New York Short Animation Festival Launches with Bold New Model for Fairness and Global Exposure
Skwigly
In its debut year, the New York Short Animation Festival (NYSAF) attracted 500 submissions from 40 countries, standing out from traditional festivals by promoting every submitted film through its official platforms and dividing entries by age and category to ensure fair competition.
Held at The Bryant Park Hotel in New York City, the festival has quickly distinguished itself as one of the most inclusive and fast-growing animation showcases on the global stage.
A Global Celebration of Creative Excellence
The inaugural edition featured a diverse spectrum of animation, from hand-drawn and stop-motion to 3D and experimental works, with entries from both renowned studios and emerging creators.
Notable contributors included Miyu Distribution, The Animation Project (TAP), Asians in Animation, Interlochen Center for the Arts, PROJECT FRAME from CINANIMA, and collectives such as Constituting America, Light House Studio, and VANIMA.
Distinguished artists Aaron Blaise, Malcolm Lamont, Mark Roberts, and Kate Bush joined talents Jorge Baldeón, Sijin Liu, and Morgan Young to showcase exceptional storytelling and visual craft.
At the closing ceremony, NYSAF announced its Annual Winners:
- Snow Bear – Aaron Blaise
- Foil Guy vs ANVIL – Malcolm Lamont
- Hept – Jorge Baldeón
- Sakura Gansha – Sijin Liu
Additional screenings featured works such as I Took My Avocado to Aspen Colorado (Mark Roberts), Rubber on the Ropes (Erim “Xolo” Cetinel), The Corridor (Kourosh Mohammadi), Boys Night in Sidera Institute (Adam Musa Othman), and the closing film Stoned for Christmas (Morgan Young).
Fairness and Visibility at the Core
Founded and directed by Wallis Liu, a New York–based digital artist and international animation juror, NYSAF was built on a clear vision: to make exposure and fairness the foundation of an animation festival.
Unlike traditional events that spotlight only a select few, NYSAF ensures that every submitted film has a genuine chance to be seen. Each work is featured and promoted through the festival’s social-media channels, giving students, professionals, and independent creators multiple opportunities for visibility throughout the year.
The festival’s four-season competition model further expands opportunity: each quarter crowns its own winners, who then advance to an annual championship in New York City.
As both a creator and a juror, I understand how much effort goes into every frame. At NYSAF, we make sure every film gets the chance to be seen — and I hope this festival can open new opportunities and possibilities for animators around the world.
Wallis Liu, Co-Founder & Executive Director of NYSAF
Liu’s experience as a jury member for multiple international animation festivals helped shape NYSAF’s transparent and inclusive structure, a model increasingly recognized by peers for its creator-first approach.
Expanding Global Partnerships
Following its successful debut, NYSAF will expand to ten screenings in 2026 and deepen its international reach.
Through a new collaboration with Cine Universitario UACJ in Mexico, selected films will receive additional screening opportunities abroad, with further partnerships in discussion across Europe and Asia.
Redefining the Animation-Festival Landscape
By combining a multi-season structure with year-round promotion and fair competition, NYSAF represents a modern shift in the animation-festival ecosystem — one that values accessibility, continuous engagement, and global connection.
This innovative framework, pioneered under Liu’s direction, reflects a growing movement toward festivals that champion transparency and genuine opportunity for all creators.