The Aichi Nagoya International Animation Film Festival (ANIAFF) 2026 has opened the call for its feature-length competition. Works must be 40 minutes or longer, completed since January 2025, and include English subtitles. The submission deadline is August 17 at 23:59 Japan time, and the festival will take place from November 13 to 18 in Nagoya. Submissions are made through the official ANIAFF website or FilmFreeway.
Technical requirements and submission format for animators 🎬
To participate, creators must ensure their feature film includes English subtitles, a key detail for the international jury. The minimum duration of 40 minutes separates this category from short films. The festival recommends preparing high-resolution footage and reviewing timecodes before uploading the file. The FilmFreeway platform allows submission management, but it is advisable to check the Japanese time zone to avoid delays. Works released before January 2025 are not accepted.
The deadline that will make more than one animator sweat ⏰
Sure, because nothing motivates an animator more than an August deadline and a November festival. Just when the Japanese heat is at its peak, it's time to compress renders, translate dialogues, and pray that the subtitles have no errors. But don't worry: if the film is 39 minutes long, better extend the credits with team photos. That adds up and no one complains. After all, Nagoya in autumn is well worth a sleepless night.