Animation – not just cartoons for children. The Animocje Festival kicks off in Bydgoszcz
The International Animated Film Festival Animocje in Bydgoszcz will take place from April 21 to 26, 2016. It is one of the most important events in Poland dedicated to the art of animation. Since 2011, the festival has consistently built its position as a space for presenting ambitious, auteur animated cinema. One of its key goals is to challenge the stereotype that animation is exclusively entertainment for children. The Animocje Festival is supported by European funds, and its partner is the Kujawy Pomorze Film Fund.
Animocje showcases films that explore new forms of artistic expression, experimenting with technique and narrative. The organizers emphasize the importance of creative courage and innovative formal and visual solutions that help reveal animation as a fully-fledged field of cinematic art.
An important part of Animocje is the international competition for animated films, featuring productions from around the world. Participants have the opportunity to see the latest trends in animation and meet creators representing various styles and cultures. Awards are presented, including the Grand Prix and Best Polish Film. In addition to the Main Competition, there are also competitions such as Films for Children and Youth and Music Videos.
A notable element of the event is also a unique national award for achievements in dubbing, presented since 2014. This year’s recipient of the Marshal of the Kujawsko-Pomorskie Region Film Award is Zbigniew Suszyński. He will receive it on Sunday, April 26 at 5:00 PM at Music Cafe Szpulka (MCK Bydgoszcz). Suszyński is a well-known and respected dubbing actor and narrator – his voice can be heard in over 300 film and television productions as well as video games. He is also a dubbing director.
The festival program also includes screenings of feature-length and short films, workshops, meetings with creators, as well as exhibitions and concerts. The festival also highlights connections between animation and other fields such as music, visual arts, and video games. Past guests of the festival include Mariusz Wilczyński, Jerzy Armata, Nina Paley, Marc Riba and Anna Solanas, Marek Skrobecki, Monika Kuczyniecka, Jan Balej and Michael Carrington, Marta Pajek, Wiola Sowa, Kajetan Obarski, and many others.
The main part of the Animocje Festival takes place every spring, but the festival operates year-round and includes, among other things, screenings for children and special screenings for adult audiences. As part of the Animocje On Tour initiative, screenings and workshops are organized in cities across the region, including Bydgoszcz, Toruń, Więcbork, Chełmno, and Brześć Kujawski.
Paweł Jankowski
April 21, 2026