santa maria da feira film festival
Thorn, Portugal
74
Tier BScreenings
Festival dossier
cinanima - international animated film festival
Espinho, Portugal · Est. 1976 · High structural score (80–100) for legitimacy and industry clout — not limited to Oscar-qualifying festivals
Espinho, Portugal
100
Legitimacy ScoreShould I submit?
Strong legitimacy signals
Tier A score for legitimacy and industry clout. Still confirm deadlines, fees, and categories on the festival site before paying.
- Oscar Qualifying Festival
- 50 years of verifiable history
- Physical screenings at Centro Multimeios de Espinho
Overview
Cinanima is the oldest animated film festival in Portugal and the third oldest in the world, founded in 1976 in Espinho, and stands as one of Europe's longest-running competitive events dedicated exclusively to animation. It showcases a diverse international program of short films, feature films, student works, and hybrid-language animations from over 140 countries, while actively promoting Portuguese creators and challenging the perception that animation is only for children. The festival is notably an Oscar™-qualifying event, where its Grand Prize winner for short films becomes eligible for nomination for the Best Animated Short Film at the Academy Awards.
Last updated Aug 21, 2026
Legitimacy Analysis
Positive Indicators (+74 pts)
- Oscar Qualifying Festival
- 50 years of verifiable history
- Physical screenings at Centro Multimeios de Espinho
- 2 verified pro signals
- Verified trusted status
- Legitimacy signals outweigh concerns (5 vs 0)
- Major accreditation with net-positive trust signals
Red Flags (-0 pts)
No red flags found
Trust Signals
Positive Signals
- Named venues with external verification
- Documented history with archived programs
Festival Details
Founded
1976
Venue
Centro Multimeios de Espinho
Screenings
Physical screenings confirmed
Award Categories
1
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At a glance
How scoring works
Scores are calculated from structural indicators: accreditations, physical screenings, award category count, submission frequency, and acceptance rate. Higher scores reflect more verifiable legitimacy signals.
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