Anima 2025: Official short film selection

The international competition will feature 85 entries, while the national competition showcases 25 new films from Belgium. Additionally, 63 films will be displayed out of competition, enhancing the diverse thematic programs at Anima.

The films from the international competition will represent 30 countries, including 19 European nations, highlighting the richness and diversity of contemporary animated cinema.
Among the standout selections is the stunning Maybe Elephants by Oscar-winning director Torill Kove, alongside award-winning short films like Percebes by Alexandra Ramires and Laura Gonçalves, which clinched the Cristal for Best Short Film at the Annecy Film Festival.
International student films will also shine, including the touching Adiós by José Prats, which features a moving story and impressive animation technique.

The jury members for the international short film competition includes animation experts Vessela Dantcheva, producer and animation director, co-founder of Compote Collective in Bulgaria and lecturer in Sofia; Sébastien Sperer, a former programmer at the Annecy Film Festival and creator of the WTF program; and Levi Stoops, a Brussels-based director whose short film Drijf has garnered multiple awards, including the Jury Prize at Annecy.

Alongside beloved programs such as Real-Life Stories for animated documentaries, Watch & Dance for music aficionados, and the eagerly awaited Queer Stories and Women’s Perspective, this year the Anima team introduces a fresh program celebrating emerging talents: Masters of Animation.

Anima continues to honour Belgian animation talent – out of 115 films submitted, 31 made the cut, including 25 in the national competition. Notable entries feature Anne Verbeure, who won the Award for Best Student Short Film in 2022 for Rode Reus and returns with De Gouden Ezel. Also making an impression is Silent Panorama by Nicolas Piret, a poetic piece created on a single sheet of paper.

Belgian animation schools are well-represented this year, with 11 selected films. Look forward to the inventive Pubert Jimbob by Quirijn Dees and be charmed by the delightful Esca by Félice Ronzon, known for its captivating color palette.

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Anima will run from 28 February to 9 March 2025 at Flagey, Marni and Cinematek as well as in a dozen towns across Wallonia and Flanders.

Discover more about the programme here.