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Festivals

Animation Festivals and Awards Guide

Animation has its own festivals and awards, where new talent is discovered and studios show their next big films. Here are the most important ones.

The atrium of the Bonlieu centre decorated for the Annecy animation festival

Bonlieu during the Annecy festival: Delhovlyn, CC BY-SA 4.0

February, Los Angeles

Annie Awards

Animation's own awards, presented by ASIFA-Hollywood since 1972, with categories for films, TV, games and individual crafts.

Early spring, Hollywood

Academy Awards

Oscars for Best Animated Feature (since 2002) and Best Animated Short Film.

Spring, Germany

Stuttgart International Festival of Animated Film

One of Europe's major animation festivals, with competitions for shorts, features and young talent.

June, France

Annecy Festival

The world's biggest animation festival, first held in 1960, with the Cristal awards and the MIFA market.

Book accreditation and screenings early

June, Croatia

Animafest Zagreb

Founded in 1972 and closely linked to the famous Zagreb school of animation.

September, Canada

Ottawa International Animation Festival

North America's leading animation festival, known for independent and experimental work.

28 October, worldwide

International Animation Day

Chosen by ASIFA to mark Emile Reynaud's first projected show in Paris in 1892, with screenings around the world.

Honorary Annie Awards

Award	Named after	Honors
Winsor McCay Award	The creator of Gertie the Dinosaur	Lifetime contribution to animation
June Foray Award	The voice actress who proposed the Annies	Positive impact on the animation community
Ub Iwerks Award	Disney's early animator and inventor	Technical advances in animation

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Sources

Facts on this page were checked against these sources (updated Oct 13, 2026). Spot an error? Email hello@fireempireshop.com.

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