Animation Dingle Festival 2026

Location
Dingle, County Kerry, Ireland

Open to
The festival accepts animated short films from:

  • Irish and international students (must be created while enrolled in education)

  • Professional animators (Irish and international)

Categories include:

  • Best Irish Student Animation

  • Best International Student Animation

  • Best Irish Professional Short (Oscar®-qualifying)

  • Best International Professional Short

  • Other student category awards (e.g. Best 2D, Best Director, Best Sound Design, etc.)

  • YAOTY (Young Animator of the Year, for secondary school & first-year Irish college students)

Application Fee

  • Student Categories: $29.81–$47.70 depending on deadline

  • Professional Categories: $35.77–$59.62 depending on deadline
    (FilmFreeway Gold Member discounts apply)

What’s Provided

  • Selected films screened at Animation Dingle 2026 (March 19–21)

  • Student and professional awards presented during the festival

  • Select students receive free accreditation and priority booking

  • Qualifying awards eligible for Oscar® and Student Academy Awards® consideration

  • High-profile industry exposure and networking opportunities

  • Keynote speakers and workshops with professionals from Disney, Netflix, Apple TV+, Aardman, and more

What the Applicant Must Cover

  • Submission fee

  • Delivery of screening materials via digital transfer

  • Any personal travel or accommodation costs (not covered by the festival)

Duration
Festival takes place March 19–21, 2026

Deadline

  • Earlybird: September 30, 2025

  • Regular: November 3, 2025

  • Final: December 8, 2025 (4:00 PM)

  • Notification: January 19, 2026

Essential Notes

  • Films must be under 30 minutes

  • Only works completed after January 1, 2025 are eligible

  • Non-English language films must have English subtitles

  • Films must not be publicly available online or previously broadcast in Ireland

  • Accepted screening format: ProRes or QuickTime-compatible digital file

  • Festival does not pay screening fees

  • Awards include Oscar®-qualifying Best Irish Professional Short and Student Academy Awards® eligibility for student winners