Animation Festivals Directory

The Film Council of Greater Columbus promotes and celebrates independent filmmakers from around the globe through the Columbus International Film & Animation Festival (CIF+AF), education, and community outreach.

The Columbus International Film & Animation Festival was the first film festival in the United States and is the longest, continuously running film festival in North America. Started in 1950 with the first festival in 1952, our rich and diverse history has garnered respect among the community and the film industry at large.

Beginning with recognizing excellence in educational films the festival soon expanded to include documentaries and today’s festival received hundreds of entries from around the world of all types, including animation, experimental, student, and theatrical features. Past winners have included National Geographic, HBO, The National Film Board of Canada, Disney, PBS, and independent filmmakers of all stripes. Many of the films entered in the competition have gone on to be nominated and win Oscars, Emmy Awards and other international accolades. Our festival has become the premier event in Central Ohio for animation, social issues documentaries, and independent feature films.

Year established: 1950

Is this festival exclusively animation?: No - this is a film festival but with a specific animation category

Is there a marketplace at this festival?: No

Physical event or online?: Physical & Online Festival