Animest International Animation Film Festival

2026-07-22

Animest International Animation Film Festival is the biggest film festival in Bucharest and second largest in Romania in terms of audience, number of films, screenings and related events presented. Moreover, it is the only Oscar qualifying festival in Romania. The structure of the Festival will maintain the same coordinates as the previous editions. It will host a feature film competition, five international and one national short competition, a separate section dedicated to the youngest, and a competition for VR animations, alongside focus programs and retrospectives. The program will be complete with both new & already established special events: Creepy Animation Night, Trippy Animation Night, AniMusic and cine-concerts. For the upcoming years, Animest set up three main directions to follow: film literacy, sustainability and inclusion, and chose the themes of the 2023 and 2024 editions accordingly. In 2023 all programs will revolve around the concept of dance and togetherness, while 2024 will be dedicated to the celebration of nature in all its forms - both themes allowing for rich exploration. Animest remains devoted to its role of facilitator between the Romanian and international animation communities, hence the next years will be placed under the sign of collaboration, community building and continuity: In 2020 it became a founding member of the Animation Festival Network alongside 4 other animation film festivals. CEE Animation is another strong partner helping Animest implement its industry events. For educational programs, Animest relies on its long-term partnership with the Film University in Bucharest and various NGOs. Since 2011, Animest has had yearly follow-ups in various cities of Romania and Moldova, and for the upcoming two years will continue to expand to Timișoara - European Capital of Culture 2023, three villages (Clejani, Zemeș, Teslui), and three cities (Giurgiu, Câmpulung, Târgu-Neamț) in Romania.

Romania

2025-10-01