OPEN October 1, 2025 - December 1, 2025
The Happy Valley Animation Festival (HVAF) will return for its sixth year with events beginning on March 26, 2026.
Call Information and Deadline
Call for Entries: October 1, 2025 - December 1, 2025
Submission Deadline: December 1st, 2025
Event Dates
March 26, 2026 | Official Selection Screenings
March 27, 2026 | Showcase of Award Winners
March 28, 2026 | Palmer Museum Screening
About:
The Happy Valley Animation Fest takes place in State College, PA (Happy Valley) and is an open international animation competition that seeks to showcase animated works in a range of categories. HVAF is screened and exhibited locally and throughout the Pennsylvania State University (University Park) as well as online. We encourage submissions by students, early career, and practicing professional artists, designers, and filmmakers in any of the three categories that include: Animated Short Films, Experimental Animation, and Animated Motion Graphics & Design.
How To Submit:
There is no entry fee for HVAF. Submissions will be accepted via FilmFreeway and Festhome.
Link to Submit via FilmFreeway: http://filmfreeway.com/HVAF
Link to Submit via Festhome: https://festhome.com/festival/hvaf
Categories:
Animated Short Films: (Open and Student Categories)
This category is for animated short films. The Animated Films Category is open to include all forms of contemporary and tradition forms of animation types and techniques including: 2d and 3d cg, live action, hybrid animation, hand-drawn cel, claymation, stop frame, etc.
Experimental Animation: (Open Category)
This category is for experimental animated projects and/or experimental non-narrative based animations including: expanded cinema, projection mapping, projections in the built environment, experimental dance and theatre, visual and new media arts, non-narrative abstract animations, cinemagraphs, zoetropes, gifs, etc.
Animated Media & Motion Design: (Open and Student Categories)
This category is for animated motion graphics, digital design and media work. The Animated Media and Motion Design Category is open to include all forms of animation based digital art and media design projects including: motion graphics, visual effects, motion posters, cinemagraphs, ar/vr interactive experiences, mobile design, games, web animation and gifs, speculative design, commercial or public service announcement, music video, animated visualizations and information graphics, etc.
Animated Documentary: (Open and Student Categories)
This category is for animated documentary (anidoc) work. The animated Documentary category is open to all moving image forms that combines animation and documentary.