bringing three days of pitching, networking, market and industry activities to a close. 

The Winners

The young audiences-targeted Polish animation feature film project 'Dancing Bears' (pr. Animoon) won the event's Feature Film Category Award. Co-directed by Anna Błaszczyk (Hug Me) and Marta Pajek (Impossible Figures and Other Stories), the 85-minute 2D/3D project follows an aging bear trainer and his bear after a performance ban is imposed -and they need to escape the authorities.

The TV series and Specials prize went to 'Lussekatt' (dir. Roxane Campoy and Camille Pipet Pham); the French TV Special project addresses children (6-9 years) and tells an adventure story with forbidden forests, but in a deeply seated family setting (siblings). According to the directors, it's "a child's experience of wonder in a world both magical and uncertain.  

In the short animation terrain, the "Human Resources" French director Titouan Tellier won with his new stop-motion animation project 'Trois-fois-rien'. He sets his story in a tiny village with a hole (in the place of a fridge), which keeps growing and makes people fall into it. He states: "This film talks about disconnection, political paralysis, denial, and panic all mixed together".

In the student animation short category, the project 'Ita Turns 30' (d. Živa Divjak, 'Our Walls' director). The Czech 2D animaiton project gets the 30th birthday existential angst in the form of a whale visiting the apartment of Ita, the main character.

The €50,000 Council of Europe Series Co-Production Development Award went to the Ukrainian–Czech TV series project 'Illogical Adult World' by Iryna Sosimovych. Film synopsis: Following three teens facing friendship, self-image, and the confusing logic of adults, the series uses visual poetry and imagination to explore what growing up really feels like.

Edition Highlights

Numbers:

• 33 projects across four categories: 10 short films, 6 student short films, 10 series and TV specials, and 7 feature films. More than 70% of the lineup involved CEE production partners.
• A total of €100,000 in cash and non-monetary awards was presented to outstanding projects, recognizing the creativity and potential of this year's selection. 
• Combined estimated budget of more than €48 million, with over half targeting young adults and adults, alongside projects for tweens, teens, children and preschoolers.
• The Market showcased more than 60 animated projects at various stages of development and production, seeking co-production partners

This year's edition placed a particular focus on animated series, highlighted by the presentation of the Council of Europe Series Co-Production Development Award, worth €50,000 at CEE Animation Forum, recognizing one outstanding project. 

The programme also featured industry presentations by Clementine Trolong-Bailly (Council of Europe), Emmanuèle Pétry-Sirvin (Dandelooo, France), and Søren Fleng (FLENG Entertainment, Denmark), alongside representatives of national broadcasters Jonas Kryger Hansen (DR, Denmark), Martina Peštaj (RTV Slovenia) and Jarmo Lampela (Yle, Finland).

The IP in Animation Lab, organised in collaboration with CEE Animation Workshop, explored key aspects of intellectual property in animation, from development and protection to licensing and commercial potential.

CEE Animation Forum 2026 Awards: All Winners

AUDIENCE AWARD 

How to Become a Landlord (d. Abigél Dérczy, p. MOME Anim – Moholy-Nagy University of Art and Design, Hungary) 

FEATURE FILM CATEGORY  

Winner: Dancing Bears (d. Anna Błaszczyk, Marta Pajek, p. Maja Tokaj, Animoon, Poland) 

The award goes to a work whose original design and exceptional artistic quality make it truly remarkable.
 
Special mention: Back to Tomioka (d. François-Marc Baillet, p. Ilan Urroz, Anna Mroczek, Reka Temple, p. Foliascope, c-p. WJTeam, Cinemon entertainment, Wrong Men, France, Poland, Hungary, Belgium) 
 
Feature Film Jury: Edmunds Jansons (Atom Art), Mathieu Rolin (Amopix), Yutong Yu (Magic Fair)

Dancing Bears by Anna Błaszczyk, Marta Pajek

SERIES AND TV SPECIALS CATEGORY 

Winner: Lussekatt (d. Roxane Campoy, Camille Pipet Pham, p. Sacha Mirski, Vladimir Kokh, Les Films de l’Arlequin, France) 

We decided to award the project that impressed us by the complexity of storytelling and its poetic artistic style. We appreciate the female-led creative team, with women as integral creators of the project. We see the potential of the project to become modern tales, with multilayered and universal narrative. 
 
Special mention: Finding Home (d. Maria Stanisheva, p. Manon Messiant, Paul Campagnet, Animadocs, Iliade et Films, Bulgaria, France) 

Special mention goes to the project that touched us by its authentic, honest and visually impressive portrayal of how climate change is affecting our lives. We deeply appreciate the way it gives a voice to those who otherwise would not be heard, and believe in the real impact the project might have. 
 
Series and TV Specials Jury: Lucille Janvier (MIAM! Animation), Gennarino Romano (Dandelooo), Bara Chaberova (Bionaut) 

Lussekatt by Roxane Campoy, Camille Pipet Pham

SHORT FILM CATEGORY 

Short Film Jury: Shanti Bourse (Autour de minuit), Mykyta Lyskov (director), Stavros Markoulakis (Leiden Shorts) 

Winner: Trois-Fois-Rien (d. Titouan Tillier, p. Sylvain Debretagne, Frigo Films, France) 
What makes the project stand out is its artistic ambition and the mockumentary approach of a community facing the apocalypse in a very nonchalant way. With humor and absurdity, the project draws a deeper parallel with a concern we all share about a very uncertain future. 

Special mention: Half Open Half Pose (d. Fábián Balogh, p. Barnabás Tóth-Justh, Manon Messiant, Boddah, Iliade et Films, Hungary, France)
For its absurd humour, brilliant imagination, individual artistic approach and a very relatable inner conflict, we are happy to give special mention award to Half open half pose by director Fabian Balogh and producer Barnabas Toth-Justh. 

 
Second special mention: Family Recipe (d. Lou-Anne Gérard, p. Titouan Tillier, Frigo Films, France) 
Communicating within a family is never easy. Sometimes things can get out of control. We are very glad that this film explores such an important subject, combining dark humour with sophisticated visual design. 
 

STUDENT SHORT FILM CATEGORY

Student Short Film Jury: Tina Smrekar (Finta Film), Maria Stanisheva (Animadocs), Ola Staszel (DOK Leipzig)

Winner: Ita Turns 30 (d. Živa Divjak, p. Gala Kebakoska, FAMU Film and TV School of Academy of Performing Arts in Prague, Czechia) 
For its powerful personal story of overcoming the social pressures women face, using animation's diverse metaphorical scope. 
 
Special mention: Redefining Island (d. Julie Černá, p. Kristina Husová, Academy of Arts, Architecture and Design in Prague UMPRUM, Czechia)
For its satirical and critical approach to body image in reality pop culture. 

 

COUNCIL OF EUROPE SERIES CO-PRODUCTION DEVELOPMENT AWARD  

Illogical Adult World (d. Iryna Sosimovych, p. Mira Oyetoro, Kristina Husova, Salt Cinema Productions, Pure Shore, Ukraine, Czech Republic) 

CEE ANIMATION WORKSHOP AWARD  

In the Workfield (d. Toma Alexandru, Horia Manolache, p. Anca Manolache, VANA, Romania) 

CICLIC RESIDENCY 

Trois-Fois-Rien (d. Titouan Tillier, p. Sylvain Debretagne, Frigo Films, France) 

TRAVELLING DISTRIBUTION AWARD 

Redefining Island (d. Julie Černá, p. Kristina Husová, Academy of Arts, Architecture and Design in Prague UMPRUM, Czechia) 

For its singular world, wild sense of humor and outlandish storytelling, this refreshing project makes us want to pick the director's brain and wonder what on earth does she eat for breakfast. For us, the most meaningful short films are the ones that honor the medium by embracing one of its most fundamental purposes: to be a playground, a space for exploration. This film doesn't just explore the possibilities of the medium; it goes ballistic. For these reasons, we give the Distribution Award to the colorful and sweaty Redefining Island by Julie Cerna. 

CARTOON MOVIE – DIRECT ACCESS  

Dancing Bears (sc, Aleksandra Świerk, Witek Szabłowski, d. Anna Błaszczyk, Marta Pajek, p. Maja Tokaj, Animoon, Poland) 

CARTOON FORUM – DIRECT ACCESS 

Pebbi (d. Sofiya Gorokh, p. Matěj Šak, Pirogy Studios, Czechia)  

TV PAINT ANIMATION LICENCE

How to Become a Landlord (d. Abigél Dérczy, p. MOME Anim – Moholy-Nagy University of Art and Design, Hungary)
For the one-woman show, creating a unique universe of humour and characters. 

 

Check our Comprehensive Coverage of CEE Animation Forum

The 14th CEE Animation Forum 2026 took place in Pilsen, Czech Republic, from 10 to 12 November 2026.

(Press Release)