The Festival

Our story

The ASBL Folioscope organizes Anima, the Brussels International Animation Film Festival, each year. The festival showcases animated films exclusively, works created frame by frame, whether traditional cartoons, stop-motion using puppets or clay, or digital animation, rather than live-action footage. These films come from every corner of the globe and span all lengths, from short films to full length features, with programming designed for young children, families, adults and industry professionals alike. Anima is the only festival of its kind in Belgium. It takes place every year at the end of February, hosted at the Flagey building and, since 2024, also at the Marni Theater. The festival extends beyond Brussels too, with decentralized programs running in various locations across Wallonia and Flanders.

As one of Europe's leading animation festivals, Anima is Oscar® qualifying, meaning that the Grand Prix winner of the International Competition is automatically placed on the Oscar long list for Best Animated Short Film. Beyond its prestige, the festival is beloved for its warm, welcoming atmosphere, and of course, its pancakes.

Anima in few dates

2025

Anima receives the Brussels International Icon Award from visit.brussels, the Brussels promotion and communication agency dedicated to promoting tourism, culture and events in the Brussels-Capital Region.

2024

Anima becomes a BAFTA-qualifying festival. The BAFTA are the prestigious British Academy Film Awards.

2022

Anima is awarded the 2-star Ecodynamic Company label. This label, awarded by Brussels Environment, rewards and encourages companies, associations and institutions in Brussels that take action to reduce the impact of their activities on the environment.

2021

Anima organizes its first online edition on its Anima Online platform to bring its programming to their audiences from their homes during the Covid-19 pandemic.

2019

Publication of the book "Anima à l'affiche", written by Philippe Moins, founder of the Anima Festival. This book brings together all the festival posters produced since its creation, enriched with anecdotes, personal favourites, and outspoken reflections from a privileged witness to the festival’s history.

2017

Anima adds virtual reality animated films to its programming.

2013

Anima is recognized as a qualifying festival for the Oscar for Best Short Film by the Academy of Motion Pictures Arts and Sciences.

2011

Anima is named "Best International Event in Brussels" by visit.brussels, the Brussels-Capital Region's tourism communications agency.

2007

Anima set up in Flagey, after having organized several editions at Riches Claires, Palais des Congrès and Passage 44.

2003

The Festival changes its name to "Anima", while the professional meetings were renamed "Futuranima". The Festival is also recognized and subsidized by the Flemish Community. Since, the whole Festival communications have been trilingual, in French, Dutch and in English.

2000

The Festival organizes national and international competitions for short films. An audience prize is also awarded for feature films. At the same time, the Festival's first professional events are launched and grow over the years.

1990

The Festival changes its name and becomes "Festival du dessin animé et du film d’animation".

1988

The Folioscope association is created to perpetuate the organization of the Festival en is recognized and subsidized by the French Community, now called the Wallonia-Brussels Federation.

1984

The Festival welcomes Tim Burton and John Lasseter, then perfectly unknown.

1983

The Festival changes its name and becomes "La Semaine du dessin animé".

1982

The Festival owes its existence to Philippe Moins. The first edition of the Festival is called "Rencontres du cinéma d'animation" and takes place at Riches Claires in Brussels.