ANIMASYROS 2026: Everything You Need to Know | Full Programme, Films, Guests & Events
Skwigly
ANIMASYROS 2026, the major celebration of international animation, returns to the capital of the Cyclades for its 19th consecutive year, taking place 21–27 September 2026.
With its most ambitious programme to date, Greece’s largest International Animation Festival and one of the top 20 animation festivals in Europe brings together more than 280 films by established and emerging creators from 50 countries. The programme features seven competition sections (International, Student, K.ID.S, AnimaPride, Greek Competition, TV & Commissioned Films and Feature Films), special tributes, educational workshops, parallel events, international collaborations and the Agora, which has now become a key meeting point for the animation industry across the Eastern Mediterranean.
The official opening of ANIMASYROS 2026 will take place on Wednesday 23 September at 20:00 at the iconic Apollon Theatre, with the Greek premiere of Decorado by Goya Award-winning Spanish filmmaker Alberto Vásquez (Unicorn Wars, Birdboy: The Forgotten Children), with the support of the Embassy of Spain in Greece and the Instituto Cervantes. A biting satire of life and society, the film is distinguished by the director’s signature, beautifully macabre visual style, which uniquely combines innocence with dark humour.
The Festival’s Opening Ceremony will also feature the short film Ninety Seconds for Thanos Mikroutsikos. The seventh film in the Ninety Seconds series, created in collaboration with radio station Melodia 99.2, it transforms the lives of beloved Greek songwriters and singers who have left their mark on the history of Greek music into animated films, accompanied by one of their iconic songs and brought to life by emerging animation directors. An animated biopic, the film explores moments from the life and work of Thanos Mikroutsikos through the song “Thessaloniki”, with lyrics by Nikos Kavvadias. Its musical setting engages in dialogue with “Eπέστρεφε” by Constantine P. Cavafy, the musical theme that has served as the signature tune of Melodia 99.2 since the radio station first went on air in 1991. The evening will conclude with a big party in the courtyard of the Hermoupolis Town Hall.
Throughout the Festival, events will take place at some of Syros’ most iconic locations, including the Apollon Theatre, the Cultural Centre of Hermoupolis, the Valmas Conference Hall of the Cyclades Chamber of Commerce in Hermoupolis, Tsiropinas Mansion in Poseidonia, the Capuchin Monastery in Ano Syros, Miaouli Square and Finikas Square. Parallel events and parties will also take place at central locations across Hermoupolis. For the third consecutive year, ANIMASYROS, on the initiative of the Cyclades Chamber of Commerce, will also travel beyond Syros, with screenings hosted at seven Chamber branches in Andros, Milos, Mykonos, Naxos, Paros, Santorini and Tinos.
The Festival Awards Ceremony will take place on Saturday 26 September at 20:00 at the Apollon Theatre. It will be followed by the Festival’s traditional big party, this year at Pavone Syros. Music will be curated by Leonidas Antonopoulos, director of Kosmos 93.6 radio station.
Tributes
Ireland
With Ireland holding the Presidency of the Council of the European Union, this year’s Country in Focus at ANIMASYROS is Ireland, recognising the importance of its animation scene, which combines a strong tradition with remarkable creative momentum and has emerged in recent years as one of Europe’s most vibrant and compelling. In collaboration with Animation Ireland, the organisation representing Ireland’s animation community, and with the support of the Embassy of Ireland in Greece and Culture Ireland, the Festival presents an extensive tribute featuring feature and short animation screenings by contemporary creators, alongside Agora activities. The film programme brings together some of the most significant Irish productions of the past decade, including Second to None by Vincent Gallagher, Deadly by Aidan McAteer, and the Oscar-nominated Late Afternoon by Louise Bagnall (Cartoon Saloon). From outstanding student films that have introduced new talent to works by established creators, the tribute offers audiences a comprehensive overview of the rich heritage, narrative strength and creative boldness that define contemporary Irish animation.
ANIMASYROS Agora Speed Dating Sessions
As part of the Agora programme, a discussion will also bring together Andrew FitzPatrick, the “father” of Irish animation, and producer Moe Honan, President of Animation Ireland and CEO of Moetion Films. They will discuss the history and development of the industry, as well as its prospects for the future. In collaboration with the Hellenic Film & Audiovisual Center, the Festival’s institutional partner, a roundtable entitled “From Greece to Ireland: Building Animation Ecosystems” will also explore how international collaborations and synergies can contribute to the development of the animation industry in both Greece and Ireland.
200 Years of Hermoupolis
The main theme of this year’s edition is dedicated to “200 Years of Hermoupolis,” marking the anniversary of the naming and founding of the island’s capital in 1826 and the birth of Hermoupolis, the city of Hermes, the ancient Greek god of commerce and eloquence – an anniversary that Syros is celebrating throughout the year. Building on the major anniversary event held in June at the Apollon Theatre, with the participation of ANIMASYROS, the Festival presents a programme of screenings and educational activities exploring the key historical and social transformations that shaped the modern world, while highlighting Hermoupolis as a place of creativity, coexistence and culture.
Olivier Calvert
One of the highlights of the ANIMASYROS 2026 guest line-up is internationally acclaimed and multi-award-winning sound designer Olivier Calvert. With an extensive career spanning collaborations with leading creators and organisations, Calvert has shaped the sonic worlds of numerous acclaimed productions, including the Oscar-winning animated short The Girl Who Cried Pearls. He was also a member of the Oscar-winning sound team on Denis Villeneuve’s Arrival. At the Festival, Calvert will deliver a masterclass exploring sound as a powerful storytelling tool. The Festival will also present a dedicated programme celebrating his work, featuring selected films such as Blind Vaysha by Theodore Ushev, Affairs of the Art by Joanna Quinn, The Subject by Patrick Bouchard and Entropic Memory by Nicolas Brault. Together, these films highlight Calvert’s significant contribution to the development of the contemporary language of animation. The tribute to Olivier Calvert is held with the support of the Embassy of Canada.
Lebanon
In collaboration with Beirut Animation Nights, the only animation festival in Lebanon, which continues its activities despite the difficult circumstances facing the country, ANIMASYROS will present a programme of 12 selected animated films for children, curated by the Festival’s founder and filmmaker Nicolas Fattouh. Through stories filled with imagination, humour and sensitivity, the tribute highlights the power of animation to bridge cultures and inspire young audiences.
New Voices of German Animation
With the support of the Goethe-Institut Athen and in collaboration with the Stuttgart International Festival of Animated Film (ITFS), ANIMASYROS presents Exploring Bonds and Inner Worlds, a programme dedicated to the new voices of German animation. The selection features outstanding animated films by students and emerging directors, reflecting the diversity of contemporary German animation through a wide range of artistic styles, from traditional hand-drawn and clay animation to 3D tequniques. With sensitivity and humour, the films explore human relationships, family bonds, friendship and inner emotional worlds. Highlights include With Tapes and Toasts in the Car by Kiana Naghshineh, winner of the Grand Prix and Audience Award at ITFS 2026, and A Sparrow’s Song by Tobias Eckerlin, winner of the Gold Student Academy Award in Animation in 2025.
Royal College of Art
Celebrating more than four decades of creative work by the renowned Animation Department of London’s Royal College of Art, ANIMASYROS 2026, with the support of the British Council in Greece, presents a selection of student films. Focusing on bold artistic vision, innovative narrative and visual approaches, and the plurality of contemporary animation, the tribute highlights works that have made a significant contribution to the development of contemporary animation, while also marking the starting point of the international careers of important creators such as Emma Calder, Maryam Mohajer and Julia Pott, Greek-born Anna Mantzari, who will be attending the Festival in Syros, and Dimitris Armenakis.
ANIMASYROS 2026 Screenings
Freedom 250
Marking 250 years of American Independence, ANIMASYROS 2026 presents the special tribute “Freedom 250: 250 Years of Excellence in American Animation”, a celebration of America’s creative heritage and its innovative artists, who have inspired audiences around the world for more than a century. With the support of the Embassy of the United States, in collaboration with the American Film Showcase and with Disney+ as its creative screening partner, the tribute features films from one of the United States’ most iconic creative organisations, which continues to uphold Walt Disney’s pioneering vision and a timeless storytelling tradition that captivates audiences of all ages. The programme includes screenings of Toy Story, Dinosaur, Zootopia and the timeless classic Fantasia.
Armenia
Six animated short films introduce ANIMASYROS 2026 audiences to contemporary Armenian animation, in collaboration with the Cinema Foundation of Armenia, the state cultural organisation based in Yerevan dedicated to preserving Armenia’s cinematic heritage and promoting Armenian cinema internationally.
Feature Films & International Panorama
Five of the best animated feature films of recent years will compete for the ANIMASYROS 2026 Audience Award.
The Festival opens with Decorado, this year’s opening film by Goya Award-winning Spanish filmmaker Alberto Vásquez (Unicorn Wars, Birdboy: The Forgotten Children), presented in a Greek premiere with the support of the Embassy of Spain in Greece and the Instituto Cervantes. Arnold, a middle-aged mouse, is going through an existential crisis. His marriage to Maria is falling apart, his life seems to have lost all meaning, and he begins to suspect that everything around him is one big illusion. An existential comedy about social control and the absurdity of a life.
The programme also features the highly anticipated return of Sylvain Chomet, a legend of 2D animation and director of the iconic The Triplets of Belleville. In A Magnificent Life, which premiered at the Cannes Film Festival, the four-time Oscar-nominated filmmaker brings the life of writer and pioneering filmmaker Marcel Pagnol to the screen, creating a moving and enchanting cinematic experience filled with humanity, humour, and magic. The screening is presented in collaboration with Rosebud.21.
Of particular interest is Olivia and the Invisible Earthquake by Irene Iborra, a moving stop-motion film that sensitively explores the loss of a home through a child’s eyes, distributed in Greece by Cinobo. Also featured is Dog of God by Lauris and Raitis Abele, an atmospheric film from Latvia inspired by folklore, mysticism and pagan legends. Combining innovative animation techniques, it creates an intense, almost hallucinatory cinematic experience. Dog of God is distributed in Greece by Weirdwave.
Finally, from Norway comes Unstoppable, directed by Martin Lund, a family film combining fast-paced action and humour to remind us of the importance of caring for one another – and that “everything is better when we are together!”.
As part of the Out-of-Competition Feature film programme, the Festival launches the new special section Animation Revisited, curated by film critic Thodoris Koutsogiannopoulos, bringing iconic films back to the big screen – films that have transcended their time and had a decisive impact on the evolution of cinema itself. The section premieres with La Planète Sauvage (Fantastic Planet), René Laloux’s surrealist sci-fi masterpiece, the result of his creative collaboration with illustrator Roland Topor and a landmark work of animation that received the Special Jury Prize at the 1973 Cannes Film Festival.
Among the ANIMASYROS 2026 Out-of-Competition highlights are The Lost Tiger by Chantelle Murray, the first animated feature created by an Indigenous Australian woman. Exploring themes of heritage and identity, the film follows an endangered tiger and is presented with the support of the Embassy of Australia. Another highlight is Maya, donne-moi un titre (Maya, Give Me a Title) by Michel Gondry, director of the now-classic Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind. A poetic and playful journey, the film will inspire young children to dream and bring a smile to audiences of all ages. The screening is presented with the support of the French Institute of Greece.
The International Panorama once again brings together original and bold films from across the world, distinguished by their innovative directorial approaches and focusing primarily on social issues. For the second consecutive year, the New Greek Voices section also returns to the ANIMASYROS programme, highlighting the fresh perspectives of young Greek creators.
ANIMASYROS 2026 will also present a programme of works by students of AKTO’s BA (Hons) Animation & Interactive Media Department, created throughout their three-year studies and curated by Anastasia Dimitra, Director of the Department and President of ASIFA International. The selection is based on quality, expressiveness and technical diversity, highlighting the potential of contemporary audiovisual storytelling and the educational value of the creative process.
Competition Sections
A total of 111 films feature across the seven competition sections of ANIMASYROS 2026 (International, Student, K.ID.S, AnimaPride, Greek Competition, TV & Commissioned Films and Feature Films).
The Festival’s International Competition features 20 films, including Paper Trail by two-time Oscar-nominated American filmmaker Don Hertzfeldt, an existential story about the life of an ordinary man, Steven Richardson, unfolding entirely through handwritten notes, school drawings and love letters. Also in competition is Penguin, the new film by Estonian filmmaker Kaspar Jancis, a long-standing and much-loved guest of ANIMASYROS, which had its world premiere at this year’s Annecy Festival. With his trademark absurd humour and inventive visual storytelling, Jancis tells the story of a woman who receives a peculiar gift from her partner after he returns from a trip to Antarctica – a gift that unexpectedly changes their relationship. Two of the most talented female directors of their generation are also represented: Ala Nunu, whose In the Beginning, a co-production between Poland, Portugal and Spain, creates a surreal universe where the Beresheet spacecraft, hamsters and legless birds of paradise coexist with humanity’s endless attempt to make sense of the world; and Paulina Ziółkowska, who in Tears creates a world of possibilities, following a woman lost among countless options and her inability – or perhaps unwillingness – to make a choice. Among the highlights is Please by Greek-born filmmaker Anna Mantzaris, a dark comedy about the human desire to love and be loved, which won the Audience Award for Best Short Film at this year’s Animafest Zagreb. The programme also includes The Quinta’s Ghost by Spain’s James A. Castillo, which tells the story of how Francisco Goya created his famous Black Paintings, and The Rose by Italian filmmaker Simone Massi, a poetic work of love and struggle dedicated to the people of Palestine.
The Greek Competition features 12 films by established and emerging creators, reflecting the energy and diversity of the contemporary Greek animation scene. Highlights include the new film by internationally acclaimed Greek animation pioneer George Sifianos, Waiting for the Barbarians; visual artist Stefanos Rokos’ major return to animation with 50.000.000 Tons of Landscape; and Art is Missing by George Kontos, one of the promising new voices of the Greek creative scene. The Best Greek Film Award is, as every year, sponsored by the Hellenic Film & Audiovisual Center and comes with a €1.500 prize.
The AnimaPride competition section, one of the Festival’s most beloved programmes, promotes equality, respect for diversity and the fight for rights, presenting 14 films that tell personal journeys towards acceptance and the right to love for all.
The children’s programme K.ID.S features 20 films which, through imagination, tenderness, humour and inventiveness, broaden the horizons of young and older audiences alike, addressing themes including the environment, diversity, empathy, friendship, family relationships and the journey towards adulthood.
The TV & Commissioned Films category celebrates professionals working across commercials, television episodes and music videos. This year, the category features leading names from the Greek animation scene, including Irida Zioga with How Smart Are Crows?, an official selection in the Commissioned Films Competition at this year’s Annecy Festival, created for TED-Ed; the award-winning studio Odd Bleat, with two socially engaged works; and Victor Melistas, with the music video for Someone Who Isn’t Me song by the all-female band ERMIONI. Special mention should also be made of the episode The Three Little Pigs from the Beauty Island from the French series Il était une fois (There Once Was), which introduces us to the heroes of classic fairy tales in ways very different from what we might expect.
See all films screening as part of the competition and non-competition sections here.
Juries
The juries of ANIMASYROS 2026 bring together established professionals from the worlds of film and animation, including animators, directors, producers, festival organisers and artistic directors from around the world.
International & Greek Competition
- Petros Tatsopoulos (GR) – Writer
- Olivier Calvert (CA) – Sound Designer
- Vera Neubauer (CZ/UK) – Director
Student – TV & Commissioned Films
- Aris Fatouros (GR) – Director, Producer, Programme Advisor at Hellenic Parliament Television
- Dr Samantha Moore (UK) – Animator, Head of Animation at Royal College of Arts
- Deirdre Barry (IE) – Programme Director of National Animation Academy of Ireland
K.ID.S
- Myrofora (Miranda) Papadopoulou (GR) – President of the Network for Children’s Rights
- Josep Arbiol (ES) – Founder & Director of MICE Valencia; President of the Jordi El Mussol Cultural Association
- Graham Holbrook (IE) – Director
Animapride
- Michalis Lolis (GR) – Police Officer, Head of the Department for Combating Racist Violence at the State Security Sub-Directorate of the Attica Security Directorate
- Smar (GR) – Comic Artist & Illustrator
- Maya Merigeau (FR) – Animation Director & Art Director
Agora
As part of the ANIMASYROS 2026 Agora, the established Agora Pitching Forum and the three-day Pitching Coaching Workshop will take place, featuring three distinguished audiovisual industry professionals as tutors: Tünde Vollenbroek (Netherlands), Elliott Palmer (United Kingdom), and Viviane Vanfleteren (Belgium). Guest speakers will include Academy Award nominee Joanna Quinn (United Kingdom). During the workshop, animation professionals, directors, screenwriters, and producers based across the wider Mediterranean and Balkan regions will further develop their projects in order to meet the demands of the international market, gain a better understanding of the expectations of potential collaborators, and acquire valuable insight into the art of pitching. At the end of the workshop, participants will present their projects-in-development to both the public and an international jury of animation professionals, investors, and potential collaborators during the Pitching Sessions. The selected Greek-language works participating in the programme will receive an award presented by ERT, the Greece’s public broadcaster, accompanied by a €1.500 cash prize. The winner will be announced on Saturday, 26 September, during the Festival’s Closing Ceremony.
At the same time, as every year, the presentations, roundtables, seminars, masterclasses, and networking meetings organised by the ANIMASYROS Agora offer international animation professionals the opportunity to expand their network, promote their work, meet acclaimed industry professionals, engage with the international animation community, and discover the future of animation.
Some of the international animation personalities participating in the ANIMASYROS 2026 Agora include:
- Maya Merigeau and José Luis Ágreda, acclaimed art directors, will each deliver a masterclass dedicated to their creative vision and artistic practices. Merigeau will reflect on her journey from animation school to Cartoon Saloon, as well as her experimental, sensorial and meditative approach to animation, offering deeper insight into the making of her award-winning short film Genius Loci. Ágreda will share his understanding of art direction and the role that personal style can play within a project, comparing his experience on his two most recent films, Robot Dreams and Decorado.
- Distinguished sound designer Olivier Calvert, known for his immersive and evocative sound design as well as his inventive approach to storytelling through sound, will deliver a masterclass dedicated to the crucial role of sound in shaping a film’s identity. He will also highlight the importance of collaboration between the director, composer, and sound designer throughout this creative journey.
- Composer Nik Phelps will take the audience through his working process of composing for animated short films, offering a live demonstration on how visual language, pacing, and emotional tone shape the musical approach. He will also demonstrate how rhythm and melody can enhance storytelling by closely following the movement and energy of the characters.
The Agora programme will also reflect the central theme of this year’s ANIMASYROS edition: the celebration of the 200th anniversary of Hermoupolis – the historic and multicultural capital of Syros. Emerging and established creators working in contemporary animated documentary, including Babis Alexiadis and Maria Stanisheva, will discuss how filmmakers transform personal experiences into powerful animated narratives with broader historical and social dimensions.
At the same time, artists who creatively explore the relationship between animation and contemporary culture, including Léa Esmaili, Renata Gąsiorowska, Juan Pablo Zaramella, and Dimitris Armenakis, will discuss the role of animation as a medium for visual experimentation and artistic expression through choreography, visual performance and dance.
Special emphasis will also be placed on film distribution, with representatives from leading animation distribution company Miyu Distribution, and the emerging Portuguese collective Olharapo Filmes participating in the Agora. Speakers will present different approaches to the distribution of independent animation, discuss the challenges of reaching international audiences, and examine how films circulate within today’s global markets, offering valuable insights and practical advice for creators.
The ANIMASYROS Agora will additionally host a discussion on the social and political potential of animation. Directors Leo Luna Robert-Tourneur and Elisa Beli Borrelli will explore how animation can function as a powerful creative medium for expressing queer perspectives, challenging dominant narratives, and examining issues of identity, power, and representation, ultimately contributing to social change.
Finally, as part of ANIMASYROS initiatives aimed at strengthening Greek animation, the intensive three-day Animation Producer Workshop will take place for the second consecutive year, led by Elisa Beli Borrelli, with the support of the Hellenic Film and Audiovisual Center. Designed specifically for Greek animation producers, the workshop will focus on project development through a DIY approach, explaining how creators can manage productions and shape a clear creative vision outside traditional funding structures by relying on the support of the animation community. This objective will be achieved through the breakdown of a short film created specifically for the occasion, providing participants with practical experience in collaborative and inventive production processes.
The highly successful Greek Animation Talks will once again take centre stage at the ANIMASYROS Agora, offering Greek creators the opportunity to discuss their work, the challenges of the creative process, and share best practices. This year’s Greek Animation Talks will be hosted by actress Alina Kotsovoulou.
For the fourth consecutive year, the highly successful speed dating sessions powered by Enterprise Greece will also continue. Greek creators selected by ANIMASYROS will participate in short 20-minute meetings with internationally renowned producers and artists from across Europe and around the world, pitching their ideas and sharing their artistic and professional aspirations with the aim of securing co-productions and professional opportunities within the international animation industry.
VR Lounge
For the fourth consecutive year, ANIMASYROS will once again set up an impressive VR lounge at the Cultural Centre of Hermoupolis, as part of the Hellenic Film & Audiovisual Center / AV Fusion Outreach Programme. The VR Lounge aims to showcase the breadth of Extended Reality (XR) technologies and highlight the crucial role of animation in the development of interactive experiences and immersive films, through interactive workshops, award-winning VR films and, for the first time this year, VR games. The VR Lounge is curated by filmmaker, animator and University of Athens researcher Dr. Dimitris Delinikolas, in collaboration with Giorgos Zestanakis, animator, producer and game designer.
Educational Workshops
Educational workshops, one of the core pillars of ANIMASYROS, draw inspiration this year from the Festival’s central theme, “200 Years of Hermoupolis”. Children, teenagers, adults, people with disabilities and senior citizens will bring the stories of Hermoupolis to life, discover its hidden corners through old photographs and archival material, create their own characters and travel through the city’s 200-year history through the magic of animation. The workshops will be led by ANIMASYROS’ much-loved educators Margarita Simopoulou, Elena Pavlaki, Agisilaos Rompolas, Anna Oikonomou, Thomas Künstler and Manos Mastorakis, as well as distinguished artists and professionals from Greece and abroad, including Studio 9 co-founders Joseph Conevey and John O’Connell from Ireland, Coke Riobóo Cortes from Spain, Deree – The American College of Greece professors Alice Kakoulidou and Marina Emmanouil, as well as Elena Papalambrou and Elvira Forte, the Europa Experience team of the European Parliament Liaison Office in Greece.
Participation in all workshops is free of charge. See detailed information about the workshops here.
Parallel Events – Highlights
The rich ANIMASYROS 2026 programme also includes a wide range of parallel events, discussions, networking events and parties.
Friday 25 September, 19:00–20:00 | Ermoupolis Cultural Centre
European Cinema in the Spotlight – A discussion on European Film Awards & the LUX Audience Award
The discussion will focus on two important institutions in European cinema: the LUX Audience Award, an initiative of the European Parliament and the European Film Academy, in partnership with the European Commission and the Europa Cinemas network; and the European Film Awards, which will be held in Greece for the first time in January 2027, on the initiative of the Hellenic Film & Audiovisual Center. The discussion will explore how European film institutions and awards can act as catalysts for a more outward-looking, diverse and accessible European audiovisual landscape. How can European institutions, national bodies and filmmakers work together to help European stories travel, reach new audiences and achieve greater visibility? Participants include Elvira Forte, Head of Public Relations at the European Parliament Liaison Office in Greece; Eirini Andriopoulou, Head of the Education and Heritage Unit, General Directorate for Greek Cinema, Hellenic Film & Audiovisual Center; and Kerdi Oengo, producer and member of the Board of Directors of the European Animation Awards – Emile Awards. The discussion will be moderated by Maria Anestopoulou, co-founder and Artistic Director of ANIMASYROS. Immediately afterwards, the European Parliament Liaison Office in Greece will host a reception in the courtyard of the Apollon Theatre.
Je t’ aime Syros | Photography Exhibition by Frédéric Murarotto
Monday 21 to Sunday 27 September, 10:00–13:00 & 16:00–00:00 | Apollon Theatre & various locations across Hermoupolis
A series of photographs by French photographer and film journalist Frédéric Murarotto, inspired by the Cyclades. Combining humour with poetic absurdity, Murarotto’s images capture moments from everyday life in Greece, balancing tenderness with playful strangeness. Without seeking to portray Greece as an exotic destination, the exhibition offers a contemporary, cinematic perspective on “Greekness”, shaped by light, rituals and scenes from everyday street life.
Social Events
Saturday 26 September, 22:30 | Pavone Syros – Hermoupolis
The ANIMASYROS 2026 Party
Every year, the ANIMASYROS party is one of the town’s major social events. This year, Pavone Syros will once again turn into the ultimate festival hotspot. Music will be curated by Leonidas Antonopoulos, Director of Kosmos 93.6 radio station.