Animayo is a summit and international festival of animation, visual effects and video games based in Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, Spain. Most of its programme is educational: master classes, talks, workshops, panels, portfolio reviews and recruitment sessions with industry professionals, alongside the Official Selections to Contest of animated short films, animated advertising, music videos and video game cinematics. The festival dates back to 2006 and is directed and produced by Damián Perea through Damián Perea Producciones. Under the name Animayo Itinerante, it also takes its programme to other cities, including Los Angeles, Madrid, Barcelona and Lanzarote.
The Grand Jury Prize qualifies for the Academy Awards in the animated short film category, as does Animación con Ñ, an award for short films from Spanish-speaking countries; Animayo is also a qualifying festival for the Annie Awards. The 22nd edition, Animayo Gran Canaria 2027, runs 5–8 May 2027.
Awards and prizes
Grand Jury Prize (International Jury): €3,000 gross, trophy and diploma. Qualifies for the Academy Awards and the Annie Awards.
Animación con Ñ – Best Short Film from a Spanish-Speaking Country: trophy and diploma. For short films in which countries with Spanish as an official language hold at least 60% of the production. Qualifies for the Academy Awards and the Annie Awards.
Best Student Short Film (International Jury): trophy and diploma. Qualifies for the Annie Awards.
Best Video Game Cinematic, Best Music Video and Best Advertising (Jury of Cinematics, Music Videos and Advertising): trophy and diploma.
Optional International Jury awards (trophy and diploma): Best Social Interest Short, Best 2D Short, Best 3D Short, Best Visual Effects Short, Best Comedy Short for All Audiences, Best Comedy Short for Adults Only, Special Jury Mentions.
The festival may also give Special Mentions and a Director's Award.
Festival rules
Entry to the Official Selection to Contest is free, through the online entry form at animayo.com. The 2027 entry period runs from 15 September 2026 to 10 January 2027 (Canary Islands time).
Eligible works: animated short films, animated advertising, animated music videos and video game cinematics, in any technique; at least 80% animation; maximum 30 minutes; completed on or after 1 July 2025. Works entered in earlier editions are not accepted. Premiere status is not required, but premieres are valued.
Works that use generative AI for any creative element (image, animation, characters, backgrounds, script, voices, music or sound) are not accepted.
Entrants of any nationality may take part. The person submitting must be at least 18 years old, or an entity such as a school, production company or distributor.
A free, ad-free, private password-protected viewing link is required. Schools, producers and distributors may send several links in one email to animayo@animayo.com with a copy to programacion@animayo.com.
Preselection (200–250 works) ends on 15 March 2027; at least 40 finalists are notified by email by 10 April 2027.
Screening copy: 1920×1080, 24 fps, H.264 (or ProRes), stereo 48 kHz. Works with dialogue in a language other than Spanish and without Spanish subtitles need an .srt file or dialogue list in Spanish or English.
Selection does not cover travel or accommodation costs. Selected teams may request up to two accreditations per film.
