Open Call for the second edition of Black Sea Animation Workshop’25

BLACK SEA ANIMATION WORKSHOP’25
Where bold ideas from the Black Sea region come to life!

Are you an emerging animation filmmaker with a short film project in development? Looking for expert guidance, cross-border collaboration, and international exposure? The BLACK SEA ANIMATION WORKSHOP is back — and it’s your chance to bring your story to the next level.

Following the success of its first edition, the BLACK SEA ANIMATION WORKSHOP 2025 will take place from 25 to 29 November in Sofia, Bulgaria. This five-day intensive development lab is dedicated to animated short film projects and designed to foster creative exchange across the Black Sea region.

Sofia Animation Lab, Compote Collective and Saqanima, with the support of French Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Institut Français of Bulgaria, Bulgarian National Film Center, Zippy Frames and Annecy International Film Market (MIFA), is launching the Call for Projects for the second BLACK SEA ANIMATION WORKSHOP.

🎯 WHO CAN APPLY?

This open call is for animation filmmakers from Bulgaria, Romania, Ukraine, Georgia, and Türkiye — with Moldova joining this year as a guest country. Each country will be represented by two selected projects (plus one for the guest country), chosen by an international jury of animation professionals.

🎬 WHAT TO EXPECT?
The selected 11 short film projects will take part in a workshop led by renowned French mentors Corinne Destombes and Olivier Catherin, conducted entirely in English. The workshop will culminate in a public pitching session open to both industry experts and general audiences. Participation is free of charge.

🏆 AND THEN?
Five standout projects — one per eligible country — will be selected by MIFA experts to pitch during the BLACK SEA ANIMATION SHORTS Partner Pitch at MIFA 2026 in Annecy (June 23–26). Selected teams will receive free accreditation to the Annecy Festival.

✨ ADDITIONAL AWARDS INCLUDE:

• A one-month residency at the Abbey of Fontevraud (France)
• A one-month residency at the Prieuré de Saint-Quirin (France)
• Participation in SYAA workshop (Romania)
• Accreditations to CEE Animation Forum (Czech Republic)

The deadline for applications is September 15th, 2025.

Detailed information and regulations regarding the submission of documents and application conditions can be found here: link with PDF file

All project submissions (PDF format, in English) can be submitted via the Google Form: https://forms.gle/B927jLaLU9jj3f286

or sent directly to the following email addresses:

• for Georgian projects - saqanima@gmail.com
• for Bulgarian projects - info@compote-collective.com
• for Turkish projects - nazlieda.noyan@bau.edu.tr
• for Ukrainian projects - info@linoleumfest.com
• Romanian and Moldovan projects should apply separately via ANIMEST’s Pitch, Please! platform. More information is available at: https://www.animest.ro/en/apply-now-pitch-please-7th-edition--welcomes-animation-short-films-in-preproduction

BLACK SEA ANIMATION WORKSHOP is supported by the Ministry for Europe and Foreign Affairs and the French Institute as part of the strategy for the export of Cultural and Creative Industries internationally.

Our regional partners:
COMPOTE COLLECTIVE (Bulgaria), SAQANIMA (Georgia), ANIMEST (Romania), LINOLEUM Festival (Ukraine), and ANIM.IST (Türkiye).

The Partners supporting us with Awards are: Annecy International Film Market (MIFA), NEF Animation France, CEE Animation Forum, Residency of Saint-Quirin (Centre de résidence de l’écriture à l’image) and Sisterhood of Young Animation Auteurs workshop (SYAA).