The Annecy Animation Film Festival, known for its world premieres of highly anticipated U.S. movies, is set to introduce a new section to its official lineup. Annecy Présente, a non-competitive section, will showcase gala premieres of high-profile films, providing festivalgoers with the opportunity to discover a wider range of movies from various genres and locations.
Mickaël Marin, the director of Annecy festival and its industry market MIFA, expressed his excitement about the new section, stating that it will offer a platform for films from emerging territories around the world. Marin highlighted the dynamic nature of the animation industry and the evolving audiences for animated content, which now include adults. Animated features, despite being produced in smaller numbers compared to live-action films, have a significant impact globally, with countries like France relying heavily on animated titles for export sales.
In addition to the Annecy Présente section, the festival will continue to host gala screenings under the Seances Evenement section, also out of competition. This expansion further solidifies Annecy's reputation as one of the top five animation festivals worldwide. In 2023, the festival attracted a record-breaking 16,000 accredited participants, including 6,000 professionals, executives, and artists from nearly 100 countries.
Annecy is not only a showcase for established talent but also a platform for emerging artists. Stéphanie Clément's short film 'Pachyderme,' which competed at the festival in 2022, has been nominated for an Oscar this year. The festival has actively pursued partnerships and collaborations with U.S. studios and artists to attract high-quality content to Annecy. It has also forged alliances with organizations such as the AMPAS and the Animation Is Film Festival in Los Angeles.
The festival's market, MIFA, is also set to broaden its scope in 2024 with the introduction of a new division called XR & Games, dedicated to extended reality and gaming formats. This expansion reflects the growing influence and diversity of the animation industry.
Additionally, the upcoming edition of the Annecy Animation Film Festival will celebrate Portugal as its country of honor. Renowned figures from the Portuguese film industry, including Fernando Glarito, the head of the animation festival in Lisbon (La Monstra), will attend Annecy as part of the event.
Exciting developments are underway outside the realm of the festival as well. Annecy recently unveiled plans to construct the Cité Internationale du Cinema d'Animation, an international institute dedicated to the world of animation. Valued at €26 million ($27.5 million), this state-of-the-art facility is scheduled to open during the latter half of 2025. It will feature a 330-seat screening room, an artists' residency, training facilities, exhibition spaces, a bookstore, and a gift shop. The institute will also showcase animation film collections from Annecy's Musée-Château.
Save the dates! The 2024 edition of the Annecy Animation Film Festival and MIFA will take place from June 9-15. As the festival continues to expand its offerings and support the global animation industry, filmmakers and animation enthusiasts eagerly anticipate the exciting premieres and events that lie ahead.
