PROGRAMME SECTIONS

Competition programme

International competition

Feature Film
For adults | For children and young audience

Abstract and non-narrative animation

Short film

Music videos

Student film

Computer games
Visual art | Game for children

VR films

Czech Horizon

National competition

Short and feature film

Student film

Series

Commissioned work  

Music videos

Non-competitive programme

Thematic focuses


This section presents curators’ selections related to the festival’s main topic/s. They may focus on a specific animation technique, genre or pop-cultural phenomena in current animation. The topic is also reflected in the selection of the festival guests, the Industry Programme and the Animo section.

Lifetime Achievement Award for Animation

Each year, the festival presents a lifetime achievement award for animation to a selected figure of Czech animation and organizes for them a retrospective section or another type of non-film programme.


Jury Programme

Each year, top world animators are invited to join the Anifilm juries. In addition to evaluating other people’s films, they also often present their own programme in the form of a retrospective, a masterclass or a workshop.

ClassicS Rebooted

We appreciate the work of institutions that restore and make accessible films by iconic Czech and foreign filmmakers. Each year we screen newly restored films.

Animo

This neatly curated programme for children and young audiences is an inseparable and sought-after part of Anifilm. Throughout the festival, it presents new and archival Czech and foreign animated films.

Midnight Animation

Offensive, largely unacceptable and unusually explicit (in every sense of the word) films and series. Shown on three nights, always 30 minutes to midnight. Horror, disgusting and obscene films. B and C movies with certain qualities that will be appreciated by the midnight audience.

Taking Stock

In this section we present the most interesting mainstream feature films that have been shown in cinemas in the Czech Republic in the current or previous year. The programme is intended for the general public, for families with children and is screened outdoors.

Industry programme

The Industry Programme is a major part of the festival. Each year we prepare presentations by film professionals on the theory, history and practice of animated movies that have a connection to the main theme of the festival and current trends in animation. The Industry Programme also includes masterclasses by creators, lectures on different topics and round-table debates.

Masterclasses & lectures



Creators of animated films (members of the jury or guests accompanying films in competition) present their work or a specific aspect of their profession to the visitors.

Czech Horizon Grant Supported by the PPF Foundation

Based on pitches by creators, a specialized jury will grant to the selected projects of Czech short films support in the amount of CZK 1,000,000.


 

CEE Animation Market 

A closed-door networking event for Czech and international producers. In collaboration with CEE Animation, this initiative provides a platform for Czech animation professionals to meet producers from abroad. Whether their projects are in development or already in production, the Market is an excellent opportunity to find potential co-producers and partners who can move the projects forward. We also present to international professionals contemporary Czech animated films and the possibilities to establish co-productions with the Czech Republic.

Animarket

A networking event for professionals in animation, VFX, computer games and VR/AR creations. The aim of Animarket is to facilitate meetings across the different animation industries, presentation of new projects and latest trends in animation and presenting job offers to potential candidates. Schools, universities and institutions working in animation and game design are also present at Animarket.

Podcasts – collaboration with the F-A-T platform

Since 2020, Anifilm has been collaborating with platform f-a-t.cz (film–animation–theory), a web portal intended primarily for professional, narrowly focused animation audiences. Its founders, Michaela Režová and Matouš Svěrák, shoot videos during the festival that are used as audio-visual content for social media and the website. In 2022, special festival podcasts – specialized interviews with festival guests and jurors – were added.


Game Pitch Arena 

Pitches of gaming projects from Central Europe for international publishers and investors. The goal of the pitching session is to present your idea and a business plan to attract a potential business partner and start negotiating about the publication and support for the project. We help creators establish themselves in the network and realize their projects. The winning projects will share EUR 20,000 between them provided by the PPF Foundation.

Meet the Creators

Two or three meeting sessions with filmmakers during the festival that give them the opportunity to meet one another and for the professional and general public to ask them questions for which there was not enough time or space in the cinema.


Community animation events


Prasení, pLevel and, since 2024, the Fuck-Up Night (in collaboration with FAMU and UMPRUM). The point of these events is to provide a meeting place to share inspiration among animators and allied artistic professions.

ACCOMPANYING PROGRAMME

The accompanying programme is an important part of the festival and is made of, in particular, exhibitions/installations (usually located in the Liberec Chateau, the Museum of Fine Arts Liberec and the Liebieg Villa), concerts of lesser known indie bands and theatre or puppet performances for kids.

School of Animation

The School of Animation uses an entertaining form to introduce the process of making animated films. Under the tutelage of experienced lecturers, children and adults can make their own animated films from scratch – including writing the script and animating. In the process, they can use many artistic techniques including cut-out animation, traditional animation, computer animation, sand animation, claymation, pixilation and stop-motion animation, and since 2023 also site-specific animation. Animation workshops take place in the Garden Wing of the Liberec Chateau and in the surrounding park.

Game zone

Another part of the accompanying programme is the Game Zone, a place where visitors can play games in competition and other indie games.

Concerts & theatre performances

The accompanying programme also includes concerts and theatre performances in the festival tent or nearby.