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The Chilean animation festival is accepting international and Latin American shorts across six competitions, with a 26 February deadline and revised rules on AI-generated work.
The 16th CHILEMONOS International Animation Festival has opened submissions for its 2027 edition, inviting animators and filmmakers worldwide to enter six official competitions, including two categories that could qualify for the Academy Awards.
Entries opened on 13 November 2026 and will remain available until 26 February 2027, with no submission fees.
Organized by Fundación CHILEMONOS, the festival will take place in a hybrid format, combining online programming for Latin American audiences with in-person activities in Santiago, Chile.
The 2027 regulations also restrict artificial intelligence-generated animation, reflecting broader discussions about the role of generative technologies in filmmaking.
Two Competitions Offer an Oscar-Qualifying Route
The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences recognizes CHILEMONOS as a qualifying festival for animated short films.
It offers two qualifying categories: the International Animated Short Film Competition and the Latin American Animated Short Film Competition.
The international competition accepts work originating outside Latin America, while the Latin American competition includes Chilean productions.
Each category recognizes a first-place winner whose film may become eligible for Academy Awards consideration, provided it satisfies the Academy’s remaining rules.
A qualifying festival victory does not automatically guarantee an Oscar nomination or a place on the Academy’s shortlist.
For independent animators, however, the pathway can be valuable because qualifying through festival recognition may remove the need to complete a separate theatrical qualifying run.
The festival has held Academy-qualifying status since 2019, making it an established platform for animation filmmakers seeking international recognition.
Six Categories Open for 2027
The new edition includes six official competitions covering professional shorts, student filmmaking, experimental animation, and television series.
| Competition | Eligibility |
|---|---|
| International Animated Short Film | Animated shorts originating outside Latin America |
| Latin American Animated Short Film | Animated shorts from Latin America, including Chile |
| International School Short Film | Eligible student productions from institutions outside Latin America |
| Latin American School Short Film | Eligible student productions from Latin American institutions |
| Latin American Animated Series | Animated series originating from Latin America |
| Latin American Experimental Animated Short Film | Experimental animation from Latin America |
The festival’s international and Latin American professional short-film competitions carry Academy-qualifying recognition.
The student categories provide a separate opportunity for filmmakers producing work through schools, universities, professional institutes and animation academies.
Student shorts must have been developed during the applicants’ studies as qualifying academic or graduation projects. The festival requires the film’s credits to identify the educational institution and may verify the student status of those submitting.
Who Can Submit?
The festival accepts applications from individuals and organizations of any nationality, provided applicants satisfy the relevant competition rules.
Individual participants must be at least 18 years old.
Eligible animated productions must have been completed on or after 1 March 2026.
For the professional animated short-film competitions, films must run between two and 30 minutes, excluding opening titles and credits.
The festival welcomes a range of animation techniques, including stop-motion, hand-drawn animation, computer-generated animation and experimental approaches.
However, productions previously selected for an earlier CHILEMONOS official competition are not eligible to return under the same general conditions.
When a film’s nationality is unclear, the organizers use a points-based assessment that examines factors including the directors, production team, financing, production location, and subject matter.
For student shorts, nationality is determined by the location of the educational institution where the film was produced.
CHILEMONOS Restricts AI-Generated Animation for 2027
One notable provision in the 2027 regulations concerns the use of artificial intelligence.
The organizers acknowledge generative AI as an emerging production tool but state that they have not yet established a definitive long-term policy.
For the 2027 edition, the regulations prohibit AI in submitted works and specifically identify AI-generated animation that replaces an animator’s creative contribution as grounds for ineligibility.
The restriction also appears within the rules for the Latin American Experimental Animated Short Film Competition.
This approach places CHILEMONOS among animation festivals taking a formal position on generative technologies.
The decision is particularly relevant to animators experimenting with automated image generation, AI-assisted animation and hybrid digital production methods.
Because the regulations do not distinguish every possible AI-assisted workflow, applicants should contact the organizers before submitting work that uses these techniques.
The rules should not be assumed to apply to conventional digital animation software in the same way they apply to generative models.
Online Screenings and Distribution Opportunities
CHILEMONOS plans a hybrid 2027 edition, with activities taking place online across Latin America and in person in Santiago.
The official regulations set the overall festival period as 3–30 May 2027, while the FilmFreeway event summary lists 24–28 May. Filmmakers planning to attend should confirm the final in-person schedule with the organizers.
Selected filmmakers may also choose to authorize streaming through ONDAMEDIA, a free audiovisual platform associated with Chile’s Ministry of Cultures, Arts and Heritage.
Under this voluntary arrangement, films may be made available for seven days through a protected, geographically restricted presentation for Latin American audiences.
The festival also operates an itinerant program, presenting selected animated works in cultural centers, independent cinemas, museums, libraries, schools and universities.
Its 2027–28 touring program is scheduled to run from June 2027 to April 2028.
Award-winning works in the eligible short-film and student categories are subject to additional showcase provisions set out in the regulations.
Filmmakers should review these exhibition and rights conditions carefully, particularly if they are planning further festival submissions or international distribution.
No Submission Fees, but Travel Is Not Covered
All six competitions are free to enter.
The organizers do not cover travel or accommodation for selected filmmakers, although they may provide letters of support to help participants seek external funding.
The festival also does not pay screening fees for selected productions.
Applicants remain responsible for meeting technical delivery requirements and securing rights to any third-party material included in their work.
Films with dialogue in languages other than Spanish must include appropriate Spanish subtitles or, if Spanish subtitles are unavailable, English subtitles.
Submit subtitle files separately from the video.
Why CHILEMONOS Matters to Independent Animators
Established in 2012, CHILEMONOS has developed into an important platform for animation across Chile and Latin America.
Its competitions connect local and regional work with international productions, while its educational and industry programming supports students, established animators and emerging studios.
The festival’s Academy-qualifying status adds significance to its main short-film awards.
For animators working with limited production and distribution resources, free entry also removes a financial obstacle that can make participation in multiple international festivals difficult.
Including professional, student, and experimental competitions recognizes different stages of filmmaking development and approaches to the medium.
Meanwhile, the festival’s stance on AI-generated animation raises broader questions about artistic authorship and protecting animation craft.
These issues will likely remain important as filmmakers and festivals consider how to incorporate rapidly evolving technologies into creative production and competitive evaluation.
How to Submit to CHILEMONOS 2027
Filmmakers can submit through the festival’s official website or FilmFreeway.
The final deadline is 26 February 2027 at 23:59 Continental Chile Time (GMT-3).
The official selection is scheduled to be announced towards the end of March 2027. According to the regulations, only selected applicants will receive direct notification.
Entrants should review the eligibility requirements for their competition category, the AI restrictions, subtitle rules, and exhibition permissions before applying.
Key Dates and Details
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Festival | 16th CHILEMONOS International Animation Festival |
| Location | Santiago, Chile, and online |
| Entries opened | 13 November 2026 |
| Final deadline | 26 February 2027 |
| Submission fee | Free |
| Official competitions | Six |
| Oscar-qualifying categories | International and Latin American Animated Short Film |
| Film completion | On or after 1 March 2026 |
| Short-film runtime | 2–30 minutes |
| Selection announcement | Late March 2027 |
| Festival period in regulations | 3–30 May 2027 |
| AI-generated animation | Restricted under 2027 rules |
| Submission platforms | CHILEMONOS website and FilmFreeway |
Filmmakers can find the complete regulations at CHILEMONOS and submit through FilmFreeway.
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