Prime the Animation! Celebrates Its 13th Edition Under the Theme “Memories”
Skwigly
International short films, feature screenings, 7 awards, 4 professional talks, 6 pitch projects, portfolio reviews, activities and networking between professionals and emerging talents.
With the participation of: Elena Gobernado, María Pulido, Rebeca Núñez, JuanMa Laguna, Alex Mouron, and Juan Carlos Concha (pitch advisor).
From October 21 to 25, 2025, Valencia will host the 13th edition of the International Festival of Emerging Talent in Animated Film, Prime the Animation!, held this year under the theme “Memories”, an invitation to reflect on individual and collective memory. The festival’s visual identity and animated bumper were created by Alex Mouron, winner of the previous edition.
The festival opens on October 21 at the Filmoteca Valenciana with the screening of the French animated feature Linda Wants Chicken, a humorous story evoking childhood memories.
Professional Jury
The jury includes renowned professionals:
- Alex Mouron, winner of the previous edition.
- María Pulido, art director with extensive experience in shorts and features.
- Elena Gobernado, screenwriter for films, series, and other formats.
Awards
Short films will compete for the following prizes:
- Best International Short Film: Trophy and €1,300, awarded by Fundación Cañada Blanch.
- Best Experimental Short Film: Trophy and Dragonframe license (stop-motion software with USB keypad).
- Best National Short Film (Filmin Award): Annual Filmin subscription and professional animation/design software license.
- Audience Award: Trophy and 3-month professional software license.
- Best Project Diploma (2 projects): Diploma and professional accreditation for MIFA (Annecy, France).
- Gifafío Diploma (UPV Animation Club): Diploma and club kit.
- Best Poster of Competing Shorts: Award granted by the UPV Master’s in Design and Illustration.
Animated bumpers created by various national schools will also be screened. Winning shorts will be shown at the closing ceremony on October 26 at 20:15 at the Filmoteca Valenciana (free entry with ticket reservation online or at the box office).
Official Selection Screenings
Competition short films will be screened in morning sessions at the Faculty of Fine Arts Auditorium (UPV) on October 22, 23, and 24. Each program lasts approximately 50 minutes and showcases diverse techniques, visual styles, and narratives. Talks with industry professionals will follow each session.
Professional Talks
Scoring for Animated Shorts: Collaboration between students from UPV’s Master in Animation and Berklee College of Music Valencia’s Scoring Master.
Creating the PTA!13 Animation, by Alex Mouron.
Animating Abroad, with Rebeca Núñez and JuanMa Laguna.
Art Direction in Animation Projects, by María Pulido.
Cañas y Frames: Portfolio Reviews & RED FAN Screening
On Thursday, October 23, one-on-one meetings will be held (open call via the festival website), followed by a networking space with drinks to foster collaboration. The day ends with a screening of animated shorts from the RED FAN network.
Pitch Session
On Saturday, October 25, at the CaixaForum Valencia Auditorium, six selected projects (from over 28 submissions) will be pitched to industry professionals, who will provide feedback. Two winning projects will receive professional accreditation for MIFA (Annecy, France), in collaboration with NonStop Barcelona Animació.Sedes y entradas
Venues & Tickets
Festival venues include: UPV Faculty of Fine Arts, Filmoteca IVC, CaixaForum Auditorium, and Centro Cultural Excorchador.
Activities at UPV and Excorchador are free until full capacity.
Tickets for Filmoteca screenings are available online or at the box office (student discounts apply).
Tickets for CaixaForum Auditorium can be purchased online.
A Festival for Emerging Talent
More than a professional event, Prime the Animation! is a platform to promote young creators in the animation industry. The RED FAN program will showcase works by emerging authors from Portugal, Italy, Greece, Cyprus, and Spain.
Prime the Animation! is the only international festival in Spain dedicated exclusively to new talent and debut works in animated cinema. This edition features participants from 28 countries, reinforcing the festival’s role as a space for creative exchange and professional development.
Organized by: Universitat Politècnica de València and the UPV Vice-Rectorate for Art, Science, Technology and Society, in collaboration with Fundación Cañada Blanch, Filmoteca Valenciana IVC, Faculty of Fine Arts, Drawing Department, UPV Master in Animation, CaixaForum Valencia, Generación Espontánea, Digital Divide and Functional Diversity Chair, and Centro Cultural Excorchador (Valencia City Council).