Animaze - Montreal International Animation Film Festival

09/23/2026

Congratulations to the Animaze 2026 Award Winners! Our 13th edition brought together an extraordinary range of animation from Canada and around the world- from student films and stop-motion to VR, experimental work, music videos and hybrid film making.
Thank you to all our filmmakers, jurors, guests, partners and audiences for making this year such a memorable edition.
Swipe through to discover the 2026 winners and special recognitions. See you in 2027. Animazefestival.com Félicitations aux lauréats d’Animaze 2026! Notre 13e édition a réuni une remarquable diversité de films d’animation du Canada et experimentales, videoclip et créations hybrides. Merci à tous nos cinéastes, membres du jury, invités, partenaires et publics d’avoir contribué à faire de cette édition un moment mémorable. Faites défiler pour découvrir les lauréats 2026 et les mentions spéciales. Rendez-vous en 2027.

08/27/2026

Animaze upcoming lineup in the news on Animation World Network

Bill Plympton, Johnnie Semerad Masterclasses Headline Animaze 2026
The Montreal International Animation Festival runs September 17-19 at Cinéma du Musée, pairing international premieres and a global student showcase with its first forum on AI in animation.

By Dan Sarto | Wednesday, August 26, 2026 at 10:37am
In Business, Community Outreach, Digital Media, Event, Festival, Films, People, Short Films, Television | ANIMATIONWorld, Headline News | Geographic Region: North America

The Montreal International Animation Festival (Animaze) has revealed programming highlights for its 13th edition, running September 17-19 at Cinéma du Musée in Montreal — including the festival's first-ever forum on AI in animation.

Animaze 2026 brings together international premieres and official competition screenings, an International Student Showcase drawing films from universities and animation schools around the world, filmmaker Q&As, and industry networking; the festival opens with a cocktail reception September 17 and closes with the Animaze Awards ceremony September 19.

Academy Award-nominated animation legend Bill Plympton will lead a masterclass, with Emmy-nominated director Johnnie Semerad teaching one as well. Semerad also returns for Artist First: From Pencil to Pixels to AI — a conversation, still subject to confirmation, exploring how new tools and technologies, including AI, are shaping the future of animation storytelling — continuing a dialogue he began with the festival in past editions.

"Animaze has always been an artist-driven festival, and that remains true as we explore how new technologies like AI can support creativity and storytelling rather than replace it," said Laurie Gordon, festival director. "Bringing Johnnie Semerad back this year to help lead that conversation lets us open the door to these ideas thoughtfully, with artists at the center."

Semerad is the founder and creative director of QuietMan, the creative collective whose work has earned Emmys, Cannes Lions, One Show pencils, and a permanent place in MoMA's AICP Show collection; he now works alongside collaborator and daughter Dara Semerad. His recent animated short, A Tree Once Grew Here, has screened in more than 100 film festivals and earned more than 30 awards.

Now in its 13th edition, Animaze draws more than 500 film submissions from over 40 countries, rooted in Montreal — home to more than 235 animation and VFX studios and more than 30,000 professionals, one of the world's leading animation capitals. Animaze is also a co-founder of Cannes Animation Day.

Additional films, guests, and special events — including full details on the expanded AI programming — will be announced as the official lineup is finalized. Full festival details are on the Animaze website.
https://www.awn.com/news/bill-plympton-johnnie-semerad-masterclasses-headline-animaze-2026

Source: Animaze

08/14/2026

✨ The official Animaze 2026 poster has arrived!

Join us September 17–19 at Cinéma du Musée for three days of bold international animation, creative encounters and a special in-person masterclass with two-time Oscar-nominated animator Bill Plympton.

Official poster created by Andrew Lucas — INDOCTRINATE.

🎟 Tickets available now.

✨ Voici l’affiche officielle d’Animaze 2026!

Du 17 au 19 septembre, retrouvez-nous au Cinéma du Musée pour trois jours d’animation internationale audacieuse, de rencontres créatives et une classe de maître exceptionnelle en présence de Bill Plympton, animateur nommé deux fois aux Oscars.

Affiche officielle créée par Andrew Lucas — INDOCTRINATE.

🎟 Billets en vente dès maintenant.

FilmFestival

07/29/2026

Join us for a special community screening of selections from Runway’s AI Film Festival — fresh from a sold‑out premiere at NYC’s Alice Tully Hall, featuring a talk by Ron Howard — now coming to Montreal for one free, one‑night‑only event.

Hosted by the YouTube channel Deep Space Degenerates, this night is part cinema, part meetup, part show‑and‑tell. We’ll watch a curated program of short films made with Runway and other AI‑native tools, then hang out, trade ideas, and see what you have been making.

There’ll be plenty of free merch, a room full of filmmakers and the curious, and lots of space to talk about where AI video is actually useful, fun, and maybe a little unhinged.

Want to share your work? Bring it.

If you have a DCP, we’ll run it on the big screen.
If not, we’ll huddle around a laptop and watch it together.
Come for the films, stay for the chaos (and the swag).

🎞️ Programme
8:00 PM — Welcome & introduction
8:10 PM — Screening: selections from Runway’s AI Film Festival
9:15 PM — Informal discussion, networking, and “show us what you’ve been working on” (screening DCPs laptop show‑and‑tell)
10:00 PM — End

(Times approximate.)

🙋 Who It’s For

Filmmakers, editors, VFX artists, designers, animators, creative technologists, students, and anyone curious about AI and moving images — from polished shorts to cursed experiments. No prior AI experience needed.

07/05/2026

We're baaaack :😍 Sept 17-19!

Animaze, the Montréal International Animation Festival, today officially launches its 13th edition, taking place September 17–19, 2026 at Cinéma du Musée,

03/08/2026

Submission Discount Week at AnimazeFor a limited time we are offering 20% off submissions
Use code: ANIMAZE20 when submitting via Filmfreeway
Animaze is now announcing Official Selection Waves throughout the season, meaning films submitted earlier may be reviewed and selected sooner while more programming slots are available.
Discount end Sunday March 15.
Submit now via Filmfreeway Submit now via and join filmmakers from around the world

01/21/2026

Proud to announce our 4th year of partnership curating animated music videos & films for MiCannes Music International music. Where music meets animation Tickets On Sale Submit your musoc video to Animaze AnimatedMusicVideo