Festival of Animation Berlin

Festival of Animation Berlin

Also known as: FAB
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The Festival of Animation Berlin (FAB) is devoted to short, artistic animation in every technique, from hand-drawn and stop-motion to CGI, cross-media experiments and 360° films. It is organised by Animation Network Berlin e.V., a Berlin network for animation artists; artistic director Pia Djukic and Daniel Demele founded the festival in 2017. FAB began that spring as a single programme of German animated shorts with a live audiovisual concert and became a multi-day festival in 2018. After a sabbatical in 2024, it returned in 2025.

Films compete in five categories: International Animation, German Animation, New Talents for student work, Commissioned Animation and Pink Panda for children and teens, and the winners receive bear trophies. Each year a guest animator designs the festival trailer. The Berlin Animation Hub gathers masterclasses, talks, networking and the FAB Pitch for projects in development, while the FAB Dimensional exhibition shows installation-based and interactive animation. The 2026 edition takes place from 8 to 11 October 2026 at silent green Kulturquartier and City Kino Wedding.

Country

Germany

Categories

Animation, Short, Student

Awards and prizes

A jury awards prizes in the International Animation, German Animation, New Talents, Commissioned Animation and Pink Panda competitions; the festival's regulations also list an Animated Feature award. Winners receive the festival's bear trophies, and cash prizes may be added. Where available, an audience award is chosen by festival visitors. Special mentions are also given.

Festival rules

Animated films, including combinations of live action and animation, completed after 1 May 2024 are eligible for the 2026 edition; only finished films are considered. Short film competitions accept works up to 15 minutes. Submission is only through FilmFreeway, with a password-protected link, and carries a small entry fee. Films with dialogue must have English subtitles. Selected films are screened from a DCP; MOV or MP4 only in exceptional cases by agreement. Competition categories: International Animation (shorts by international artists), German Animation (shorts by animators based in Germany), New Talents (student shorts), Commissioned Animation (shorts with a commercial background), Pink Panda (shorts for children and teens; up to two episodes of a children's series). Out of competition: Horror Special for horror-themed shorts, which also accepts films completed more than two years ago. FAB Dimensional, the exhibition of expanded animation (installations, AR, VR, projection mapping, interactive and immersive works), has a separate free call open to artists aged 18 and over.

Contacts

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