TAF • Thessaloniki Animation Festival (11)

Festival start: 16 October 2025      Festival end: 30 October 2025

TAF, Thessaloniki Animation Festival is an international Animation Festival in Greece which promotes the art of animation through its annual gathering in October. The festival was founded, established and directed by ADDART; a non profit organization that "adds" art & culture everywhere. The creators of the festival are artists themselves, filled with love for the art of animation. Based in the heart of Thessaloniki, TAF aims to encourage and promote all aspects of creativity by hosting local as well as international events and activities for kids and adults alike!
TAF is the only Animation festival in town and every year it grows bigger. We like to showcase innovating films, guests, workshops and Master Classes to Thessaloniki in a great venue and award them for their inspiration and technique!
TAF is a festival free of entrance with a no-fee policy for the filmmakers.

TAF Thessaloniki Animation Festival awards :

-1st Place: Golden Octopus Award
-2nd Place: Silver Octopus Award
-3rd Place: Bronze Octopus Award

Special Awards :

-Storytelling Award
-Student Film Award
-Best Balkan Film Award
-"Select Respect" Award
-Audience Award

TAF Thessaloniki Animation Festival
Rules for Participation

1. Dates

The International Film Festival of Thessaloniki will take place from 16th -30th of October 2025. The submission deadline is July 31 as dictated on Festhome.

The award winners of the 10th Thessaloniki Animation Festival will be announced during our Closing Ceremony. The Award winners will be notified after the Festival is concluded.

2. Competition

The Festival reserves the right to place entries into alternative categories if they feel it is to the benefit of the title. Each submission must be entered separately and it cannot be withdrawn. Entries will be assessed and successful submissions will be scheduled for screening and enter the Festival competition.

By submitting, you agree not to withdraw your film from the festival after it has been accepted by the selection committee. If your film is selected, TAF holds the right to show your film at a time and date of its choosing.

3. Notification

TAF festival endeavors to complete all selection procedures by the 12th of September 2025 and inform all submitting parties if their film has been selected.

If your film is selected, TAF holds the right to show your film at a time and date of its choosing even besides the Festival itself in order to promote your film and the art of animation.

4. Selection

The Festival is organized by AddArt. The festival directors reserve the right to invite films for the competitive program. Selected films will start being announced after the 30th of August 2025. The final award winning entries will be selected by the festival jury.

By submitting, you agree not to withdraw your film from the festival after it has been accepted by the selection committee.

Award winners will be notified after the end of the festival screenings.

Additionally, TAF has the right to screen your film in various venues all with non profit events as well as other festivals in order to promote the art of Animation & TAF.

5. Successful submissions for the screenings
In order for the films to be screened, compete and receive the participation laurel of the festival, the filmmakers of the selected films will have to submit a screening copy of their film to the TAF team until Friday 19th of September.

Failure to submit a screening copy until that date will lead to ineligibility for the screenings and the awards.

6. Formats

The acceptable film formats for the Screenplay are:

Downloadable .avi, .mov .mp4, 16:9 or 4:9 HD 1080X720 or Full HD 1080X1980 or codec H.264.

7. Publicity

We reserve the right to use extracts from submissions for festival publicity and marketing purposes regardless of their selection status.

Press kits are not required for submission, but will be required if you are accepted to the festival.

8. Competing Categories for SHORT ANIMATION FILMS:

Best Film, Student, Story telling, Human Rights, Balkan, Audience Award.

-Eligibility for Short Animation Film
The submission of all animated film entries must be in English or have English dubbing or subtitles. Duration must not exceed 20min.
All films submitted must be produced in the last 2 years.

-Eligibility for Student Animation Film
The submission of all animated film entries must be in English or have English dubbing or subtitles. Duration must not exceed 20min.
All films submitted must be produced in the last 2 years. The producers of the film and/ or director must have been a student when the film was produced.

-Eligibility for Short Animation Film about Human Rights
The submission of all animated film entries must be in English or have English dubbing or subtitles. Duration must not exceed 20min.
All films submitted must be produced in the last year. The animation has to have a direct comment or narrative or subject concerning Human Rights.

-Eligibility for Kids Short Animation Film
The submission of all animated film entries must be appropriate for ages from 1 to 6 (non dialogue) and for 7 to 16 years old (English or have English subtitles).
Duration must not exceed 20min.
All films submitted must be produced in the last 2 years.

9. All awards are based on the overall merit of the entry.

Awards, including nominations may be subject to change at the discretion of the Film Festival Directors & Coordinators.

10. Submission, Selection for Screening, Awards and VOTING

There are 3 distinct stages. Submission, screening and awards.

The administrators and the film festival decision is final.