Awards

Aberdeen Animates celebrates short-form animation that blends bold ideas with strong craft. Our 2026 awards recognise four core strengths:

 

Best Animation

Honours the film with the strongest overall animation craft.
What we look for: performance, timing, movement, consistency, and technical execution across any technique (2D, 3D, stop motion, hybrid).

 

Best Story

Recognises the most compelling narrative.
What we look for: clarity of idea, structure, character, pacing, emotional impact, and originality, whether the piece is dialogue-led or purely visual.

 

Best Visual Style

Celebrates distinctive art direction and design.
What we look for: cohesive look and feel, inventive style, composition, colour, lighting, sound-image harmony, and world-building.

 

Audience Vote

Chosen by festival attendees on the day.
How it works: attendees cast votes after screenings; the film with the most votes wins.

 

Eligibility

• Open to all officially selected films (any technique/genre).

• Films must meet the Submissions Page requirements (length, format, captions/subtitles where applicable).

 

Judging & Selection

Industry and community judges assess entries against the stated criteria for each category.

• Shortlisted films will be screened at the festival on 10th April 2026.

 

Prizes

• Winners receive an official laurel, certificate on the night, and a featured spotlight across our channels.

• Additional partner prizes may be announced.