The 13th edition of the CEE Animation Forum, one of Europe’s leading pitching and co-production platforms for animated projects, took place in Pilsen from 4-6 November 2025. This year’s Forum brought together 29 projects from 15 countries, competing in four categories: short films, student shorts, TV series, and feature films.

With over 36 million EUR in combined project budgets and a wide audience reach – from children to adults– the event once again highlighted the creative strength of Central and Eastern European animation.

This year, the Hungarian animation scene was represented by two standout creators Juli Tudisco and Damján Lazin — both of whom had already represented the country earlier this year at the Hot Pitches from Hungary showcase in Annecy. Their projects were not only selected but also took home one of the main category awards – as CEE Animation told Hunimation.

The Forum also featured two further Hungarian projects: Perfect (Andrea Olivares López, MOME) in the Student Film category and The Rabbit-Shaped Dog (director: Roland Kazi, producer: Géza M. Tóth, Kedd Animation) among the Short Films.

Ergot Wins Student Film Category

Ergot was chosen as the Winner of the Student Film Category, a significant recognition for MOME and the Hungarian animation community.

Ergot (Hungary)
Director: Damján Lazin | Producer: Zsuzsanna Vincze | Moholy-Nagy University of Art and Design

Jury statement:
A story inspired by personal memories, presented with a vivid series of images to create a compelling narrative addressing toxic masculinity and the consequences of the desire for control.

Success for Tulip: Three Awards for Juli Tudisco 

The project Tulip, directed by Hungary’s Juli Tudisco, achieved memorable results at the Forum by collecting a record breaking three awards. 

• Audience Award – Tulip
• TV Series Category: Winner – Tulip
• CEE Animation Workshop Award – Tulip

Tulip, directed by Hungarian filmmaker Juli Tudisco and produced by France’s Avec ou sans Vous, is a sincere and humorous series inspired by real-life experiences. The project impressed the jury with its relatable portrayal of relationships, colourful yet sensitive tone, and strong appeal to young audiences seeking authentic representation in animation. With a universe that naturally lends itself to further stories and sequels, Tulip stood out for its emotional clarity and creative potential—earning multiple awards at the Forum.

Jury statement:

We award a series that is sincere, humorous and based on real life experiences. We find it relatable for wide audiences across platforms and media. We appreciate its colourful but sensitive balance in depiction of relationships. We are convinced that young audiences want to see themselves represented in animation. The series universe has great potential for more material and sequels.

Besides the two Hungarian works, Ergot and Tulip  compelling projects from across Europe were also presented and recognized at the CEE Forum. Here is a full overview of the remaining winners.

CEE Animation Film Forum – Awards

Audience Award

• Tulip, d. Juli Tudisco, p. Valentin Maupin; Avec ou sans Vous (France)

Feature Film Category

• Winner: Until Death Unites Us (Poland)
• Special Mention: Pink Punk Delta (Spain/Slovakia)

TV Series Category

• Winner: Tulip (France)
• Special Mention: Scope of the Universe (Norway)

Short Film Category

• Winner: I’m Not Nearly Cool Yet (Poland)
• Special Mention: The Molepire (Czechia)

Student Film Category (Special Mention)

• Reus (Czechia)

Partner and Additional Awards

• CEE Animation Workshop Award: Tulip (France)
• Ciclic Residency: Tense (Norway)

Travelling Distribution Award

• Winner: Lunar Landscape (Germany)
• Special Mention: Tense (Norway)

CARTOON – direct access

• Cartoon Movie: Until Death Unites Us (Poland)
• Cartoon Forum: Tolo & Bolo (Poland)

TVPaint License Award

• Winner: Lunar Landscape (Germany)

Young Horizons Industry – direct access

• Winner: The Golden Butterfly (North Macedonia)

BRATROnice Residency

• Winner: Reus (Czechia)

About CEE Animation

CEE Animation has become one of the most influential platforms for animated filmmaking in Europe, serving as a vital bridge between Central and Eastern European talent and the broader international industry. Through its Forum, Workshop, and Market initiatives, CEE Animation nurtures emerging voices, strengthens regional co-production networks, and provides essential access to financing, training, and visibility. Its role is especially significant for countries like Hungary, where developing creators benefit from a structured pathway to European partners and major industry events. By championing artistic diversity, fostering long-term collaborations, and elevating CEE projects to a global stage, CEE Animation continues to shape the future of European animation.

You can read more about CEE Animation on its website.