The World Festival of Animated Film, also known as Animafest Zagreb, is a significant event in the world of animation. Established in 1972, the festival takes place in Zagreb, Croatia. It features competitions, retrospectives, presentations, exhibitions, pitching forums, lectures, awards, panoramas, workshops and other additional events that contribute to the city’s artistic life and promote animation art globally.
The festival is known for its diverse programming. The 33rd edition of Animafest Zagreb in 2023 focused on science fiction as its theme programme. This genre of cognitive estrangement and novum, alternative past and future, critical thinking, utopia and dystopia, speculation and exploration was at the center of Animafest 2023’s theme programme.
In addition to the main competition, Animafest also hosts a Student Film Competition. This competition is characterized by its exuberance, unbridled creativity and international artistic competition. The 2023 edition featured 41 films.
Animafest Zagreb is not just for adults. It also includes a Children and Youth Programme. Animated films unite numerous artistic genres which makes them attractive to those who encounter them for the first time.
The festival has consistently influenced and greatly contributed to the city’s artistic life as well as promotion of animation art throughout the world.