Fredrikstad Animation Festival

“Why should I work for someone else’s film when I can do my own film?” 💥 From being the kid in class who was good at drawing to becoming an internationally recognized, award-winning stop-motion director, Anna Mantzaris’ career path wasn’t planned from the start, but it was built step by step. During the last edition of REX Animation Festival, we had the pleasure of interviewing Anna and hearing about her incredible journey through art school in Norway, mastering her talent at the Royal College of Art in London, and bringing masterpieces that have traveled through animation festivals worldwide. Enjoy the full interview with Anna Mantzaris. Lin link in bio #Womeninanimation, #SwedishAnimation , #Stopmotion, #PuppetAnimation, #NorthernAnimationArtist

FAF launches Storyline Production Pitch - A new platform for Nordic-Baltic Feature Animation.🎉 • Live pitch presentations before a curated audience of industry professionals. • One-on-one meetings with decision-makers matched to each project needs. • Networking access to leading European animation professionals. • Eligibility for the 100,000 NOK Storyline Grand Prize - awarded to one project to support activities any services at @storylinestudios.no

“The best feedback I ever got was women saying they could see themselves in my work.” ❤️ Jenni uses her art to tackle tough topics like mental health. Her moving paintings help express those feelings that are usually hard to put into words. In our latest interview, Jenni talks about her creative evolution, her time at RCA, and the transition from making films about her own experiences to her latest project, “Dollhouse Elephant.” Link in bio #Womeninanimation #FinnishAnimation #Stopmotion #2DAnimation #HandDrawnAnimation NorthernAnimationArtist

FAF 26 submissions close at the end of the week! By submitting to FAF, your film will also be considered for @viborganimationfestival , @rexanimation , and @blonfest ! Plus, Nordic-Baltic films at FAF will be eligible for the new @fipresci international critics award! Submit on @filmfreeway before May 3rd! Open to all professional, student and commissioned works under 30 mins

There are three chances to see the Best of FAF 25! Watch the award winning films from the Fredrikstad Animation Festival in Fredrikstad, Trollhättan and Oslo in the next couple of weeks! We hope to see you at one of the screenings. Tickets for the Oslo event will be on sale on the @vegascene website, in Trollhättan the program is included with @trollywoodanimationfest accreditation and free at @hoipolloi.bar !

Joni Männistö told us about his journey from a kid surrounded by VHS tapes to an award-winning animator. He shared what it was like studying in Turku under the legendary Priit Pärn, where he learned to ditch dialogue and let the movement do the talking. Joni gets real about the lack of funding in the indie scene and the struggle to get projects off the ground. In this interview, he talks about his school years and his creative process from the very first spark of an idea to the freedom of knowing that in animation, nothing can hold your imagination back. 🔗 Link in bio! #FinnishAnimation #Stopmotion #PuppetAnimation #2DAnimation #HandDrawnAnimation

TIME IS TICKING ⏰ The FAF26 submission deadline is fast approaching. Whether you're a seasoned filmmaker, or submitting for the first time, this is your moment to share your latest creation. Don't miss the opportunity, submissions close 3 May. Link to submit in our bio 🔗

From curiosity to craft. From doubt to mastery. 🎭Endre Skandfer opens up about a lifetime devoted to animation, from the Norwegian classics that sparked his obsession, to the grueling realities of feature film production, and why animation remains one of the best magic tricks ever. Watch Endre's full story on Northern Animation Network YouTube channel 🎬✨ Clip from Dunder (2016)

“Animation is where nothing is impossible.” ✨ In our latest video interview, Karla Nor Holmbäck (@karlaholmback ) reflects on her journey from childhood sketches to building entire worlds through film. She shares what draws her to storytelling for children, the joy of working in creative communities, and the challenges of shaping ideas over time. From quiet inspiration in nature to the realities of funding and collaboration, Karla offers a thoughtful and personal glimpse into the life of an animation director. Discover a story about curiosity, connection, and creating something meaningful for others. 🎬 Watch the full interview on Northern Animation Youtube channel – link in bio. #Womeninanimation #DanishAnimation #NorthernAnimationArtist

Photo recap: Masterclass & screening at Vega Scene ✨ A wonderful evening around animation and storytelling ✨ On March 19th, as part of the Francophonie Festival, we had the pleasure of hosting this special event. A huge thank you to Clémence Madeleine-Perdrillat for her inspiring masterclass and for sharing the beautiful "My Life in Versailles" with us. A sensitive, poetic and deeply human film - and a heroine like Violette who stays with you long after the screening. Thank you @animfest and @vegascene for this great event!

“It’s like stepping into someone’s brain.” 🧠 We sat down with the visionary Niki Lindroth von Bahr to talk about the strange, miniature worlds she builds. From the struggle of paying rent as an indie artist to the magic of the international festival circuit, Niki gets real about what it takes to make “genius films” in a chaotic industry. Explore the dark, beautiful, and deeply human side of animation. 🎬 Watch the full interview at the link in our bio. #NikiLindrothVonBahr #StopMotion #AnimationLife #IndieFilm #ArtistTalk Womeninanimation SwedishAnimation Stopmotion PuppetAnimation NorthernAnimationArtist

Fredrikstad Animation Festival 2026 to welcome FIPRESCI’s first official Critics’ Jury Fredrikstad Animation Festival is proud to announce a new collaboration with the International Federation of Film Critics (FIPRESCI). At the festival’s 30th edition, taking place October 21–25, 2026, FAF will welcome its first official FIPRESCI Critics’ Jury. The three-member international jury — including one representative from Norway’s national critics association, Norsk Filmkritikerlag — will present the FIPRESCI Award to a short film from the Nordic-Baltic Competition. Founded in 1925, FIPRESCI is a global network of film critics from over 50 countries. The federation promotes film art, supports emerging cinema, and organizes around 80 juries each year at major festivals such as Cannes, Berlin, and Venice. Fredrikstad Animation Festival will be the first animation festival to host a FIPRESCI critics’ jury since the federation’s collaboration with Annecy International Animation Film Festival was paused in 2022. “In 2026, animated cinema can no longer be considered “niche” or “children’s content”. Animated features such as Flee, Arco, The Siren or Flow have proven that the medium is limitless in what stories it can tell, and these productions are now showcased regularly in Cannes, Venice, and many other big events. To have FIPRESCI acknowledge that medium by establishing new jury collaborations feels like a legitimate move in the wake of this new era of the federation”, says Ahmed Shawky, President of FIPRESCI. “As the leading festival for animation in the Nordics and a festival with strong growth in recent years, it is with pride that Fredrikstad Animation Festival can expand our competition program with a FIPRESCI prize”, says Anders Narverud Moen, Festival Director. “Internationally recognized film critics will have the opportunity to discover our film program, and the increased presence of critics will in turn give greater recognition to the films and filmmakers presented at the festival”. ©FIPRESCI 2026