The 2025 CEE Animation Forum, Central and Eastern Europe's premier pitching and networking event dedicated to animated projects, wrapped on 6 November with the announcement of its award winners.

Twenty-nine projects from 15 countries, spanning four categories (nine short films, eight student shorts, six TV series and six feature films), were included in the Pitching Competition, which saw a total of €50,000 in cash and in-kind prizes handed out. The selected projects, with a combined production budget exceeding €36 million, target audiences ranging from children (12 projects) and teenagers/young adults (seven) to adult viewers (ten).

"CEE Animation Forum again showcased an incredible line-up with extraordinary market potential. Judging by this year’s selection, the future of European animation looks very bright. As always, we are especially proud to see projects that have grown through our CEE Animation Workshop and Rise and Shine pitching lab already making strides in their artistic journey," said Marta Jallageas, managing director of the CEE Animation Forum.

The top award in the Feature Films category went to Poland’s Until Death Unites Us by Nawojka Wierzbowska and Natalia Krawczuk, produced by Zuzanna Maszka (GS Animation). The jury praised its “courageous, fresh and authentic approach to traditionally heavy and taboo topics,” highlighting how humour and universally relatable characters turn a dark comedy into one “that will warm hearts all over”.

In the TV Series category, Juli Tudisco’s Tulip (produced by Valentin Maupin for France’s Avec ou sans Vous) took the win. The jurors commended the series as “sincere, humorous and based on real-life experiences”, relatable “for wide audiences across platforms”, and balanced in its portrayal of relationships - in other words, an inviting universe with “great potential for more material and sequels”.

I’m Not Nearly Cool Yet by Anastazja Naumenko (produced by Maks Piłasiewicz for Poland’s Blurred) clinched the Short Films gong. Calling it a “personal perspective on a social and historical reality developed in an original way”, the jury underlined the project’s coherence - where visuals, core intent and the director’s genuine bond with the subject “align seamlessly”.

Finally, the Rising Stars – Student Films Award went to Ergot by Damjan Lazin (producer Zsuzsanna Vincze; Moholy-Nagy University of Art and Design, Hungary). The panel singled out a story “inspired by personal memories”, crafted through vivid imagery into “a compelling narrative” that tackles toxic masculinity and the fallout of control.

Here is the full list of award winners:

Feature Films

Winner
Until Death Unites Us – Nawojka Wierzbowska, Natalia Krawczuk (Poland)
Production: Zuzanna Maszka (GS Animation)

Special Mention
Pink Punk Delta – Alba Sotorra (Spain/Slovakia)
Production: Alba Sotorra, Paula G Cortacans, Juraj Krasnohorský (Alba Sotorra SL, Artichoke)

TV Series

Winner
Tulip – Juli Tudisco (France)
Production: Valentin Maupin (Avec ou sans Vous)

Special Mention
Scope of the Universe – Anja Manou Hellem (Norway)
Production: Lillian Løvseth (LØV Film)

Short Films

Winner
I’m Not Nearly Cool Yet – Anastazja Naumenko (Poland)
Production: Maks Piłasiewicz (Blurred)

Special Mention
The Molepire – Marek Čermák (Czechia)
Production: Hana Bláha Šilarová, Karolína Fránková (Films & Chips)

Rising Stars – Student Films

Winner
Ergot – Damjan Lazin (Hungary)
Production: Zsuzsanna Vincze (Moholy-Nagy University of Art and Design)

Special Mention
Reus – Ondřej Tešnar (Czechia)
Production: Ondřej Tešnar, Alexandra Chovanová (Tomas Bata University)

Partners' & industry prizes

CEE Animation Workshop Award
Tulip – Juli Tudisco

Ciclic Residency
Tense - Konrad Hjemli (Norway)
Production: Tonje Skar Reiersen, Lise Fearnley (Mikrofilm)

Travelling Distribution Award
Lunar Landscape - Foivos Chalkiopoulos (Germany)
Production: Louis Kaiser (Film University Babelsberg Konrad Wolf)
Special Mention
Tense - Konrad Hjemli

Cartoon – direct access
Cartoon Movie
Until Death Unites Us – Nawojka Wierzbowska, Natalia Krawczuk
Cartoon Forum
Tolo & Bolo - Aleksander Matuszewski (Poland)
Production: Aleksander Matuszewski (Filmograf)

TVPaint – animation license
Lunar Landscape - Foivos Chalkiopoulos

Young Horizons Industry – direct access
The Golden Butterfly - Goce Cvetanovski (North Macedonia)
Production: Goce Cvetanovski (Makedonska Krepost)

BRATROnice Residency
Reus – Ondřej Tešnar