The 2026 Chongqing International Animation Film Week kicked off on Tuesday evening in Southwest China's Chongqing, with Rob Minkoff, the American film director best known for co-directing Disney's The Lion King, serving as the jury chairman.

Local authorities described the event as China's first specialized and authoritative international festival solely dedicated to animation.

The week highlights a commitment to fostering international collaboration and innovation in animation. A total of 501 animated works from around the world have been submitted to compete for the "Golden Camellia" awards. Of these, 45 have been shortlisted, with winners to be announced at the closing ceremony on Friday.

This year's awards aim to celebrate artistic excellence and innovation in animation, support young talent, and integrate technology with filmmaking. Ten honors will be awarded, ranging from Outstanding Animated Film to a Lifetime Achievement Honor, according to the organizing committee.

During the opening ceremony of the event, Minkoff emphasized the enduring power of storytelling in animation, placing it at the heart of the industry's technological advancements.

At an earlier news conference, the director expressed his belief that this film week could serve as an important platform for industry exchange, with Chongqing's Yongchuan district acting as a bridge that connects today's animation industry to its future potential.

With the Yongchuan Technology Studio at its center, Yongchuan has developed a state-of-the-art film and television industrial base, the largest in western China. Equipped with cutting-edge technologies, the district is set to become a global hub for animators to pursue their creative visions, local authorities said.

Running until Saturday, the film week will feature a variety of events, including academic seminars and masterclasses, an exhibition of animation creativity and technological achievements, an industry matchmaking and contract signing conference, an animation-film-themed market, screenings of outstanding animations, and a film consumption season.