Dublin Animation Film Festival 2026 (the Festival) is calling for entries of short animated films for these categories
1. Irish Short Film Award.
2. International Short Film Award.
3. Irish Student or Graduate Short Film Award.
4. International Student or Graduate Short Film Award.
5. Best Original Screenplay or Storytelling.
6. Best Stop Motion Short Film.
The Festival’s judging panel may at its discretion also present an award for any of the following categories:
• Social Recognition (awarded for a short film that delivers a social or charitable message).
• Best Co-Production (produced by an Irish and overseas production company).
• Best Film in the Irish Language.
• Best Soundtrack (films from all categories eligible).
• Best Comedy or Musical Short Film.
• Best 2D Animation.
At the Festival, balloting will take place for an ‘Audience Choice Award’, which will be presented for the short animated film which has been shown and that receives the highest number of audience votes.
The Festival may be held online and if so, an online poll will be conducted for this award.
Declaration of Originality: Films must be entirely original works and no element can be created using any form of artificial intelligence (AI) or generative AI technologies. This includes but is not limited to AI generated inspiration, storyboards, imagery, animations, scripts, or any other content produced by AI (or software which uses AI). Any such entries will not be accepted and the film-makers must sign the declaration of originality affirming that the work is entirely original and has not been created using AI or generative AI technologies. Dublin Animation Film Festival will not knowingly promote any short film entries that have been created using AI. All entrants whether individually submitted or sent by a third party must consent to this criteria.
The Festival will not accept entries that contain live footage or images which have not received the appropriate copyright permissions/consent.
Entries that contain content, subject or material that is, or is in the opinion of the Organisers, discriminatory, defamatory, obscene, racist (including anti-LGBTQ+), pornographic or depicts promotes or glorifies the abuse, exploitation or harm or any gender, children [or animals] (which includes but is not limited to physical, emotional or psychological abuse, neglect or cruelty) will automatically be disqualified.
Maximum running time for each entry (in any category) is 15 minutes.
There is no fee for submitting an entry. Entries must be received by Monday, 20th July 2026 at 5pm, Irish Summer Time. Entrants must be over the age of 18 when submitting an entry.
Winners will receive an award trophy. These will be presented on the day of the Festival at a prize giving ceremony.