The FAN. Young European Talents Award 2025 has its winner: the film Poppy Flowers, directed by Hungarian filmmaker Evridiki Papaiakovou, captivated the jury and was awarded during the ceremony held on August 23rd at Imaginaria – Animated Film Festival, in Conversano, Italy.
Created by the FAN – Festivals Animation Network, the award celebrates the creativity of young filmmakers and new voices in European animation, showcasing short films by authors aged 18 to 30. The winning work received a €5,000 prize, supporting the artist’s creative journey.
A week dedicated to emerging European animation
From August 17th to 24th, the historic Monastero di San Benedetto hosted screenings of the competing films, with each day dedicated to a different country. The festival atmosphere brought together audiences, creators, and animation professionals in a truly magical setting.
An international jury of excellence
The award was decided by a distinguished panel of world-renowned experts:
- Deanna Morse (USA) – pioneering experimental animator, President of ASIFA, and member of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences;
- Joanna Quinn (UK) – acclaimed British director, founder of Beryl Productions, and three-time Academy Award nominee;
- Tamás Patrovits (Hungary) – animation director, graphic artist, and founder of the Primanima World Festival of First Animations.
Looking ahead: supporting the future of animation
The FAN. Young European Talents Award will return for a second edition in 2026, continuing to spotlight the next generation of animation creators. Beyond the competition at Imaginaria, the selected films will also travel across FAN’s partner and associate festivals, reaching diverse audiences throughout Europe and beyond.
This project is supported by Creative Europe – MEDIA.
Stay tuned to discover more about the brightest new voices in European animation through the FAN festival network.
