In January we closed submissions to all competitions of the Animator Festival. We did not expect numbers like these.
The Animator Festival is breaking more records.
We are truly happy that once again we can be a place that brings international animation together. Proof of this is this year’s call for entries, which resulted in a record number of submissions across all competition categories. This is an extremely important signal for the Festival and a clear sign of the trust that artists from around the world place in the Polish animation scene, as well as confirmation that the Animator Festival is a respected platform for presenting animated films at the highest level.
This year’s statistics are truly impressive.
In total, more than 4,300 films were submitted.
- Polish Animated Films Competition - a record 172 submissions
- International Animated Series Competition - 218 submissions
- Academy Award® qualifying International Short Film Competition - as many as 3,451 submissions
- International Feature Film Competition - 78 submissions
- Music Open Call - 411 submissions, a fivefold increase compared to previous years
Competitions have accompanied the Animator Festival since its very beginning. What started as the International Short Film Competition has evolved over the years into five competition categories. Today they offer audiences a unique opportunity to explore a wide panorama of the latest animation from around the world, and provide filmmakers, both emerging and established, with a space to present their work to an international festival audience.
During the 19th edition of the festival, films will be presented in the following competitions:
- Academy Award® qualifying International Short Film Competition
- International Feature Film Competition
- International Animated Series Competition
- Polish Animated Films Competition
- Thematic Competition and Open Call
Competition films are evaluated by an International Jury composed of creators, producers and animation enthusiasts. In previous editions, awards were decided by jurors including Daniel Gill, Hisko Hulsing, Matylda Damięcka, Špela Čadež, Margaret Parsons, Mike Johnson, Marta Pajek, Joanna Quinn, Phil Mulloy and Tim Allen.
Audiences attending the competition screenings also have the opportunity to honour their favourites by taking part in a public vote. As a result, Audience Awards are granted in the categories of Short Film, Feature Film and Animated Series.
Currently, the selection committees are at work choosing the films that will be presented and evaluated during the 19th edition of the Animator Festival, taking place from 4 to 12 July 2026 in Poznań.
The first selection announcements are planned for March.
