Few cultural events in Cyprus have the staying power of Animafest. Since its founding in 2002, this international animation festival has deliberately turned its back on urban venues, planting itself instead in the rural heart of the island each summer. For its 25th edition — running from 7 to 9 August 2026 — the festival settles into Koilani, a picturesque village in the Limassol district, where stone-paved lanes and terraced vineyards provide an unlikely but entirely fitting backdrop for cutting-edge animated cinema.
The Official Selection brings together author animated films making their Cyprus premieres, a significant number of which have already collected awards at the world's most prestigious animation festivals. For audiences on the island, this is often the only chance to encounter these works on a proper screen, in a communal setting that amplifies their impact.
Beyond the screenings, the programme fans out into exhibitions showcasing Cypriot animation artists, hands-on workshops, and live music performances that keep the village square buzzing well into the evening. Activities are designed to welcome audiences of all ages, making this as much a family outing as a cinephile's pilgrimage.
At just €5 entry, the 25th Countryside Animafest Cyprus is one of the most accessible cultural events of the summer season — a rare combination of international artistic ambition and genuine village hospitality.
— Source: visitcyprus.com