Nature Takes Over the Silver Screen: Animest.21 Explores the Connection between Humans and the Environment during October 2-11

After last year’s anniversary edition reaffirmed the unique strength of our community, the Animest International Animation Film Festival returns to the big screens of Bucharest for its 21st edition during October 2–11, 2026. This year, we are inviting our audiences to explore the profound connections between humans and the world around us with NATURE as the central theme. Bridging the mysteries of ancient woods, the fragile balance of ecosystems, and fighting for conservation, is, of course, animated art – yet again providing an opportunity for us to reconnect and increase our awareness of the real world.

Animest.21 — Animated by Nature passes are available in the Ten Stops and Full Trip versions in limited quantity on the Eventbook platform.

Anima Natura: What Lies Beyond the Asphalt?

What does it mean, to truly perceive nature? To be overwhelmed by its force, demystify its hidden rhythms, take responsibility for its protection? In the age of digital and virtual realities, can we humans still tune into the organic pulse of the planet that hosts us? These are just some of the questions that Animest’s 21st edition theme proposes – through a rigorous selection of international animated films bringing forward vibrant landscapes, fantastic creatures, and important ecological messages in a unique way, just ripe for conversation.

“Animest 2026 is a celebration of animated films and of community reconnection, as always in October. This year's edition entices us to turn our gaze back to nature, but also to the community we are a part of. Nowadays, daily life is increasingly distancing us from one another, yet Animest remains a space for communion, dialogue, and the joy of discovering remarkable animated films together. Join our celebration of the stories, creativity and community growing around animation, in Bucharest,” said Mihai Mitrică, Animest artistic director and festival programmer.

The three short film collections in the thematic section (Living with Nature, Human Nature and Nature), curated by Mitrică alongside French journalist and film historian Alexis Hunot, will surely deliver the duo’s trademark: an exceptional emotional visual foray into stories that challenge certainties and invite dialogue.

The thematic section’s captivating ecosystem includes Wild Summon (directed by Karni Arieli and Saul Freed, 2023), a hybrid eco-fantasy that has already made the major international festival rounds, with a Cannes Palme d'Or nomination and Oscar shortlist inclusion to show for it. The short film, narrated by legendary artist Marianne Faithfull, brings an authentic and arresting visual concept to the silver screen: the life cycle of wild salmon, transposed into human form. The selection also includes the classic The Village (directed by Mark Baker, 1993), nominated for an Oscar: a short film where satire and dark humor expose the flaws of human nature as seen in an isolated and claustrophobic village whose hypocritical residents are constantly spying on their neighbors.

Winner of an Oscar (and 60 more trophies), the short documentary Ryan (directed by Chris Landreth, 2004) will also grace Animest.21 screens. This is an exploration of the tragic decline of Canadian animation pioneer Ryan Larkin, who ended up on Montreal’s skid row. The director transforms the characters' psychological traumas into physical deformities using psycho-realism – a visual aesthetic that gives shape to a profound meditation on human nature and vulnerability. Another multi-awarded gem to look forward to during Animest.21 is Je criais contre la vie. Ou pour elle (I Was Crying Out at Life. Or For It, directed by Vergine Keaton, 2009), an animated collage-style drama that turns the laws of nature on their head: a herd of deer begins to hunt the dogs that had been chasing them, brutally transforming prey into predator. Styled from 19th century engravings, this short film is permeated by an apocalyptic, suprarealist aesthetic where new landscapes arise and disintegrate as the chase continues.

“Our selection proposes three approaches to vital topics as portrayed through animation: revisiting our relationship with the environment, reflecting on human nature, and imagining what nature would be like in the absence of humanity,” explains selector Alexis Hunot. “Our relationship with the world around us is complex: we owe nature our protection as thanks for allowing us our very existence; yet, every day, we destroy it without even realizing it. The art of animation helps us illustrate, physically and directly, this connection – nature is a mirror to humans’ anguish and negative behaviors. We designed this year’s thematic section as a retrospective meant to help us understand our connection to nature in new, different ways.”

Nature Takes Over Animest.21’s Visual Identity

Created by Luiz Stockler, illustrator, animation director and member of the festival's artistic team, the Animest.21 visual is an organic explosion of textures and shapes where nature is not just a setting, but a living force set to reclaim urban spaces. Known for his collaborations with top studios, brands, and publications such as Google or The Atlantic, but also for his prominent presence on the international festival circuit, the Brazilian-Welsh artist has captured on this edition's poster an experience that the audience will surely by extremely familiar with:

“Having lived in an apartment block in Bucharest, I remembered that constant urge to collect plants and bring as much of the outside world indoors as possible. This visual explores that playful compulsion of transforming an urban living room into a lush, domestic sanctuary where nature and character meet and form small moments of connection, like holding a little caterpillar in your hand,” shared Luiz.

The urban spaces that you can expect to join Animest in this year are the Peasant’s Museum Cinema, Eforie Cinematheque, Cervantes Institute, and CINETic. More surprises from our 21st edition coming soon!

Animest PLUS: A Fertile Environment for New Romanian Animation

For over two decades, Animest has been carefully cultivating the local animation ecosystem, helping bold ideas take root and develop organically on the international stage. Through industry programs reunited under Animest PLUS, the festival offers a fertile environment for creators in Romania, with mentorship and invaluable resources that new projects need to grow. This mission continues organically during this festival edition as we encourage artists to bring their ideas to life through two of our now most anticipated programs: the TOON SCRIPTS TV series script competition (organized with PRO TV support) and the PITCH, PLEASE! short film development workshop.

Created specifically to encourage the production of animated series, TOON SCRIPTS seeks the most promising local concepts and scripts, offering screenwriters an excellent platform to launch, get mentorship, and increase visibility on a rapidly expanding market.

Dedicated to creators with an animated short film project in development, PITCH, PLEASE! is a hands-on program that helps participants refine their ideas under the guidance of international experts and to learn how to successfully pitch them to industry producers and financiers.

Creators, join the Animest PLUS ecosystem until September 7 – official regulations and application forms await on animest.ro/pitch-please-project and animest.ro/toon-scripts!

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The Animest Festival is a project of the Animest Association, co-financed by the Administration of the National Cultural Fund (AFCN).

This project does not officially represent the AFCN’s stance, nor may AFCN be held responsible for the festival’s content or outcomes – these are fully under the beneficiary’s responsibility.

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