Notable Animation Festivals

Below are a few links to lists of highly regarded international film festivals.

Animation Festivals a listing and application service that is up-to-date and provides festivals listed by deadlines for application. Very good!

Global Animation Syndicate: Best Animation Festivals List

Film Festival Life: also a festival application service.

Animation and Film Festivals within Canada

Below are a selection of Canadian film festivals worth submitting to; some are entirely animation-centric and others are film festivals with animation programming.

Festival Application Services Worth Noting

Film Freeway animation and film/video, internationally focused. Most festivals use FilmFreeway as the standard.
Animation Festivals animation, internationally focused
FestHome animation and film/video, internationally focused
Reelport animation and film/video, internationally focused


Why should I apply to festivals?

 

Film Festivals are a sure way to have your work seen by other filmmakers, media professionals, and by people/businesses/groups that love films and want to support the practice. You’ll have your work put into a passionate and dedicated environment that is all about what’s new and creative in your field of practice.

 

Examples of what you can expect to take place: 

  • There's an impressive collection of curated, brand new animation that you get to binge watch
  • New and old animation filmmakers are attending
  • Filmmakers and media professionals will meet each other and make friends (if you also make the effort)
  • You're building your national and international network
  • The energy and passion for filmmaking suffuses the festival, and is really inspiring

 

Examples of what can take place: 

  • Competition screenings means that there are Awards (variations of money, physical awards, certificates, or verbal announcement)
  • People want to meet you because they saw your film
  • Your film does well, and wins an award!
  • Creative studio recruiters and producers attend the large festivals so they can scout out new talent
  • Other festival programmers see your film and send you an invitation to participate in their festival
  • Distributors see your film and propose a representation or distribution deal
  • Your film does well, you meet a producer at the festival, and they suggest proposing something to their studio
  • Local news coverage runs a piece that includes something about your film and you


Who goes to festivals?

 Hopefully, you will! It’s a truly inspiring experience to have your own creative work in festivals, and especially to also attend in person. 

  • Other filmmakers: independent, studio, student, famous, and the not-famous-yet (all festivals)
  • Festival programmers from other festivals (major and medium festivals)
  • Studio reps, producers, arts funders (major festivals)
  • Film fans, curious general public, arts-friendly people (all festivals)


What happens at festivals?

 

  • The larger festival includes screenings (a week long +), talks, workshops, parties, and awards (money and physical). People from around the world attend. An example is the Canadian Ottawa International Animation Festival.
  • The medium festivals include screenings (maybe a week long) and awards (certificates), maybe filmmaker talks, maybe a party. Attendees are regional, and possibly with some international.
  • The small festivals include screenings (a day to a week long), maybe filmmaker talks, maybe awards. Attendees are usually locals and some regionals.


For more information about attending and planning for festivals, download this PDF.


















Last modified: Wednesday, 13 July 2022, 4:38 PM