Animation Festivals Around The World

What do we think of when we read a “The Festive Season is here!” post or the never-ending promotional “The Festive Season Sale” emails from e-commerce websites? We think what an average Indian would think – Diwali, Holi, Durga Puja, Rakshabandhan and so on. That’s how close we are to our culture and customs (which is a wonderful thing, don’t get me wrong).

But what about the festivals where we do more than stuff our mouths with laddoos and vow to finally get that gym membership which has been on the To-Do list for eternity? What about the festivals where we learn new things, discover new talents and maybe even win prizes for our work? Like animation festivals?

We already took you through the cel animation, rotoscoping, stop-motion, pre-production and picking a software for your animation. If your animated film is ready by now, this is the last step: getting it seen. In the following list, we look at festivals from India and across the world that celebrate animators, their animations and provide a platform for amateur animators to display their work to eminent personalities of the field

Screenshot of Anifest website.

Anifest India is the prime animation festival in India, it’s for the animators, by the animators. Initiated in 2005, it has been successful in exhibiting world-class animations by animators around the world. Probably, one of the best platforms in India to showcase your talent in animation. The 10th edition of the festival, held in 2015, witnessed a record-breaking attendance of almost 60% outstation artists. Apart from the display of animation, TASI (The Animation Society of India) also gives out award recognitions in the form of TASI Viewers Choice Award for three categories – Student, Professional Independent and Commissioned categories. The 2016 edition of TASI commenced with a screening of the critically acclaimed Laika Studio’s Kubo and the Two Strings.

Screenshot of Animex website.

Founded by the Teesside University, UK, in 2000, the mission of this week-long festival was to spread and gain knowledge about animation in video games and learn from the experts. The festival takes place at and around Teesside University. The 7-day celebrations include two days of Animex Talk – lectures by professionals, two days of Animex Game – lectures by video game experts and three days of workshops, competitions and award ceremonies. International talent is hugely celebrated at Animex and in the past, the festival has been attended by renowned personalities like Mark Walsh of Pixar, Bob the Builder designer Curtis Jobling and many more.

Screenshot of Ottawa International Animation Festival website.

Without a doubt, Ottawa International Animation Festival (OIAF) is one of the biggest and the most revered animation festivals around the world. Its supporters include some of the biggest animation production house on the globe, from Cartoon Network to Nickelodeon and Nelvana. Held every year in September, OIAF represents animation that is out-of-the-box, authentic and powerful enough to leave an impact on the world. This 41-year old, 5-day fest begins with a session of meditation to invoke the artist in you and continues with late night parties, short film competitions, networking with other animators and studios and much more.

Screenshot of Anima Mundi website

This Brazilian animation festival is held every July in the fun-loving cities of Rio de Janeiro and Sao Paulo. The Anima Mundi organisation was created in 1993 to create awareness about animation in Brazil. Thanks to the huge response they got, the first festival was held in 1997 and since then, this organisation has not looked back. Every year it is attended by thousands of artists and the first edition itself exhibited a total of 144 films. The festival includes lessons where people are taught various types of animations, online contests – Anima Mundi Web and Anima Mundi Cell – are held before the beginning of the festival and winners are awarded at the festival.

Screenshot of KLIK Amsterdam Animation Festival website

Apart from showcasing world-class talent in the field of animation, KLIK also believes in keeping its attendees entertained by having a different theme each year since its inception in 2007. Inaugurated to create awareness about animation in the Netherlands, this festival has managed to gain recognition from artists around the world with its general philosophy of not treating animation as a part of filmmaking, but a whole new genre itself. KLIK supports the use of advancing technologies in the field of animation that made the genre so much simpler than it used to be decades ago.

Have you attended any of the above animation festivals? Or did we leave your favourite one out? Let us know in the comments.

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