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The Poznań animation festival is accepting international animated shorts of up to 40 minutes for its July 2027 edition, with no submission fee and a 12 January deadline.
Animation filmmakers have a major free festival opportunity to add to their 2027 calendar, with Poland’s International Animated Film Festival ANIMATOR announcing the opening of submissions for its next edition.
The festival published its new call on 9 September 2026, inviting films and series from around the world across four competition sections.
For short filmmakers, the main opportunity is the International Short Film Competition, where the winner receives the Golden Pegasus Grand Prix worth €11,000 gross.
ANIMATOR is an Academy Award-qualifying festival, and the Golden Pegasus winner gains a route towards consideration in the Best Animated Short Film category, subject to the Academy’s applicable rules.
The submission deadline is 12 January 2027.
Importantly, there is no entry fee.
Animated shorts can run for up to 40 minutes
The International Short Film Competition accepts animated films with a maximum runtime of 40 minutes.
Films must have been completed after 31 December 2024, meaning productions dated 2025, 2026 and 2027 can qualify for the upcoming edition.
ANIMATOR accepts different animation techniques, but at least 51% of the film’s running time must be animated.
Eligible entrants include individual filmmakers, film and art schools, production companies, film institutions and other parties holding the necessary rights to the work.
Animated series, trailers, commercials and intros are not accepted in the International Short Film Competition.
Films that require subtitles must be submitted with English subtitles.
Golden Pegasus carries an Academy Awards pathway
The competition’s principal award is the Golden Pegasus, carrying a cash prize of €11,000 gross.
ANIMATOR identifies its International Short Film Competition as Academy Award-qualifying and states that the Golden Pegasus winner is placed on a pathway towards consideration for the Academy Award for Best Animated Short Film.
That gives the competition value beyond its substantial cash prize, particularly for filmmakers building an awards strategy around animated shorts.
The festival has held this Academy-qualifying status for its international short competition since 2017.
Filmmakers should still consult the Academy’s rules applicable to their qualifying year rather than interpreting a festival win as an automatic Oscar nomination.
Student films and music-focused animation have additional prizes
ANIMATOR also awards two €650 special prizes within the International Short Film Competition.
The Best Student Film Special Award, presented in memory of Marcin Giżycki, carries €650 gross.
A separate Best Music Film or Best Film Music Special Award, presented in memory of Wojciech Juszczak, also carries €650 gross.
Student filmmakers therefore compete for the main Golden Pegasus while remaining eligible for additional recognition within the competition.
Submissions are completely free
One of the most useful elements of the ANIMATOR call is the absence of submission fees.
The festival does not charge filmmakers to enter any of its four principal competitions.
For independent animators, whose festival-entry costs can accumulate quickly across an international campaign, that makes ANIMATOR particularly accessible compared with many other established qualifying festivals.
Entries are handled through FilmFreeway.
There is, however, a minor timing discrepancy filmmakers should note. ANIMATOR’s official announcement dated 9 September says submissions are opening, while its FilmFreeway listing currently gives 10 September 2026 as the formal opening date.
The important date for planning purposes remains unchanged: submissions close on 12 January 2027.
Four competitions are accepting work
The 2027 call extends beyond conventional animated shorts.
ANIMATOR is accepting entries for:
International Short Film Competition
Animated films up to 40 minutes, with an €11,000 Golden Pegasus Grand Prix.
International Feature Film Competition
Animated films running longer than 40 minutes, with an €8,000 Grand Prix.
Polish Animated Film Competition
Short animation made in Poland or involving eligible Polish filmmakers and producers. Its Golden Animusz Grand Prix carries PLN 15,000.
International Animated Series Competition
Individual episodes, pilots, specials and other eligible animated series work, with a €1,250 Grand Prix.
All four competitions are free to enter.
ANIMATOR 2027 takes place in Poznań in July
The festival will return to Poznań, Poland, from 3–11 July 2027.
ANIMATOR combines competitive screenings with retrospectives, filmmaker events, talks, workshops, music and its ANIMATOR PRO programme for industry professionals.
The festival has developed into one of Poland’s significant international animation events, regularly bringing filmmakers and animation-industry figures from around the world to Poznań.
Its previous guests have included filmmakers and artists connected with studios and organisations such as Aardman Animations and the National Film Board of Canada, alongside internationally recognised independent animators.
For filmmakers comparing Academy-connected animation opportunities for 2027, Indie Shorts Mag also recently covered the Stuttgart International Festival of Animated Film, which is accepting animated shorts for its Oscar-qualifying competition until 15 November 2026.
The two festivals have different deadlines and eligibility requirements, making them useful additions to an animation filmmaker’s wider festival strategy rather than interchangeable submission options.
ANIMATOR 2027 key details
- Festival: International Animated Film Festival ANIMATOR
- Location: Poznań, Poland
- Festival dates: 3–11 July 2027
- International short-film deadline: 12 January 2027
- Submission fee: Free
- Maximum short-film runtime: 40 minutes
- Eligible production years: 2025, 2026 and 2027
- Animation requirement: At least 51% of the film must be animated
- International Short Film Grand Prix: €11,000 gross
- Best Student Film Award: €650 gross
- Best Music Film / Best Film Music Award: €650 gross
- Academy Awards status: Golden Pegasus winner receives an Academy Awards qualifying pathway for Best Animated Short Film, subject to applicable Academy rules
- Submission platform: FilmFreeway
For animation filmmakers, the combination of no submission fee, a substantial €11,000 prize and Academy Awards qualification makes this more than a routine festival call.
With applications remaining open until January, filmmakers have several months to assess their eligibility and decide where ANIMATOR fits within their 2027 festival strategy.
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