The Seville European Film Festival is increasing its animation focus this year, introducing its first dedicated award for Best Animated Short Film in its 22-year history.
Running November 7–15, the festival’s Official Section, its largest competitive category, will now include two short film prizes: Best Live Action Short and Best Animated Short. While the festival’s other sections have always welcomed animated films – last year, Flow competed and won three awards (jury award, best editing, and the new Puerta América prize for the best Oscar-submitted feature in competition) – 2025 marks an important milestone in the event’s recognition of animation.
Festival director Manuel Cristóbal, a producer on several noteworthy animated titles, including Buñuel in the Labyrinth of the Turtles and The Glassworker, called the new category “an exciting first,” adding:
A festival should show respect for established professionals, but also offer opportunities to new ones, and the sooner they get to know both the festival and the city, the better.
The move reflects Seville’s growing commitment to emerging talent and its recognition of animation as a central voice in European storytelling. Submissions for short films close on 22 August at midnight (5 September for features). Around 170 titles will ultimately screen across the city’s venues during the nine-day event.
Sevilla is produced to bring the best in European cinema culture to the south of Spain. Always well respected for its platforming of independent and arthouse fare, the festival has recently widened its program to include more mainstream titles and A-list guests and now looks to be more inclusive of other mediums withing the filmmaking art form.
The short film awards debut alongside Seville’s established sections – including Rampa for new filmmakers, Alumbramiento for films without Spanish distribution, and Panorama Andaluz for Andalusian productions – as well as the Future Frames initiative, which connects recent film school graduates with the industry through screenings, masterclasses, and networking.
For European animators, the new section and award offer a chance to present work on a major stage, joining a festival known for its mix of prestige, discovery, and international reach.
