Two ESMA student films selected for the Cinequest Film Festival 2025!

The Cinequest Film Festival: a springboard to the Oscars

Held every year in San Jose, California, the Cinequest Film Festival is one of the major independent film events in the United States. Renowned for showcasing innovative and daring works, the festival features a competition in which the overall winner will become eligible for the 2026 Oscars in the Best Animated Short category.

Being selected for Cinequest is already an achievement. It’s a unique opportunity to showcase your work to an international audience and attract the attention of influential industry professionals. This year, two short films made byESMAstudents have been included in the official selection: Trash and Dawn.

Recognition for the talent and work of our students

These two films, produced as part of ESMA’s 3D Animation and Special Effects programme, bear witness to the talent and artistic standards of the young directors. This double selection underlines the quality of ESMA’s student productions and their ability to compete with the greatest emerging talents in animation. Our congratulations go to the film teams for their exceptional work and boundless creativity.

The Cinequest Film Festival will be held from 11 to 23 March 2025, and we look forward to seeing all animation film fans there!

Good luck to our students in the competition!