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Brussels International Animation Film Festival

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Brussels International Animation Film Festival
Image
LocationBrussels, Belgium
Founded1982; 44 years ago (1982)
AwardsAnima Grand Prix
LanguageEnglish, French, Dutch
Websiteanimafestival.be

The Brussels International Animation Film Festival, commonly known as Anima Festival,[1] is an annual animation film festival held in Brussels, Belgium. Founded in 1982, it has been an Academy Award qualifying festival since 2014, with its international animated short film Grand Prix winner becoming eligible for the Oscars.

History

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The festival was founded in 1982 in Brussels by Philippe Moins under the name Rencontres du cinéma d'animation (Animation Film Encounters).[2][3] The inaugural edition was organized while Moins was completing his civilian service with the Confédération Parascolaire and was held at the Riches-Claires Cultural Centre, where it attracted an audience of 1,500 people.[4][5][6]

Throughout its history, the event underwent multiple name changes, including Semaine de l'animation and Festival du dessin animé,[5][7][8] before officially adopting the name Anima in 2003.[9][10] In 2014, Anima became an Academy Award–qualifying festival after receiving recognition from the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences.[11][12] Since then, the Grand Prix winner of its international animated short film competition has been eligible for consideration in the Academy Award for Best Animated Short Film category.[11][13][14][15] That same year, founder Philippe Moins stepped down from the festival's leadership after 33 years, remaining involved thereafter as an artistic consultant.[16] In 2021, the festival's 40th edition was held entirely online because of the COVID-19 pandemic. Geoblocked to viewers within Belgium, the virtual event offered more than 250 films on demand alongside live online broadcasts.[17][18] Additionally, Anima is recognized as a qualifying event for the British Academy Film Awards, with selected British short films becoming eligible for the BAFTA Award for Best Short Animation.[19][20]

The festival's attendance increased from 1,500 visitors at its inaugural edition in 1982 to 5,000 in 1983, before ranging between 5,000 and 10,000 annually from 1984 to 1991.[3] Attendance surpassed 20,000 after the festival relocated to Passage 44 in 1992, reached 35,000 by 1996, and totaled 35,000 spectators during both the 2009 and 2010 editions.[3] By 2025, the festival attracted more than 30,000 visitors for a second consecutive year.[21]

References

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  1. ↑ Loo, Egan (2 March 2010). "Mai Mai Miracle, Yona Win at French, Belgian Fests". Anime News Network. Archived from the original on 6 August 2026. Retrieved 6 August 2026.
  2. ↑ Lorfèvre, Alain (18 April 2019). "L'histoire d'Anima s'affiche". La Libre Belgique (in French). ISSN 1379-6992. Archived from the original on 5 August 2026. Retrieved 5 August 2026.
  3. 1 2 3 Stiers, Didier (4 March 2011). "En chiffres… 1982 Naissance des Rencontres du cinéma d'animation. Le centre culturel des Riches-Claires". Le Soir (in French). ISSN 1375-5668. Archived from the original on 6 August 2026. Retrieved 6 August 2026.
  4. ↑ Moins, Philippe (1 January 1997). "Bruxelles, The Festival". Animation World Network. Archived from the original on 5 August 2026. Retrieved 5 August 2026.
  5. 1 2 Lorfèvre, Alain (10 February 2021). "40e Festival Anima : les souvenirs animés de Doris Cleven et Philippe Moins". La Libre Belgique (in French). ISSN 1379-6992. Archived from the original on 5 August 2026. Retrieved 5 August 2026.
  6. ↑ Lorfèvre, Alain (23 February 2001). "L'animation en (r)évolution". La Libre Belgique (in French). ISSN 1379-6992. Archived from the original on 5 August 2026. Retrieved 5 August 2026.
  7. ↑ Moins, Philippe (1 January 1997). "Bruxelles, le Festival". Animation World Network (in French). Archived from the original on 6 April 2025. Retrieved 6 April 2025.
  8. ↑ Stiers, Didier (11 March 2019). "« Il fallait être fou pour créer Anima ! »". Le Soir (in French). ISSN 1375-5668. Archived from the original on 5 August 2026. Retrieved 5 August 2026.
  9. ↑ Godfrey, Leigh (20 June 2002). "The Brussels Animation Festival Becomes Anima 2003". Animation World Network. Archived from the original on 5 August 2026. Retrieved 5 August 2026.
  10. ↑ Lorfèvre, Alain (18 February 2003). "Le dessin animé plus BD que jamais". La Libre Belgique (in French). ISSN 1379-6992. Archived from the original on 5 August 2026. Retrieved 5 August 2026.
  11. 1 2 Wolfe, Jennifer (10 January 2014). "'The Wind Rises' to Open Belgium's Anima Festival". Animation World Network. Archived from the original on 5 August 2026. Retrieved 5 August 2026.
  12. ↑ Steffens, Eric (22 February 2020). "Quelques idées pour occuper vos enfants pendant les vacances de Carnaval". VRT (in French). Flemish Community. Archived from the original on 5 August 2026. Retrieved 5 August 2026.
  13. ↑ "143 films stellen het programma van ANIMA samen". VRT (in French). Flemish Community. 28 February 2014. Archived from the original on 5 August 2026. Retrieved 5 August 2026.
  14. ↑ Schavemaker, Peter (9 March 2014). "'Futon' Takes Home Grand Prix of Anima". Animation Magazine. ISSN 1041-617X. Archived from the original on 5 August 2026. Retrieved 5 August 2026.
  15. ↑ "Festival Anima : des animations polonaises en sélection officielle et en compétition". Polish Institute (in French). Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Poland. 23 January 2026. Archived from the original on 6 August 2026. Retrieved 6 August 2026.
  16. ↑ "Philippe Moins, l'un des créateurs du festival Anima, démissionne". Le Soir (in French). 3 September 2014. ISSN 1375-5668. Archived from the original on 6 August 2026. Retrieved 6 August 2026.
  17. ↑ Stiers, Didier (26 January 2021). "Anima online, mais Anima quand même !". Le Soir (in French). ISSN 1375-5668. Archived from the original on 5 August 2026. Retrieved 5 August 2026.
  18. ↑ Vyncke, Jef (12 February 2021). "Brusselse Anima Festival viert 40e verjaardag noodgedwongen online, maar het wordt geen feestje in mineur". VRT (in French). Flemish Community. Archived from the original on 5 August 2026. Retrieved 5 August 2026.
  19. ↑ "L'appel à films d'Anima 2026 est ouvert !". Cinergie (in French). 3 June 2025. ISSN 0774-7020. Archived from the original on 6 August 2026. Retrieved 6 August 2026.
  20. ↑ "Anima 2026". Animation World Network. 14 November 2025. Archived from the original on 6 August 2026. Retrieved 6 August 2026.
  21. ↑ "Le festival Anima poursuit sa route au-dessus des 30.000 visiteurs, "Totto-Chan" gagne les deux prix principaux: le palmarès en vidéos". L'Avenir (in French). 10 March 2025. Archived from the original on 5 August 2026. Retrieved 5 August 2026.
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