• The Event will take place November 15th at a Brooklyn-based venue that will be announced July 15th (all dates subject to change).

• The event kicks off with a 2-3 hour block showcasing 1-1.5 hours of animations following the selected prompt, with an emphasis on new and innovative uses of animation softwares.

• Followed by a speaker series where animators discuss their creative process.

• In the interim, there will be public voting for the most innovative short.

• Then an after party (date and location TBD) where winners will be announced and receive sponsor-funded prizes such as free software or a cash reward!

• Prizes aren't finalized yet, but participants can expect goods such as cash awards, local business gift cards, and software licenses. In addition, the prize winners will be heavily featured on Cartuna’s socials. Prizes should be finalized once the venue is confirmed, and an announcement will be made as soon as everything is locked!

Grants are awarded to participants with compelling pitches that focus on innovative animation techniques or creative uses of animation software.

Applicants can request up to $2,000 in funding! The number of grants awarded depends on the level of budget requests received.

Recipients will also be required to participate in monthly check-ins to share progress updates and ensure the project stays on track.

Note that selected grant awardees will not be eligible for competition prizes as the grant itself serves as compensation. 

How to Submit a Grant Pitch:

Your pitch must include:

• A one-page brief describing your idea, the software you plan to use, and how you intend to innovate.

• At least one visual mockup of a scene or character.

• A rough timeline breakdown outlining key production milestones leading up to the final submission.

• A budget request (up to $2,000), detailing how the grant funds will be allocated to support your project.

Important Dates:

• Grant Pitch Submissions Open: March 15th

• Grant Pitch Submissions Close: April 15th

• Midway ProgresCheck-in: June 15th

• Final Video Submissions Due: August 15th (Dates subject to change)

Additional Info:

• Check the Video Submission Guidelines tab for full technical specs and submission requirements.

When applications open, a button to submit will appear above and below this section.

Got questions? Reach out to us at publicdomain@cartuna.com

Prompt: Submissions may interpret the prompt as loosely or as closely as desired as long as some relation is recognizable.

Software: Any and all software goes. As this is a software-focused event, we strongly encourage you to find new ways to use and innovate within your favorite animation softwares.

Duration: 10 seconds - 1 minute.

Resolution: 1920 x 1080.

Frame Rate: 24 fps.

File Format: MP4 or MOV.

Codec: H.264 recommended for compatibility.

Audio: Optional, but must be royalty-free or original.

Content Guidelines: Explicit content is accepted unless otherwise noted.

Credits: Open to individual artists—each short should be created by a single artist, though exceptions may be made upon request. For inquiries, please reach out via email.

Submission Deadline: [Specify Date & Time]

File Naming Convention: [title]_[YourName].mp4

Delivery Method: Google Drive (upload instructions will be provided).

Permissions: By submitting, you confirm we have the rights to distribute and showcase your work.

Q: Do I have to be local to NYC/Brooklyn to submit a short?
A: No, not at all! People from anywhere can apply!

Q: What are the prizes?
A: Prizes aren't finalized yet, but participants can expect goods such as cash awards, local business gift cards, and software licenses. In addition, the prize winners will be heavily featured on Cartuna’s socials. Prizes should be finalized once the venue is confirmed, and an announcement will be made as soon as everything is locked!

Q: Can I partner up with someone on a short?
A: While it’s not discouraged, we prefer one person create their own individual short!

Q: How far can I stray from the prompt?
A: So long as there is some type of recognizable connection to the prompt, you are encouraged to go crazy

Q: How many programs can I use?
A: We encourage everyone to use whatever and however many programs they are most comfortable with and try and find new ways to innovate with the software!

Q: What if I miss the General or Grant submission deadline?
A: Extensions can be made upon reasonable request for both general and grant submissions. As this is primarily a software-focused event where new and upcoming tools are encouraged, if you need more time to innovate, please let us know!

Q: Are Grant awardees eligible for the grant prizes?
A: No, grant awardees are not eligible for competition prizes since their grant already serves as their compensation!

Q: How many grants are awarded?
A: The number of grants awarded depends on the budget requests received, but ideally, at least 2–3 grants or more will be awarded!

For any other questions please email publicdomain@cartuna.com and one of our staff will get back to you as soon as they can!