The latest blog posts from Animation World Network. https://www.awn.com/ en-US 15 Fri, 20 Feb 2026 03:55:07 -0800 Mon, 23 Feb 2026 08:06:53 -0800 https://www.awn.com/blog/cinanima-49th-international-animated-film-festival-7-16-november-2025-espinho-portugal The theme of the 49th edition of Cinanima, Memory: The Future of the Past, is particularly apropos as the festival looks forward to its 50th anniversary in 2026. It posed the question, what is the future that the past anticipates, and what questions does it raise? Nancy Denney-Phelps https://www.awn.com/blog/cinanima-49th-international-animated-film-festival-7-16-november-2025-espinho-portugal Fri, 20 Feb 2026 3:55:07 PST AWN Blogs https://www.awn.com/news/itfs-2026-shares-first-program-highlights The International Festival of Animated Film will run from May 5-10, and include animation in Stuttgart's Innenstadtkinos, the Open Air Schlossplatz, competitions, curated programs, panels, workshops, games, and hands-on activities.  L'Wren Alexa https://www.awn.com/news/itfs-2026-shares-first-program-highlights Mon, 16 Feb 2026 16:57:48 PST AWN Blogs https://www.awn.com/news/preview-panel-set-february-27-oscar-contenders-best-animated-feature Free, live, one-hour session promises to deliver an inspiring and lively online conversation and Q&A with the directors of ‘Arco,’ ‘Elio,’ ‘KPop Demon Hunters,’ ‘Little Amélie or the Character of Rain,’ and ‘Zootopia 2,’ hosted by the VIEW Conference. Dan Sarto https://www.awn.com/news/preview-panel-set-february-27-oscar-contenders-best-animated-feature Wed, 11 Feb 2026 10:12:50 PST AWN Blogs https://www.awn.com/news/girl-who-cried-pearls-named-view-award-contest-2025-grand-prize-winner Chris Lavis and Maciek Szczerbowski’s film takes the top award, with J.P. Vine’s ‘Cardboard’ taking the Jury Prize; 9-member international jury awards 22 outstanding animated shorts based on story, direction, technical proficiency, sound, and uniqueness. Dan Sarto https://www.awn.com/news/girl-who-cried-pearls-named-view-award-contest-2025-grand-prize-winner Wed, 04 Feb 2026 17:02:41 PST AWN Blogs https://www.awn.com/blog/call-entries-animasyros-2026 Submit your films online at the ANIMASYROS page on FilmFreeWay. Nancy Denney-Phelps https://www.awn.com/blog/call-entries-animasyros-2026 Wed, 04 Feb 2026 4:30:06 PST AWN Blogs https://www.awn.com/blog/ai-pocalypse-now-animation-moat-vanishing AI animation is reaching studio quality. A Disney veteran thinks that’s all for the good. Kevin Geiger https://www.awn.com/blog/ai-pocalypse-now-animation-moat-vanishing Tue, 03 Feb 2026 11:08:16 PST AWN Blogs https://www.awn.com/blog/pitching-forums-rise-shine-2026-launches-call Rise & Shine, an animation development and pitching lab, is looking for projects and participants for its 2026 edition. Nancy Denney-Phelps https://www.awn.com/blog/pitching-forums-rise-shine-2026-launches-call Mon, 02 Feb 2026 5:17:52 PST AWN Blogs https://www.awn.com/blog/last-call-submit-short-films-animafest-zagreb-2026 Last call for entries for World Festival of Animated Film - Animafest Zagreb. Nancy Denney-Phelps https://www.awn.com/blog/last-call-submit-short-films-animafest-zagreb-2026 Mon, 26 Jan 2026 7:20:59 PST AWN Blogs https://www.awn.com/blog/kuandu-15th-international-animation-festival-26-october-1-november-2025-taipei-taiwan-0 I was looking forward to seeing what life was like on this island so close to mainland China Nancy Denney-Phelps https://www.awn.com/blog/kuandu-15th-international-animation-festival-26-october-1-november-2025-taipei-taiwan-0 Mon, 19 Jan 2026 7:29:26 PST AWN Blogs https://www.awn.com/blog/kuandu-15th-international-animation-festival-26-october-1-november-2025-taipei-taiwan I was looking forward to seeing what life was like on this island so close to mainland China Nancy Denney-Phelps https://www.awn.com/blog/kuandu-15th-international-animation-festival-26-october-1-november-2025-taipei-taiwan Mon, 19 Jan 2026 7:29:09 PST AWN Blogs https://www.awn.com/blog/call-entries-submission-ends-soon-annecy Participate in the upcoming Annecy Festival before it's too late! Nancy Denney-Phelps https://www.awn.com/blog/call-entries-submission-ends-soon-annecy Fri, 16 Jan 2026 4:55:19 PST AWN Blogs https://www.awn.com/animationworld/re-view-your-dreams-learning-face-unknown Alex Woo’s colorful and vibrant animated adventure features a young girl trying to get the Sandman to fix her parents’ fraying marriage, only to conjure up the fearful reality she’s trying to avoid – a broken family; now streaming on Netflix. Dr. Maria Elena Gutierrez https://www.awn.com/animationworld/re-view-your-dreams-learning-face-unknown Tue, 06 Jan 2026 16:36:09 PST AWN Blogs https://www.awn.com/blog/call-entries-contemporary-animation-and-media-art-festival The 2026 LINOLEUM Contemporary Animation and Media Art Festival will be held offline on September 30–October 4 in Kyiv. Nancy Denney-Phelps https://www.awn.com/blog/call-entries-contemporary-animation-and-media-art-festival Mon, 05 Jan 2026 9:11:08 PST AWN Blogs https://www.awn.com/blog/etiuda-and-anima-14-19-october-2025-krakow-poland There is no better way to start a seven-week trip to festivals that will take me halfway around the world than to be on my way to the Etiuda & Anima Animation Festival in Krakow. Nancy Denney-Phelps https://www.awn.com/blog/etiuda-and-anima-14-19-october-2025-krakow-poland Wed, 24 Dec 2025 7:28:32 PST AWN Blogs https://www.awn.com/blog/call-entries-anifilm-5-may-10-may-2026-liberec-cz Nancy Denney-Phelps https://www.awn.com/blog/call-entries-anifilm-5-may-10-may-2026-liberec-cz Fri, 19 Dec 2025 4:27:03 PST AWN Blogs https://www.awn.com/blog/call-entries-animafest-zagreb-world-festival-animated-film-8-13-june-2026 Animafest Zagreb 2026 call for entries: Short film deadline 1 Feb, Feature deadline 15 Mar Nancy Denney-Phelps https://www.awn.com/blog/call-entries-animafest-zagreb-world-festival-animated-film-8-13-june-2026 Thu, 18 Dec 2025 4:19:37 PST AWN Blogs https://www.awn.com/vfxworld/re-view-frankenstein-acts-love-and-forgiveness Oscar-winning filmmaker Guillermo del Toro’s most complete work to date transforms Mary Shelley’s iconic 1818 novel from a cautionary tale of the perils of hubris into a redemptive fable about the ability to forgive. Dr. Maria Elena Gutierrez https://www.awn.com/vfxworld/re-view-frankenstein-acts-love-and-forgiveness Tue, 16 Dec 2025 17:11:48 PST AWN Blogs https://www.awn.com/animationworld/re-view-kpop-demon-hunters-beauty-broken-glass Maggie Kang and Chris Appelhans’ hit animated musical about a trio of women battling against a band of demons intent on taking over the world presents big ideas with a deceptively light touch; its gorgeously accessible imagery and brisk toe-tapping pace are as catchy as the lyrics of its songs. Dr. Maria Elena Gutierrez https://www.awn.com/animationworld/re-view-kpop-demon-hunters-beauty-broken-glass Mon, 01 Dec 2025 12:46:01 PST AWN Blogs https://www.awn.com/blog/anima-syros-22-28-september-2025-syros-island-cyclades-greece For its 18th edition, Anima Syros reached for the furthest depths of outer space with a theme of animated cosmos. Nancy Denney-Phelps https://www.awn.com/blog/anima-syros-22-28-september-2025-syros-island-cyclades-greece Fri, 07 Nov 2025 11:37:49 PST AWN Blogs https://www.awn.com/blog/studio-one How artist-driven AI is rewriting the economics of animation. Kevin Geiger https://www.awn.com/blog/studio-one Mon, 27 Oct 2025 10:47:05 PDT AWN Blogs https://www.awn.com/news/frankenstein-cinematographer-dan-laustsen-set-view-2025 It’s less than one week away… the person behind the camera on Guillermo del Toro’s highly anticipated film joins more than 150 award-winning speakers from the world of animation, VFX, games and AI who will take part in a packed schedule of keynotes, talks, panels, workshops and masterclasses; event runs October 12-17 in Turin, Italy. Dan Sarto https://www.awn.com/news/frankenstein-cinematographer-dan-laustsen-set-view-2025 Wed, 08 Oct 2025 16:32:07 PDT AWN Blogs https://www.awn.com/blog/call-entries-cee-animation-workshop-2026-now-open CEE Animation Workshop is a year-long training programme... Nancy Denney-Phelps https://www.awn.com/blog/call-entries-cee-animation-workshop-2026-now-open Fri, 03 Oct 2025 10:25:07 PDT AWN Blogs https://www.awn.com/news/view-2025-reveals-expansive-full-conference-lineup It’s just 2 weeks away… more than 150 award-winning speakers from the world of animation, VFX, games and AI will take part in a packed schedule of keynotes, talks, panels, workshops and masterclasses; event runs October 12-17 in Turin, Italy. Dan Sarto https://www.awn.com/news/view-2025-reveals-expansive-full-conference-lineup Thu, 02 Oct 2025 9:53:50 PDT AWN Blogs https://www.awn.com/blog/creators-manifesto The call to arms in the age of AI. Kevin Geiger https://www.awn.com/blog/creators-manifesto Mon, 29 Sep 2025 7:26:22 PDT AWN Blogs https://www.awn.com/news/itfs-2026-call-entries-now-open The Stuttgart International Festival of Animated Film has begun accepting film submissions - the deadline for the short film competition is November 15, 2025; the deadline for the feature-length film competition is January 15, 2026. Dan Sarto https://www.awn.com/news/itfs-2026-call-entries-now-open Fri, 12 Sep 2025 12:29:03 PDT AWN Blogs https://www.awn.com/blog/can-chatgpt-write-animation-scripts-you You’ve probably heard the expression "Good-Fast-Cheap: You can only have two but never all three". Well, I believe you can get all three. Jeffrey Scott https://www.awn.com/blog/can-chatgpt-write-animation-scripts-you Wed, 10 Sep 2025 15:22:19 PDT AWN Blogs https://www.awn.com/blog/screenwriting-staffing-professional-screenwriters-perspective There’s one script marketplace that consistently delivers on its mission to connect writers with real producers, managers, and employers Jeffrey Scott https://www.awn.com/blog/screenwriting-staffing-professional-screenwriters-perspective Mon, 08 Sep 2025 14:53:57 PDT AWN Blogs https://www.awn.com/news/wicked-good-vfx-presentation-set-view-2025 ILM’s 4-time Oscar-nominated production VFX supervisor Pablo Helman and VES Award-winning Framestore animation supervisor Dale Newton will dive deep into the visual effects of Jon M. Chu’s 2-part musical blockbuster that concludes this November; conference runs October 12-17 in Turin, Italy. Dan Sarto https://www.awn.com/news/wicked-good-vfx-presentation-set-view-2025 Thu, 04 Sep 2025 10:12:20 PDT AWN Blogs https://www.awn.com/blog/call-entries-itfs-2026 Stuttgart International Festival of Animated Film (ITFS), one of Europe's leading animation festivals, is now open for submissions for its 2026 edition Nancy Denney-Phelps https://www.awn.com/blog/call-entries-itfs-2026 Wed, 03 Sep 2025 6:10:58 PDT AWN Blogs https://www.awn.com/news/talks-kpop-demon-hunters-f1-and-fantastic-four-set-view-2025 Maggie Kang and Chris Appelhans, directors of the biggest Netflix film ever, plus VFX supervisors Ryan Tudhope and Daniele Bigi, will present their films in-person at the upcoming conference that runs October 12-17 in Turin, Italy. Dan Sarto https://www.awn.com/news/talks-kpop-demon-hunters-f1-and-fantastic-four-set-view-2025 Thu, 28 Aug 2025 14:45:21 PDT AWN Blogs