FAN – Festivals Animation Network is a major new European collaboration co-funded by Creative Europe – MEDIA, bringing together five leading animation festivals: Animafest Cyprus (Cyprus), Animasyros (Greece), CINANIMA (Portugal), IMAGINARIA (Italy), and Prime the Animation! (Spain).
FAN’s mission is to grow a diverse, international audience, as well as celebrate auteur animation and support emerging talents. Sustainability, inclusion, and representativeness are core values to this mission and guide the overall implementation of FAN’s projects with innovative and concrete actions.
FAN Tour: A showcase of European animation FAN Tour is a new international initiative that takes curated animated film programs by European directors to audiences around the world. It highlights the diversity and depth of Europe’s animated storytelling through two main programmes:
- FAN Masters: presenting acclaimed European auteur animation.
- FAN. Young European Talents: spotlighting emerging animators aged 18 to 30.
Each edition of FAN Tour is shaped by a unifying theme. The 2025 edition explored “Memory”, while 2026 will focus on “Freedom”.
The Award: FAN. Young European Talents In recognition of outstanding talent, the FAN. Young European Talents Award will be presented both in 2025 and 2026. The 2025 winner will be unveiled at Imaginaria – Animated Film Festival (August 17th to August 24th) in the picturesque town of Conversano (Italy).
The distinguished jury is composed of Deanna Morse (USA), Joanna Quinn (UK) and Tamás Patrovits (Hungary). The winner will receive a €5,000 FAN Cheque during the award ceremony on August 23rd to support their creative journey.
The future of European animation: On and off screen In addition to the FAN Tour, FAN has developed other initiatives:
- FRAME: A program dedicated to education and training, including hands-on workshops and the Annual International Meeting of Animation Trainers.
- Symposium – Perspectives on European Animation: A forum for critical reflection gathering scholars and artists.
- FAN Green: An ongoing commitment to environmental sustainability across all activities.
- FAN4ALL: A pledge to uphold inclusion, diversity, and accessibility, ensuring fair working conditions within the sector.
