Prime the Animation! celebrates its 14th edition under the theme “Freedom”
Skwigly
The Prime the Animation! International Festival of New Animation Talent returns for its fourteenth edition under the theme “Freedom”, exploring creative independence, diversity of voices and the power of artistic expression free from external constraints.
Over eight days, the festival will present 58 international animated short films, feature film screenings, professional talks, portfolio reviews, project pitching sessions and networking opportunities, reaffirming its role as one of Europe’s leading platforms for emerging animation filmmakers and young creative talent.
This year’s visual identity, including the official poster and animated ident, has been created by Julia Skala, winner of a festival award in the previous edition.
A Festival Inspired by Creative Freedom
The 2026 theme, Freedom, encourages creators to embrace imagination, autonomy and experimentation. Through a programme that showcases a wide range of visual aesthetics, techniques and storytelling approaches, the festival highlights animation as a space for innovation, inclusion and cultural exchange.
Opening Night: A Century of Animation History
The festival will open on 24 October at Filmoteca Valenciana with a special screening of The Adventures of Prince Achmed (1926), the landmark silhouette animation feature directed by German pioneer Lotte Reiniger, celebrating the centenary of its first public screening.
The screening will be accompanied by a live musical performance by composer and musician Sonia Megias.
International Competition
A total of 58 short films from 28 countries have been selected to compete in the festival’s official competition.
Awards include:
- Best International Short Film, presented with support from Fundación Cañada Blanch and endowed with €1,300 and a trophy.
- Best Experimental Short Film, including a Dragonframe licence.
- Best National Short Film (Filmin Award).
- Audience Award.
- Best Project Award for two selected animation projects, granting professional accreditation to MIFA 2027 in Annecy.
- GIFAFÍO Award, presented by the UPV Animation Club.
- Best Poster Award, presented by the UPV Master’s Degree in Design and Illustration.
The winning films will be screened during the festival’s closing ceremony on 31 October at Filmoteca Valenciana.
Screenings Across the City
Official competition screenings will take place at the Faculty of Fine Arts Auditorium of the Universitat Politècnica de València (UPV) on 28, 29 and 30 October, with post-screening discussions featuring industry professionals.
Additional screenings will be held at Sala SGAE Centre Cultural València on 26, 27 and 28 October.
The programme will also include a showcase of animated idents created by animation schools from across Spain.
Industry Programme and Professional Development
Prime the Animation! continues its commitment to supporting emerging professionals through a series of educational and networking activities.
This year’s industry programme includes talks by leading professionals such as Esther Morales, Maroto and animation studio Cuervo Cuadrado, covering topics including:
- Music and sound design for animated films.
- Character design for animation projects.
- Animation development and production processes.
- Sketching and visual development workflows.
Beers & Frames: Portfolio Reviews and Networking
On 29 October, the festival will host Beers & Frames, a networking event combining portfolio review sessions, one-to-one meetings with industry professionals and informal networking opportunities.
The day will conclude with a screening curated by the RED FAN Network, featuring works by emerging animation filmmakers from Portugal, Italy, Greece, Cyprus and Spain.
Project Pitching Forum
One of the festival’s key professional activities, the Project Pitching Forum, will take place on 31 October at CaixaForum Valencia.
Six projects selected from more than 25 submissions will be presented before a panel of animation professionals. Participants will receive expert feedback, while the two winning projects will be awarded professional accreditation to MIFA (Marché International du Film d’Animation) in Annecy, thanks to the collaboration with NonStop Barcelona Animació.
The Only Festival of Its Kind in Spain
Prime the Animation! is currently the only international festival in Spain dedicated exclusively to emerging animation talent and debut works.
More than a showcase of films, the festival serves as a meeting point for students, recent graduates, independent creators and established professionals, fostering new collaborations and supporting the next generation of animation artists.
Festival Venues
Festival activities will take place at:
- Filmoteca Valenciana
- Universitat Politècnica de València (Faculty of Fine Arts)
- CaixaForum Valencia
- Sala SGAE Centre Cultural València
- Escorxador Cultural Centre
Many activities are free to attend, subject to venue capacity.
Prime the Animation! is organised by the Universitat Politècnica de València and its Vice-Rectorate for Art, Science, Technology and Society, in collaboration with Fundación Cañada Blanch, Filmoteca Valenciana, the Faculty of Fine Arts, the Department of Drawing, the UPV Master’s Degree in Animation, CaixaForum València, Generació Espontània, the Chair of the Digital Divide and Functional Diversity, and the Escorxador Cultural Centre.