FIRST. AIM

This call invites animators (aspiring artists, students and recent graduates from animation schools and universities, etc) around the world to create animated short films that will form part of a live concert experience.

The project aims to merge music and animation into an immersive event, inspired by the artistry of animation studios worldwide, where image and sound come together to evoke emotion, wonder, and imagination. 

SECOND. THEME

The official theme is Metamorphosis. The short film will be featured during the Friday concert (26.06.2026) at AMADEUS Festival Vienna 2026, titled “Cinematic Metamorphosis: A Journey Through Animated Worlds.”

THIRD.  FORMAT, TECHNICAL REQUIREMENTS & SUBMISSIONS

• The works must be designed for projection on a 6 x 3 metre panoramic screen.

• Recommended minimum resolution: 3840 x 1920 px (2:1) or adaptable to 16:9 format.

• Total duration: Between the time frame of 30 and 35 minutes,  either as a single work or as several shorter segments accompanying different movements of the concert.

• Application video submitted format: .mov or .mp4 (preferably - in high resolution) 

• Sound: the concert’s final mix will be performed live; therefore, the short films should not include music, although they may feature sound effects or visual synchronisation cues.

• The animation may use any technique (2D, 3D, stop motion, or mixed media), as long as it meets the projection requirements.

• Applicants must submit their application via the Google Form below.

• If participants have any questions, they can contact us at info@amadeusfestival.wien  

SUBMIT YOUR APPLICATION HERE

FOURTH. PARTICIPANTS

Open to animators worldwide, from 16 years old onwards. 

• Participation may be individual or in teams (up to 5 members).

• Each participant may submit a maximum of 2 projects.  
  

FIFTH. SELECTION AND MENTORSHIP

• An artistic committee made up of the Composers and the Artistic Director will select the videos to be included in the final programme.

• During the process, there will be a possibility of creative reviews with the artistic team for the final artistic product. 

• The selected pieces will be chosen by the composers/Artistic Director performing on the night. The composers have the option to combine/mix the animated works of the grand winner and runner-up.

SIXTH. TIMELINE

• Call opens: 21 November 2025

• Deadline for registration and submission of proposals: 27 February 2026 

• Announcement of selected projects: 14 March 2026

• Concert premiere and screening: 26 June 2026

SEVENTH. EVALUATION CRITERIA

• Artistic and narrative originality.

• Consistency with the music and proposed theme (Metamorphosis).

• Technical quality and suitability for projection format.

• Feasibility of the project within the given timeframe and resources.

EIGHTH. RIGHT AND DISTRIBUTION

• Copyright of each animation will remain with the creator(s), who grant the Festival and concert organisers the right to share the work publicly and integrate it into our promotional and commercial endeavours. 

• The works may be used for promotional purposes related to the concert and its future editions, always with proper credit to the authors.

NINTH. AWARDS AND RECOGNITION

Cash prize: 

• Grand Winner: EUR 1,500.00

• Runner-up: EUR 500.00 

For Teams:  the cash prize will be awarded to the team, and it is up to the members to divide the amount. 

Selected animations will premiere during the last segment (30 mins) of the “Cinematic Metamorphosis: A Journey Through Animated Worlds" concert, projected in synchrony with the orchestra or musical ensemble.

Special mentions and certificates of participation will be awarded. All participants will receive complimentary tickets (a maximum of 2 tickets per person) to the Festival (25.06 - 28.06.2026). 

TENTH. RIGHT OF EXCLUSION 

The organisers reserve the right to exclude from the call and selection process any project that:

• Does not comply with the technical, thematic, or formal requirements established.

• Infringes copyright or intellectual property rights, or includes non-original material without proper authorisation.

• Contains offensive, discriminatory, violent, defamatory, or unlawful content, or content contrary to the values of the Festival.

• Fails to meet submission deadlines or follow submission guidelines.

• Misrepresents authorship, academic status, or any other relevant information provided by the participant.

• The decision to exclude an applicant shall be final and not subject to appeal.

ELEVENTH. INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY AND LIABILITY

• Participants guarantee that the submitted works are original and that they hold all necessary rights for their use and exhibition.

• Participants shall be solely responsible for any claims related to copyright, use of protected material, image rights, or any other legal dispute arising from their work.

• The Festival accepts no responsibility for any claims made by third parties relating to the content of the submitted works.

TWELFTH. COMPETITION MODIFICATIONS

The organisers reserve the right to:

• Amend the dates and conditions of the competition for justifiable reasons.

• Cancel the competition partially or in full in the event of exceptional circumstances, without assuming liability for such cancellation.

• Any changes will be communicated through the Festival’s official channels.

THIRTEENTH. PERSONAL DATA PROTECTION

• Personal data provided by participants will be used exclusively for the management of this competition and associated event, in accordance with applicable data protection regulations.

• Participants may exercise their rights to access, rectify, delete, or update their data by submitting a written request to the organisers.

FOURTEENTH. ACCEPTANCE OF TERMS 

• Participation in this call implies full acceptance of these terms, including all legal clauses.

• The decisions of the artistic committee are final and not subject to appeal. 

FIFTEENTH. CONDUCT AND ETHICS 

• Participants must conduct themselves professionally and respectfully throughout the process.

• The Festival reserves the right to withdraw participation or prizes awarded if:

• Plagiarism is detected

• Inappropriate behaviour towards other participants, composers, or the organisers occurs.

• There is a serious breach of the rules

SIXTEENTH. SUBSEQUENT USE OF WORKS

In addition to the promotional use previously stated, creators grant the Festival permission to:

• Present the works in events related to future editions of the concert or educational initiatives connected to the project.

• Use excerpts (up to 30 seconds) for dissemination on social media and media platforms.

• Proper credit will always be given to the authors.