Discover the Finest in Modern Animation at Anifilm in Liberec
Anifilm 2025 will highlight science fiction this year
For the very first time in its history, the Anifilm Festival will center around a science fiction theme, a genre that, similar to animation, is only limited by our imagination. In the upcoming program section, the festival’s jurors will personally showcase their work. Each evening, Liberec square will come alive with films, and at midnight, the audience can anticipate an exciting lineup of films. Children will have their own special film program called Animo, plus they’ll have the chance to create their own films during animation workshops. Besides watching films, attendees can relax at various exhibitions, concerts, and theatre performances throughout the festival.
Among the filmmakers, there are 34 competing short films featuring well-established names in animation, including Florence Miailhe, Gianluigi Toccafondo, Edmunds Jansons, Nicolas Gebbe, Joriko Mizuširi, Roberto Catani, Izabela Plucińska, and Olga and Priit Pärn. In this category, Czech films have a shot at winning a Festival Award thanks to works like Magdalena Hejzlar’s *Hun Tun*, Jan Saska’s *Hurricane*, Anastasia Falileieva’s *I Died in Irpin*, and Matúš Vizár’s *Free the Chickens*.
International Competition and Czech Horizon will showcase the latest works
The International Competition of Feature Films is one of the most exciting segments of Anifilm’s programming, awarding two prizes: one for films aimed at adults and one for films geared towards children and young audiences.
This Year, the Festival Has Chosen Five Films in Each Category
*Memoirs of a Conch Shell*, directed by the Australian Oscar-winning filmmaker Adam Elliot, is in the running for the adult category. French director Michel Hazanavicius, an Oscar winner, will present *The Most Precious Cargo*. French filmmaker Léonard Cohen is set to impress the jury with *Shades of Iraq*, while American Julian Glander will showcase *Boys Go to Jupiter*, and the British duo Stephen and Timothy Quay will present *Sanatorium on Eternity*. In the category for children and young viewers, Czech cinema will be represented by Kristina Dufková’s puppet film *Life to Eat*. Competing alongside her film are the Oscar-winning *The Cat’s Odyssey* by Latvian director Gintse Zilbalodis, the Japanese-French tale *The Phantom Cat Anzu* directed by Yoko Kuno and Nobuhiro Yamashita, and *The Savages* by Swiss director Claude Barras. Rounding out the five films in this category is *Angelo in the Mysterious Forest* by French directors Vincent Paronnaud and Alexis Ducord.
The international computer game competition will feature indie games alongside innovative works from studios unafraid to push boundaries in gaming. This year, the competition highlights the outstanding contributions from Czech and Slovak creators, including *Microcivilization*, *Playing Kafka*, and *Felvidek*. For the first time, there will also be a student game creation competition with 12 participants. This year’s VR competition will include seven projects, including the VR film *Ito Meikyu*, created by Boris Labbé, who won the main XR prize at the Venice festival last year.
The Home Competition, known as Czech Horizon, will present the latest Czech animation across five categories. The Animation Film Council (RAF) will determine the prizes for this section, with results announced during the festival’s opening ceremony.
What activities are scheduled for this weekend?
The festival features a diverse program that includes various lectures, workshops, masterclasses, networking events, and roundtable discussions.
This year’s festival hub will once again be the Liberec castle, which should be the first stop for every Anifilm visitor. Here, attendees can acquire festival accreditations and tickets, and view several exhibitions.
Other locations for the festival activities include Cinema City, the Small Theatre, the Naive Theatre, Pavilion I in the Exhibition Grounds, the Liebieg Palace, the North Bohemian Museum, the Grandhotel Zlatý lev, Dr. E. Beneš Square, and the Regional Gallery Liberec.
Anifilm International Festival 2025
Anifilm 2025—now in its 24th edition—brings together the very best of global animation. Over six days, Liberec will host films, VR experiences, games, hands-on workshops, exhibitions, concerts, and theatre performances, all centered around this year’s science-fiction theme.
Dates & Main Venue
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When: May 6–11, 2025
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Main Hub: Liberec Castle
Additional festival venues include Cinema City, Malý divadlo, Regional Gallery Liberec, and more.
Theme
Science Fiction
All selected works—whether on screen, in VR, or in gaming—explore speculative worlds, futuristic ideas, and technological visions.
Competition & Awards
International Feature Film Competition
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Showcases the latest animated works in two age groups: Adults and Children
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Two awards per group (four awards total)
Program Categories
Anifilm 2025 features eight distinct categories, including:
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International Competition (feature and short films)
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Animo (dedicated program for children)
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VR Experiences
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Computer Games
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Animation Workshops (create-your-own-film sessions)
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Retrospectives & Homages
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Exhibitions (animation art, installations)
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Live Events (concerts & theatre inspired by animation)
Special Guests
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Michel Hazanavicius (Oscar-winning director)
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Adam Elliot (Oscar-winning animator)
These acclaimed filmmakers will present screenings, lead Q&As, and share insights into their work.
Interactive & Family Offerings
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Animo Film Program: curated animation screenings for young audiences
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Hands-On Workshops: children and families can try their hand at making animated films
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Gaming Zone: play and discuss the latest in animation-driven computer games
Beyond the Screen
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Exhibitions: animation art and design displays
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Concerts: live music scores and animation soundtracks
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Theatre Shows: stage performances inspired by animated worlds
For full schedules, ticketing, and detailed venue maps, visit the official Anifilm website. Enjoy a week of innovation, inspiration, and imagination!
