PLAYGROUNDS INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL 2026

THE ART DEPARTMENT EINDHOVEN 2026 (SOLD OUT)

Check out the full program here!

After a successful 2025 edition with a sold out Film Industry Day and Opening Night, Playgrounds International Film Festival returns at Eindhoven’s inspiring Natlab Film Theater for a brand new edition.
We will let the art of filmmaking take once again centre stage!

With a TAD ticket, you also get free access to the PIFF program happening on the day (with the exception of the Opening Night program). Do keep in mind that the places are limited and PIFF regular ticket buyers have priority.

During PIFF 2026 you will be able to enjoy a blend of independent shorts, Hollywood classics and bold new voices. Enhance your skills in our masterclasses and dive into emerging talent at our Student Film and Imagine Everything Competitions.

Visionary artists behind the big screen, some of them guests and speakers during TAD, will give exclusive introductions, talks and Q&As before screenings, sharing firsthand insights into their films. If you’re into filmmaking, make sure to also visit the Film & Talent Industry Day, where you can connect with fellow artists and industry professionals.

So enhance your TAD experience by enjoying the works of some of the speakers alongside many exceptional creators, right on the big screen!

 

20 YEARS OF PLAYGROUNDS: OUR BIG BIRTHDAY BASH
are you ready to celebrate? (Thursday 16 April)
afterparty
SONY PICTURES ANIMATION (KPOP DEMON HUNTERS)
head of character animation Joshua Beveridge & visual development artist Wendell Dalit
artist talk
NATHAN FOWKES
concept artist
artist talk
BLUR
production company
artist talk
MATT NAVA (GIANT SQUID STUDIOS)
game development studio
artist talk
PERNILLE ØRUM
character designer, visual development artist
artist talk
MOONHOOD
video game studio
artist talk
RAMAN DJAFARI
illustrator, animator, filmmaker
artist talk
BORIS & NICOLAS
animators
artist talk
OLOV BURMAN
director and animator
artist talk
BLENDER STUDIO
premiere of new short Singularity
artist talk
CLAIRE KEANE
author-illustrator, visual development artist
artist talk
LIP COMARELLA
director, visual development artist, art director
artist talk
ADAM PALOIAN
director, producer, character designer
artist talk
CAT JOHNSTON
director, character designer, model maker and illustrator
artist talk
LOEK VUGS
designer, animator, teacher
artist talk
XAVIERA ALTENA
illustrator
artist talk
MAUREEN VAN DER HOUT & RACHELLE JOY SLINGERLAND
character design duo
artist talk
DIEPFRIS
concept artist
artist talk
BIANCA NAZARI (ENVAR STUDIO)
senior recruiter
artist talk
SANDRO CLEUZO
animator and character designer
artist talk
YONK
VR sculpting 3D animation studio
artist talk
ENVAR STUDIO
outsource & game studio
artist talk
REAL TALKS WITH IRIS COMPIET & LOISH
a sit-down with two industry legends
real talk
FONS SCHIEDON
director, designer
artist talk
IRIS COMPIET: FROM SKETCH TO WATER COLOR
an ode to traditional media
demo
ARTIST STUDIOS
check your favorite artists at work
artist studios
LESBIAN SIMULATOR
a VR experience by Iris van der Meule
expo
ART MARKET
print, apparal & tattoos
art market
CLIP STUDIO PAINT DEMO BY SYNTICFAYE
illustrator
demo
SKETCH SESSIONS BY DRINK AND DRAW BERLIN
live sketching experience
sketch sessions
NEXT STAGE
stage curated by the Next Talent Program
artist talk
NEXT STAGE: MURMUR ANIMATION
animation duo
artist talk
NEXT STAGE: SABER AIDARUS
director, animator
artist talk
NEXT STAGE: PIT LEMPENS
illustrator, animator
artist talk
NEXT STAGE: TESSA STEHOUWER
animator
artist talk
NEXT STAGE: JIP CROMBAG
game designer
artist talk
NEXT STAGE: LUCAS PETERSEN
2D animator, storyboarder
artist talk
OPEN STAGE: REDIVIDER STUDIO
creative studio
artist talk
OPEN STAGE: SYNTICFAYE
illustrator
artist talk
EXPO: THE SECRET OF NIMH
key pieces from one of the largest NIMH collections in Europe
expo
PANEL: DIVERSIFY YOUR SKILLS
with Georgie Holt, Bianca Nazari, Kevin Zamir Goeke and Bastien Grivet!
panel
DEMO BY LOISH
dive into Loish' digital drawing process
demo
PANEL: CREATIVITY AND HUMAN NATURE
with Spiridon Giannakis, Pernille Ørum, Lip Comarella and Atey Ghailan
panel
VPRO RADIO NOOIT MEER SLAPEN WITH IRIS COMPIET
live recording with VPRO Nooit Meer Slapen (this interview is in Dutch)
interview
ASK AWAY! Q&A WITH TAD ARTISTS
getting answers to audience questions
ask away!
WORKSHOP CREATE & PLAY BY CARDBOARDERS
16 April | create your own character!
workshop
LIVE ANIMATION WITH SANDRO CLEUZO
right before your eyes
demo
BOOKSHOP
discover art books, comics and exclusive titles
books
PLAYGROUNDS INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL 2026
where we put the art of filmmaking in the spotlight
film fest
FOOD & DRINKS BY SMAAKMAKERIJ
coffee, snacks, burgers, poké bowls and more!
food & drinks
PLAYGROUNDS 20 YEARS BUMPERS
by students from the St.Joost Master of Animation
expo
COMMUNITY ART CHALLENGES
have your works shown during TAD 2026
community
20 YEARS OF PLAYGROUNDS TREASURE HUNT