The New York Short Animation Festival (NYSAF) celebrates creativity and craftsmanship in animation — whether it’s a student’s very first project or a professional-level production. We believe that every creative effort deserves to be seen, and we are dedicated to supporting and showcasing animators at every stage of their careers.

To maximize exposure for participants, NYSAF is structured across four seasonal competitions, each followed by two online screenings highlighting the work created during that period. All seasonal winners automatically advance to our annual competition, where the year’s most outstanding animations are selected for an in-person screening in New York City. We also host a special Jury Selection screening, bringing the total to ten screenings throughout the year.

We are proud to partner with Cine Universitario UACJ in Mexico. Through this partnership, there may also be additional screening opportunities in Mexico, offered by separate invitation and notification after the festival. This gives participants a chance to expand their reach and share their work with international audiences beyond New York.

Fairness is at the heart of NYSAF. To ensure meaningful competition, submissions are separated by age group, allowing participants to compete alongside peers at similar stages. Individual and group categories are open exclusively to college-level and professional animators, while younger creators in pre-school and elementary school can submit for free, encouraging them to explore their creativity from an early age.

What truly sets NYSAF apart is our commitment to visibility. We feature every submitter’s work on our social media platforms, honoring the time, vision, and dedication behind each project — whether or not it is selected for screening.

NYSAF is more than just a competition — it’s a platform for animators to share their stories, connect with audiences, and be seen in New York, Mexico, and beyond.