Screenings
This year the Ottawa International Animation Festival received a total of 3026 entries from 107 different countries. Of those, seven feature films and 74 short films, including Animated Series, were chosen for competition.
In addition, 15 films were selected for the Canadian Student Competition, 11 panorama films were chosen to represent the efforts of the Canadian animation community, and 10 films were selected for the Detours program to highlight stories and regions of the world that are typically overlooked.
Official Competition
The Official Competition is a festival highlight, with short animated films in 7 categories, and animated feature films vying for an award.
An international, six-person jury will be handing out prizes on Saturday, September 26th.
The Official Competition is a festival highlight, showcasing the best new shorts, features, and series from around the world, highlighting fresh voices and bold ideas in animation.
The Competition section consists of works selected by the festival programming team (Chris Robinson, Devin Hartley, Zachary Porter, Keltie Duncan) across seven short film and feature categories.
Films selected for the Animated Short, Commissioned, and Student categories are grouped into five Short Film Competition programs, which screen throughout the five days of the festival.
There are also separate Competition programs for Platform Animation (formerly Animated Series), Young Audiences (7+), Teen Audiences (13+), and the Canadian Student Competition.
The films selected for the Animated Feature Competition each screen separately.
Official Competition Awards and Prizes
Three official juries judge the Short, Feature, and Kids Competition screenings during the festival. The Short and Feature jury members are chosen from the international animation community. The Kids jury is composed of children from the Ottawa area.
On the Saturday evening of the festival, the Juries announce the award-winning films during the OIAF’s Awards Ceremony.
On Sunday evening, the festival closes with screenings of the “Best of Ottawa,” made from a selection of the Festival’s award-winning short films and fan-favourites.
OIAF 2026 Awards
Grand Prize for Short Animation
Grand Prize for Feature Animation
Category Awards:
Animated Short
Bento Box Award for Best Student Animation
Commissioned Animation
Platform Animation (formerly Animated Series)
Young Audiences 7+
Teen Audiences 13+
Craft Awards:
Script
Design
XPpen Award for Best Animation Technique
Sound Design
Other Awards:
Public Prize
Awarded for the best film of the short film competitions as selected by the audience.
CMF Award for Best Canadian Animation Film
Awarded for the most outstanding Canadian production in competition and Canadian panorama screenings.
Best Canadian Student Animation
Awarded for the most outstanding Canadian student animation work
Hélène Tanguay Award for Humour
Named for a long-time champion of the OIAF, this award is presented to the work that conveys the best sense of wild, dark or absurd humour.
The OIAF Award Statues
The OIAF awards are designed by local artist Tick Tock Tom, with an animation originally created by New York animator George Griffin.
Tick Tock Tom
Tick Tock Tom creates scrap metal sculptures from broken machines and discarded technology. His works are static representations of motion and character that create new life from old parts. He uses his sculptures to explore the connection between ideas and expression with both sensitivity and humour. Tom’s work has appeared in galleries and at events in Ottawa, Toronto, Vancouver and Montreal. When not creating his own work, Tom has built props for film and television productions. He has been designing awards and trophies for the Ottawa International Animation Festival since 2008, and his metal floral bouquets have been used at weddings. He’s not sure where this metal sculpting adventure is taking him, but is having fun getting there.
Best of Ottawa 2026
Feature Grand Prize Winner
Sunday, September 27th, 5:00 pm
ByTowne Cinema
Shorts
Sunday, September 27th, 7:00 pm
ByTowne Cinema
Shorts
Sunday, September 27th, 9:00 pm
ByTowne Cinema
The Best of Ottawa program showcases audience favourites and award winners from the 2026 Ottawa International Animation Festival competition. The screenings offer a sampling of exceptional animated short films that explore moments of humour, profundity, and inspiration. The works in this collection provide a unique cross-section of some of the best contemporary film artists from around the world.
Out-of-Competition Programs
The out-of-competition programs feature selections of outstanding new animated short films from across Canada and around the world. These programs are a companion series to the wide range of techniques and voices found in the Official Competition.
Special Screenings & Retrospectives
Curated by the OIAF programming team and members of the international animation community, the Special Screenings and Retrospectives section features programs highlighting the best of the past and present, showcasing the endless potential animation has to offer.
Special screenings bring together themed programs, showcases of specific animation techniques, premieres, and spotlights that offer unique ways to experience animated storytelling.
Retrospectives delve into the work of influential creators, studios, and movements, offering audiences the opportunity to rediscover classics and explore how they continue to shape animation today.