International Short Animation Film Competition in Madrid 2026 with a €5,000 Prize
Applicant criteria
- No specific age required
- Both
Opportunity criteria
Opportunity description
The ANIMARIO International Festival of Contemporary Animation in Madrid, organized by Cineteca Madrid at Matadero Madrid, has opened submissions for the International Short Film Competition ANIMARIO 2026, one of the international competitions and awards dedicated to animation filmmakers from around the world.
The competition accepts animated short films with a maximum duration of 30 minutes, produced using any animation technique. It aims to support innovative and original works that explore new artistic forms or combine animation with other creative disciplines.
The best international short film will receive a cash prize of €5,000, while the jury may also award a Special Mention without a monetary prize. The ninth edition of the ANIMARIO Festival will take place in Madrid from December 10 to 13, 2026.
Benefits
- €5,000 for the Best International Short Film Award.
- The possibility for one work to receive a Special Mention from the jury, without a monetary prize.
- Screening of the selected film as part of the ANIMARIO 2026 programme at Cineteca Madrid.
- Exposure to audiences and professionals in the animation and contemporary cinema sectors.
- Participation in a festival featuring film screenings, talks, masterclasses, and specialized animation workshops.
Eligibility criteria
To participate in the competition, applicants must meet the following requirements:
- Be 18 years of age or older.
- Applications are open to directors, producers, individuals, or legal entities that hold the rights to the submitted work.
- The competition is open to animated films from all nationalities and countries worldwide.
- The film must not exceed 30 minutes in length.
- The film must have been completed after January 2025.
- Works produced using any animation technique are accepted.
- The film must not have been previously screened in the Madrid region, as its screening at the festival must constitute its Madrid premiere.
- Films that have had limited participation in online festivals may be accepted, but films that have been made publicly available online outside the context of a film festival are not eligible.
- The film must not have been broadcast on television.
- The film must be submitted in its original language. If the language is not Spanish, subtitles must be provided in Spanish or English.
- In exceptional cases, a film that is still at an advanced Rough Cut stage may be accepted.
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