ASIFA-Hollywood Introduces Groundbreaking Annie Awards Qualifying Festival List

ASIFA-Hollywood Launches the Annie Awards Qualifying Festival List

On April 23, 2026, ASIFA-Hollywood announced a historic initiative—the creation of its first Annie Awards Qualifying Festival List. This significant project aims to acknowledge and celebrate animation film festivals worldwide that promote the art of animation with artistic integrity and cultural impact.
Aubry Mintz, the Executive Director of ASIFA-Hollywood, emphasizes the importance of these festivals, stating,

"We are looking for festivals that are held in high regard by their industry counterparts and play a vital role in the animation community."

The newly introduced qualifying festivals will grant their top award winners the privilege to submit their works for consideration in specific Annie Award categories without any submission fees attached. This moves ASIFA-Hollywood closer to its mission of recognizing exceptional animation while fostering a community of artistic collaboration.
Furthermore, festivals qualifying for this recognition will be able to engage in various partnership opportunities with ASIFA-Hollywood. These partnerships will include promotional support, joint programming initiatives, and even participation in the jury selection process for the Annie Awards. By enhancing these connections, ASIFA-Hollywood seeks to strengthen the global animation landscape, ensuring a richer dialogue and collaborative environment across all participating festivals.
Mintz expressed excitement for working with festivals that, although they might be emerging, show considerable promise in shaping the future of animation. The initiative is designed to provide them with essential resources, including guidance through sponsorships, programming support, and promotional efforts to boost their profiles within the industry.
Charles Solomon, Chair of the Festival Committee, reinforces the necessity of maintaining a solid link between ASIFA-Hollywood and the festivals that are influential in the animation sector. Solomon states,

"Expanding this list and nurturing robust relationships with these festivals is paramount to our goal of fostering a welcoming and inclusive community for animation."

The list of Annie Awards qualifying festivals will be subject to an annual review, encouraging animation festivals to apply for potential inclusion. Interested festivals can apply through the application link provided by ASIFA-Hollywood. The goal is clear: to discover and collaborate with innovative animation festivals around the globe that echo ASIFA-Hollywood's commitment to the art of animation.
The initial list for eligible festivals includes:

- Annecy International Animation Film Festival, Annecy, France
- Ottawa International Animation Festival, Ottawa, Canada
- Kaboom Animation Festival, Amsterdam, Netherlands
- ANIMAFEST ZAGREB, Zagreb, Croatia
- Animation is Film, California, USA
- Animayo International Film Festival, Gran Canaria, Spain
- Fantoche International Animation Film Festival, Baden, Switzerland

ASIFA-Hollywood stands as a leading organization dedicated to the promotion and celebration of animation and its creators. As the largest chapter of the international ASIFA organization, it continues to support various activities and preservation efforts, including initiatives such as the Animation Archive, programming forums, film preservation, open-source support, and the prestigious annual Annie Awards™.
Through this new festival list, ASIFA-Hollywood reinforces its commitment to the animation community by spotlighting exceptional festivals while simultaneously offering a platform for emerging talents. The organization anticipates that this endeavor will not only acknowledge the art of animation but will also cultivate a thriving environment for future generations of animators.