It addresses students, alumni and young professionals from art and technical schools, academies and universities all over the world.
All submitted shorts for the country award were automatically admitted to the main competition as well.
Until 2012 the partner countries included China, France, Denmark, Turkey, United Arab Emirates, New Zealand and the Czech Republic.
In 2016, the Animation Award will take place at the Börsensaal of the Hamburg Chamber of Commerce.
The locations of previous award ceremonies have included the CinemaxX Dammtor, Streits Filmtheater, the Abaton Cinema and Schmidts Tivoli.