World University Animation Awards (WUAA) calls for short animated films with high potential and strong messages from all over the world. The call for submissions opens on March 17, 2025.
Submission platform: FilmFreeway
• Eligibility: Open to college/university current students and graduates from the 2024-25 academic year; graduates from the 2023-2024 academic year.
• Production Date: The work must have been produced on or after September 1, 2023.
• Verification: A Student Card or Student Verification will be required.
• Submission Format: The award accepts only online digital submissions.
• Entry Limit: Each director is allowed to submit one entry.
• Duration: Work must not exceed 15 minutes in length.
• Language Requirements: All submitted animations must include embedded subtitles in English.
• Animation Technique: Only animated short films will be accepted (the films must have been made using animation, regardless of the technique).
• Resolution/Dimensions: Submissions must be in 1080p, 2K, or 4K resolution.
• Codec: Acceptable codecs include H.264/AVC, H.265/HEVC, or ProRes 422 HQ.
• Frame Rate: The frame rate must be set at either 24 or 25 frames per second.
• Grand Prize – Cash (USD 10, 000) and Trophy
It is the top prize for the best overall animated short film in the competition. The winning work will be exceptional in areas like storytelling, artistic merit, technical skills, and overall creativity.
• Best Artistic Award – Cash (USD 10, 000) and Trophy
It is for the animated short film with the highest artistic excellence and innovation in its visual design, colors, cinematography, and overall aesthetic.
• Best Narrative Award – Cash (USD 10, 000) and Trophy
It celebrates the animated short film with the most compelling, original, and well-crafted story. The winning work will have great storytelling techniques, strong character development, and a thought-provoking or emotional script.
• Jury’s Award – Cash (USD 5, 000) and Trophy
It recognizes animated shorts that may not have won the top prizes but are still considered outstanding in certain ways. They could be innovative, experimental, socially relevant, or very popular with the audience.
• Next Generation Award – Cash (USD 5, 000) and Trophy
This special award is just for Hong Kong-based student animators to encourage and recognize the next generation of local animation talent.
Two-days event will be organized, adjudicators and finalists will be invited to come to HKMU to have master classes, professional workshops and student-exchange sessions. Together with HKMU creative arts students, there will be pitching sessions with adjudicators and professionals in the industry of Animation during the gathering. An evening screening programme will feature the work of the finalists, and the Award ceremony will be on the evening of the second day.
Event Period: 16 –17 Sep 2025
Ceremony Venue: The Box, Freespace, West Kowloon Cultural District
