OIAF 2026 puts Ottawa youth in the jury seat at the festival’s milestone edition

OTTAWA, Ont. — Ottawa’s youngest animation fans will help choose the winners at the Ottawa International Animation Festival (OIAF) this September, as the festival unveils its 2026 official selections for the Animation for Young Audiences 7+ and Animation for Teen Audiences 13+ during its 50th anniversary edition.

A Kids Jury of Ottawa-area animation enthusiasts ages 8 to 12 and teen festivalgoers ages 13 and up will watch the films live during the festival and select their favourites for the OIAF Awards Ceremony.

“One of my personal highlights at every OIAF is hearing the statements from the kids’ jury. Unlike the more polished, self-conscious adult juries, the kids offer wonderfully raw, unfiltered responses to the films they choose,” says OIAF’s artistic director Chris Robinson. “It’s both hilarious and touching to hear young minds uncover details and meanings that adults might miss. More than that, it gives kids a rare chance to develop critical thinking and to see animation as something deeper than passive screen entertainment. Hopefully, we’re encouraging the next generation of critics, programmers, and curators.”

The Animation for Young Audiences 7+ competition includes:

• Bats & Bugs (dir. Lena von Döhren | Switzerland)

• Candy Caries (dir. Tomiki Misato | Japan)

• Dance Film (dir. Kelly Gallagher | United States)

• En, ten, týky! (Eeny, Meeny, Miny, Moe!) (dir. Andrea Szelesová | Czech Republic, Slovakia)

• Hondenleven (A Dog’s Life) (dirs. Sophie Olga de Jong, Sytske Kok | Netherlands)

• Land of No Man (dirs. Muling Tzai, Olivia Lin | United States, Taiwan)

• O Jardim Mágico (The Magic Garden) (dirs. Carlon Hardt, Naira Carneiro | Brazil)

• Owsiankowy potwór (Porridge Monster) (dir. Izabela Plucińska | Poland, Germany, Azerbaijan)

• Pingvinas ir Balandis (Backstreet Birds) (dir. Gertrūda Nemčauskaitė | Lithuania)

• ? (dir. Anastasia Shtolko | Ukraine)

The OIAF 2026 Kids Jury includes Jack Chu, Alice Delgado, Mána Lemus-Heimberger, Deckard Maur, Auston Spalding, Alexandra van der Leeden and Orrin Forrest.

The Animation for Teen Audiences 13+ competition includes:

• Birds of Paradise (dirs. Nikita Greer, Abbey Collings | Canada)

• Blue Flavored (dir. Jett Ulysses | United States)

• Cabbage Daddy (dir. Grace An | Canada)

• Dekle, ki se ni balo medvedov (The Girl Who Wasn’t Afraid of Bears) (dir. Lea Vučko | Slovenia, Hungary, Croatia)

• Fish in My Stomach (dir. Yehor Holovkov | Ukraine)

• La comète (The Comet) (dir. Julie Charette | Canada)

• Srcolom (Heartwreck) (dir. Luka Vucić | Croatia)

• The Sky Was Candy (dir. Anh Tu Nguyen | Germany)

• Welcome to Starmart (dirs. Caz Shen, Vanessa Buice, Vinny Wang | United States)

• Wolpie Of The Woods (dir. Kat Messing | United States)

Teens attending the festival will have the opportunity to watch and judge these films during the Teens @ OIAF Day.

Winners in both competitions will be announced live at the OIAF Awards Ceremony on September 26, 2026, at the National Arts Centre in Ottawa.

About the Ottawa International Animation Festival

The Ottawa International Animation Festival (OIAF) is one of the world’s leading animation events and North America’s oldest animation festival. It has presented screenings, exhibits, workshops, and entertainment since 1976. Attracting artists, producers, students and animation fans from around the globe, the OIAF brings together art and industry to experience world-class animated works. OIAF’s 50th celebration runs from September 23 to September 27 at venues throughout downtown Ottawa. Festival passes are on sale now.