SMOF is one of the most important animation festivals in Latin America, based in Argentina and with a strong focus on stop motion and independent animation. Approaching its tenth anniversary, SMOF has become a key meeting point for filmmakers, producers, artists, students, studios, institutions and audiences from across Latin America and around the world.
SMOF goes beyond the traditional framework of a film festival. Its work brings together three main areas: the International Animation Festival, the Latin American Stop Motion Project Lab, and Núcleo LATAM – Latin American Animation Market. Together, these programs connect exhibition, training, project development and industry exchange, creating opportunities for films to circulate, projects to grow and new professional collaborations to emerge.
The Latin American Stop Motion Project Lab is dedicated to projects in development from across the region. Through an intensive mentoring program, selected filmmakers work with leading national and international professionals on different aspects of their projects, including directing, production, screenwriting, art direction, animation and strategies for development and international presentation. The Lab has become an important space for identifying and supporting new projects and voices in Latin American animation.
Núcleo LATAM – Latin American Animation Market extends this work into the professional and industry sector. It brings together projects, producers, studios, institutions and animation professionals, generating meetings and exchanges aimed at creating opportunities for co-production, financing, circulation and international collaboration.
Every year, SMOF also presents an extensive program of international and Latin American film competitions, screenings, masterclasses, intensive workshops, industry panels, exhibitions, seminars, professional meetings, talks and conferences, featuring leading figures in animation from Argentina, Latin America and other parts of the world.
Education and access have been central to SMOF since its beginnings. A significant part of its program is offered free of charge, facilitating access to high-level professional training and international exchange for students, emerging filmmakers, independent professionals and wider audiences.
The 2026 edition marked an important expansion for the festival. SMOF took place across 17 venues in the city and province of Buenos Aires, including cinemas, cultural spaces, universities and screening venues. Nearly 100 animated short films were presented throughout the week, reaching thousands of spectators, alongside an extensive program of professional and educational activities.
Through its Festival, Project Lab and Núcleo LATAM Market, SMOF has built a distinctive position within the Latin American animation field, connecting the circulation of films with the development of new projects, professional training and opportunities for regional and international collaboration.
With a strong base in Argentina and an increasingly international reach, SMOF works to create meaningful connections between Latin American animation and the international community, while giving visibility to new voices, projects and ways of creating animation.
