Fantoche International Animation Film Festival

Overview

Fantoche 2026 is open to films applying all animation techniques, including combinations of live action and animation, lasting a maximum of forty minutes and completed after 31st December 2024. Fantoche is Switzerland’s most prestigious animated film festival and is one of the leading events for the medium in the world. It takes place every year in September over the course of six days in the Swiss town of Baden. The festival, which benefits from broad media coverage, attracts both industry professionals and the general public – over 30,000 ticket sales were recorded in 2024 . The diverse festival programme comprises more than 300 animated short and features films from around the world every year. The schedule is augmented by a wide range of presentations, panels, lectures and exhibitions. Each year, Fantoche holds both an international and a Swiss competition for short animated productions. Under the guidance of the curators, it addresses and explores an array of key themes and shines the spotlight on new, multimedia-based and interactive forms of animation. Fantoche maintains various partnerships with national and international cultural events and festivals, and is involved in cultural exchange throughout the year. Fantoche is an officially accredited festival for both the Academy Awards® and BAFTA, qualifying selected films for consideration.

Last updated Sep 18, 2026

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FilmFreeway community

• Filmmaker

  Un festival qui prend le temps de donner la parole à toustes les réalisateurices en competition. C'est un lieu de parole et d'échange fantastique, autant sur scène que dans les bains bien chauds au milieu du village... Merci pour l'accueil et à l'année prochaine! :-)

• Filmmaker

  An amazing Festival with great values and a beautiful selection from the currators. With and without a film a wonderful place to deep dive into the animation world and get to know the ppl behind the films!

• Filmmaker

  I loved being part of Fantoche in the Panorama Program! The team was incredibly welcoming, I met wonderful people, and the program was very inspiring. I hope to come back in the future.

• Filmmaker

  Great festival, great people, great events, great screenings! Had a lod of joy participating and got to meet many nice and talented people (also outside the field of animation). The selected filmmakers had a lot of opportunities to talk about their film to the audience (after each screening and during the artist brunch). I felt taken care of, and Baden is also great to explore. Also loved the idea of having a parallel exhibition of animation artefacts (please continue this!), which for me was a great chance to showcase my creative process and tools to an audience.

• Filmmaker

  Amazing festival. Great programming, numerous chances to catch everything, multiple Q&A opportunities, and the accomodations and communication are above and beyond most festivals I've encountered. Really hope to come back one day.

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