renowned Canadian producer of children’s programming and author of the recently published memoir Animation Nation: How We Built a Cartoon Empire will reflect on his four decades in the animation industry at this year’s MIFA — the industry and education-dedicated market program of the Annecy International Animation Film Festival MIFA will welcome Hirsh as a Keynote Speaker looking back on his years in the animation industry while tracing a parallel path with the Market’s journey since its founding in 1985 Hirsh’s Keynote takes place on June 10 at the Impérial Palace – Étage 1 – Salle de l’Europe Hirsh will offer insights into 40 years of Canadian animation “I have attended the Annecy Festival since its inception,” said Hirsh “It is a great honor to be the Keynote Speaker at this momentous occasion I look forward to sharing my insights and meeting with old and new colleagues.” the conversation will delve into the founding of Nelvana in 1971 its major impact on the growth of the Canadian — and more expansive the creation of Studio Ellipse in partnership with Nelvana the company’s transformation over the years and the broader consolidation of the industry Hirsh will also share with Davin his perspective on the future of streaming and the opportunities it presents for non-U.S Hirsh will be signing copies of his debut book Animation Nation: How We Built a Cartoon Empire on Monday The book details how a fortuitous meeting with George Lucas led to the genesis of a major children’s animation studio and countless hours of enjoyment for children worldwide Co-founding Nelvana not only positioned Canada as a premier creator of children’s programming but also made a significant international impact establishing a new and successful model for producing children’s cartoons Animation Nation: How We Built A Cartoon Empire is not just a memoir; it is a celebration of the power of creativity and perseverance Hirsh’s narrative is a testament to how passion and entrepreneurial zeal can build a global empire from humble beginnings Animation Nation is available from major retailers as a hardcover or ebook MIFA will be held June 10-13, during the 2025 Annecy Festival (June 8-14). Find more information at annecyfestival.com We use cookies to enhance your browsing experience We use cookies to help you navigate efficiently and perform certain functions You will find detailed information about all cookies under each consent category below The cookies that are categorised as "Necessary" are stored on your browser as they are essential for enabling the basic functionalities of the site We also use third-party cookies that help us analyse how you use this website and provide the content and advertisements that are relevant to you These cookies will only be stored in your browser with your prior consent You can choose to enable or disable some or all of these cookies but disabling some of them may affect your browsing experience Necessary cookies are required to enable the basic features of this site such as providing secure log-in or adjusting your consent preferences These cookies do not store any personally identifiable data Functional cookies help perform certain functionalities like sharing the content of the website on social media platforms Analytical cookies are used to understand how visitors interact with the website These cookies help provide information on metrics such as the number of visitors Performance cookies are used to understand and analyse the key performance indexes of the website which helps in delivering a better user experience for the visitors Advertisement cookies are used to provide visitors with customised advertisements based on the pages you visited previously and to analyse the effectiveness of the ad campaigns Netflix returns to the Annecy International Animation Film Festival with a bold This follows a standout year for Netflix Animation with the Oscar-nominated Wallace & Gromit: Vengeance Most Fowl winning two BAFTAs and Orion and the Dark earning Children and Family Emmys for Best Special Production and Best Writing A full rundown of Netflix’s Annecy activity includes:  and VFX supervisor Nicola Lavender will debut never-before-seen footage from their upcoming film In Your Dreams during a special panel The world premiere of Fixed will take place at Annecy on Wednesday The newly acquired adult comedy film from Genndy Tartakovsky (Primal Hotel Transylvania) brings his signature irreverence and artistry to the big screen A masterclass with Raphael Bob-Waksberg, the creator of BoJack Horseman, follows on Thursday, 12 June. He’ll be joined by the team behind his upcoming adult comedy series, Long Story Short with audiences getting an early look at an episode ahead of its debut Work-in-Progress and Making of sessions for Ubisoft’s popular Tom Clancy game franchise, Splinter Cell: Deathwatch and Folivari’s French preschool series 7 Bears for a behind-the-scenes look at these titles this session—led by Netflix Animation executives John Derderian (Vice President Family Spectacle)—will share insights into our creative and production processes behind our animated slate And finally, Netflix titles — Astérix & Obélix: Le Combat des Chefs and Devil May Cry — will compete in Annecy’s Official TV Films Competition while Mononoke The Movie: Chapter II - The Ashes of Rage will be screened as part of the festival’s Midnight Specials programming The Annecy Festival and MIFA (the Animation Film Market) 2025 are fast approaching As the world’s leading event in the animation industry it will once again attract students and professionals alike especially those looking for job opportunities It’s time to take stock of what this year’s edition may offer in terms of employment and recruitment During the Festival and MIFA the press conference Véronique Encrenaz (Head of MIFA) and Mickaël Marin (CEO of CITIA the organization behind the entire event) did not shy away from discussing the ongoing industry crisis MIFA will feature a dedicated recruitment space located on the first floor of the tent next to the Imperial Palace Some studios that had a booth in the recruitment area last year have opted this time for a spot on the lower level prioritizing production and the preparation of future projects over hiring In the MIFA Campus—an area focused on students and emerging talents—the same trend applies: fewer job opportunities.However even if many of them won’t have a lot of openings to offer at the moment Conferences and recruitment sessions remain part of the schedule.Moreover changes are coming: MIFA Campus 2025 aims to be more informal and collaborative young talents should still have opportunities to connect with studios Véronique Encrenaz and Mickaël Marin openly addressed the crisis and its effects on the industry and the MIFA itself They acknowledged that countries such as France from the perspective of the Festival and MIFA New territories will also have booths at MIFA for the first time Encrenaz also highlighted the growing artistic and technical quality of projects from countries like Nigeria and Ghana.In short while the global animation industry may be facing hard times certain countries seem to have a growing industry The organizing team believes these new participants will help draw fresh audiences to the event potentially offsetting a decrease in attendees from more affected regions we shouldn’t expect a new attendance record: last year’s 17,400 accreditations will likely not be surpassed the Festival and MIFA are aiming for stability compared to last year it’s likely that the 103 countries present in 2024 will be exceeded in 2025 A final major announcement: MIFA has received a record number of project pitches—no less than 917 for a highly competitive selection rate of around 5% including the 7 MIFA pitch sessions (with a new animated documentary category) and 25 partner sessions around 180 projects will be pitched this year This record number of pitches submtted is noteworthy: does it show that Annecy is cementing its position alongside other major events like Cartoon Forum and Cartoon Movie The answer will become clearer in the coming months One thing is certain: there is no shortage of creative ideas Editor specialising in 3D and 2D/VFX/real time 3D/XR animation Passionate about the evolution of digital creation I've been part of the 3DVF team since 2010 I go to trade shows with my notebook and camera in hand As the benchmark media for the entertainment and digital image industries 3DVF keeps you up to date with all the latest news and industry secrets By 2025-04-23T18:14:00+01:00 France’s Annecy International Animation Film Festival (June 8-14) will preview upcoming animations including Zootopia 2 Animal Farm and the Stranger Things animated series as part of its 2025 lineup director Michel Gondry and acclaimed UK animator Joanna Quinn will receive honorary Cristal awards Gondry will present his Berlinale 2025 title Maya Give Me a Title as a special screening.  Also attending are Andy Serkis for what the festival described as a ‘special premiere’ of his animated feature adaptation of George Orwell’s Animal Farm ahead of its theatrical release on July 11; and Iranian director Sepideh Farsi as one of the Feature Film Competition jurors alongside Pablo Pico and Gyorgy Raduly.  The 10-strong feature film competition will include A Magnificent Life the latest feature from French director Sylvain Chomet heading to Annecy from its world premiere as a Special Screening at Cannes the feature debut of Spanish animator Irene Iborra Olivia… is one of five features in competition to have previously participated in Annecy as a Work in Progress Of the upcoming slates from the US studios Disney Animation Studios is presenting a first look at Zootopia 2; and Pixar adventure Elio Jared Bush, Zootopia 2 director and the new CEO of Disney Animation Studios Marvel Animation will play one full episode of Eyes Of Wakanda two months before its launch on Disney+ and Groening will present exclusive episodes from The Simpsons’ 36th season Netflix is screening a first look at Stranger Things: Tales From ’85 animated series project and will host a discussion with Bojack Horseman creator Raphael Bob-Waksberg about his new series Long Story Short Dreamworks Animation will run a first look at Bad Guys 2 ahead of its August 1 wide release The 12 feature film works in progress for 2025 include Carmen who won the main Annecy Cristal in 2023 with Chicken for Linda!, and Erica Rivinoja and Alessandro Carloni’s The Cat In The Hat musical The festival will pay tribute to Hungarian animation in partnership with the National Film Institute Hungary Institut Liszt and Paris’ Hungarian Cultural Centre With some Hungarian filmmakers unwilling to work with government funding due to concerns of censorship Annecy artistic director Marcel Jean said the festival has been free to programme what it wanted.  “There were no constraints about that,” Jean told Screen “The people from the NFI were very open with us The festival is hoping for another rise in attendees after a record-breaking 17,400 accredited guests last year Visitors this year will encounter a new venue: the Annecy Dôme two minutes’ walk from the main Pathe screening venue The concurrent MIFA market is celebrating its 40th anniversary this year and will welcome attendees from over 100 countries including first-time country stands from Australia Companies attending for the first time include Mattel Ausfilm and the New Zealand Film Commission “Japan will be here really strongly – they are coming with new ways they want to work,” said Veronique Encrenaz and European countries are pushing a lot of animation Little Amelie or the Character of Rain (Fr) dirs Olivia and the Invisible Earthquake (Bel-Chile-Sp-Fr) dir The Great History of Western Philosophy (Mex) dir Tales from the Magic Garden (Cze-Fr-Slovakia-Slovenia) dirs Mononoke The Movie: Chapter II – The Ashes of Rage (Jap) dirs The Mourning Children: Nagiko and the Girls Wearing Tsurubami Black (Jap) dir Tom Clancy’s Splinter Cell: Deathwath (Fr-US) dirs Guillaume Dousse and Felicien Colmet Daage Marvel Animation – Eyes of Wakanda (1 episode) 20th Television Animation – The Simpsons (new episodes from season 36) Star Wars: Tales of the Empire ‘Devoted’ – short films Dreamworks Animation – The Bad Guys 2 first look Anmiation – Cartoon Network Studios panel discussion; Smiling Friends season 3 presentation Netflix – Stranger Things: Tales From ‘85 animated series first look; 20 minutes of Alex Woo’s feature In Your Dreams; Raphael Bob-Waksberg in discussion about new series Long Story Short Ankama – presentation of new projects and series Captain Sabertooth and the Countess of Grel (Nor) dirs. Yaprak Morali Chickenhare and the Secret of the Groundhog (Bel-Fr) dir My Grandfather is a Nihonjin (Braz) dir Thelma’s Perfect Birthday (Lat-Lux) dir Bookmark this page to keep track of all the latest festival dates Company’s latest foray into genre will open theatrically on October 10 CAD $90,000 in cash and prizes presented at Friday’s ceremony in Toronto Bookmark this page and keep track of the latest film release dates in the UK & Ireland EXCLUSIVE: Film shoots in Dublin and Dundalk this summer Oscar winner proposing federal tax incentives Screen International is the essential resource for the international film industry access to the Screen International archive and supplements including Stars of Tomorrow and World of Locations Site powered by Webvision Cloud By | 04/23/2025 11:15 am | Be the First to Comment! Cartoon Network Studios and Hanna-Barbera Studios Europe has announced its programming line-up for the upcoming Annecy animation festival in France The company will have a noticeable presence at the festival this year because Hanna-Barbera produced Annecy’s official 2025 trailer but the actual trailer will play during the festival ahead of all the screenings and panels: The trailer was directed by Grant Orchard (Hey Duggee) with Ben Bocquelet (The Amazing World of Gumball) serving as executive producer Animation to participate in such a meaningful way,” said Sam Register “I want to thank [Annecy Festival artistic director] Marcel Jean and the festival leadership for entrusting us with this year’s trailer and Ben Bocquelet for his creative vision.” Animation series like Get Jiro and Bat-Fam WB’s most high-profile event is is a 25th anniversary tribute to Cartoon Network Studios which will include participation by the creators of some of the network’s most famous series Discovery’s full programming line-up for Annecy: Amid Amidi is Cartoon Brew's Editor in Chief Best in Travel is here! Discover 2025’s destinations The 30 best countries, cities and regions to visit in 2025 Plan your trip with Elsewhere, by Lonely Planet See where a Lonely Planet Membership takes you Subscribe to our weekly newsletters to get the latest travel news, expert advice, and insider recommendations Explore the world with our detailed, insightful guidebooks Stay ahead of the curve with our guidebooks Uncover exciting new ways to explore iconic destinations Every month, we release new books into the wild Search Search Close search menu Explore Best in Travel 2024 Africa Close menu Countries Antarctica Antarctica Close menu Regions Asia Asia Close menu Countries Australia & the Pacific Australia & the Pacific Close menu Countries The Caribbean The Caribbean Close menu Countries Central America Central America Close menu Countries Europe Europe Close menu Countries Middle East Middle East Close menu Countries North America North America Close menu Countries South America South America Close menu Countries Relaxing on the waterfront of Lake Annecy Thanks to a recent invitation to visit Évian-les-Bains and Annecy, I finally put my rusty French skills and trusty film camera to use. Here’s how to plan a lovely getaway between the two idyllic lakeside destinations Where to stay: Initially a favorite holiday spot among French nobility for its thermal spas, Évian’s accommodation options today serve up an impressive range, from scenic campsites to ritzy resorts. I stayed at Évian Resort’s Hôtel Ermitage, a gorgeous historic property that dates back to 1908, perched up the hill overlooking Lake Geneva. In Annecy, I checked into Les Trésoms a swanky resort on a forested hill with sparkling views of Lake Annecy and the city athletic clothes and fairly casual clothes for exploring – it’s very laid-back here since everyone’s so active I packed a pair of white jeans for evenings out When to go: Like most of Europe, this region sees its highest tourist count come summertime, but there’s truly nothing like a spring trip to France In addition to fewer crowds and cheaper hotel rates locals are out in the city on the year’s first warm days The vibes: Spa hub Évian-les-Bains has both an elegant and outdoorsy spirit. Throw in romantic Belle Époque architecture, blossoming public gardens and ideal proximity to the Alps, and you’ll find this tiny French commune has far more to offer than its legendary healing waters.  the spring where anyone can fill their bottle with Évian water beneath a colorful mosaic You’ll probably meet many locals on their weekly bottle-filling run as I did look for secret passageways to dip into (public ones are visibly marked) and come out on a completely different street.  How to spend the afternoon: I sat down for lunch at Umberto, an Italian spot (don’t worry – plenty of French cuisine awaits) on the bottom floor of Évian Resort’s Casino It’s perfect for some quayside people-watching while digging into a bowl of fresh pasta.  End the afternoon with a hot chocolate – the divinely rich kind – outside Comptoir d’Arômes, which overlooks Évian’s place du marché (market square). On Tuesdays and Fridays, market days fill the square with activity Dinner: I walked over to Évian Resort’s Hôtel Royal for an upscale sunset dinner at La Véranda skip and a bridge from Hôtel Ermitage and with uninterrupted views of Lake Geneva My haricot verts came in a tiny green French oven The vibes: It’s often lauded as the “Venice of the Alps,” but Annecy merits its own distinctive accolades. There’s the Thiou Canal, cobblestone walkways and a magical medieval core with a castle to boot And then there are sleek hotels and restaurants whose massive windows reflect the vivid blue lake Morning: I made an early start on my journey to Annecy or it takes between two and three hours via public transport.  which towers over the old town and today hosts temporary art exhibitions Dinner: My phone’s step count indicated a trip back to the hotel was in order. I ate dinner at one of the on-property restaurants, L’Atelier: roasted beets mushroom risotto and the kind of chocolate mousse that’s probably graced your social feeds and left you envious Morning: It’d be a downright shame to come to Annecy and not jump in the lake (weather permitting). It’s often praised for having some of the purest water in Europe. Prime plages include the Plage Municipale in Sevrier and Place de l’Impérial which is closer to town but charges an entrance fee How to spend the day: I enjoyed lunch canalside at Auberge de Lyonnais having played an important role in the French Resistance during WWII.  On day one, I circumnavigated Lake Annecy by boat. On the second day, I made the scenic tour by e-bike, otherwise known as a tour du lac. You can rent bikes and self-plan the excursion (we have a guide for that), but I found my guided three-hour tour with Mobilboard helpful for both context and pacing Most of the lake loop is easy to follow via a two-way path which you should pull off to explore villages like Duingt and Talloires.  Aperitif: Rest your legs and order a drink at the newly opened Le Cabanon while the sun sets over Annecy I met a friend for a glass of prosecco on this lively outdoor bar’s dock which sits next to a pétanque court and a herd of tables beneath pretty string lights hanging in the trees It also hosts nighttime DJ sets and food trucks but I walked to dinner just across the street at Lôna Dinner: On the first floor of the Hôtel Rivage, Lôna is a fine-dining experience emphasizing local ingredients the trout ceviche was an obvious choice for me which is traditionally sandwiched with puff pastry but After dark: Wrap up the trip with a drink at Café des Arts in the Vielle Ville. It’s a longstanding establishment that, by day, is ideal for people-watching with a coffee. At night, swap the mug for a bottle of wine and great conversation. Ann Douglas traveled to France on the invitation of the Evian Resort, Auvergne Rhône Alpes Tourisme and Lac Annecy Tourisme. Lonely Planet does not accept freebies in exchange for positive coverage. Returning to the scenic French Alps from June 8-14, the Annecy International Animation Film Festival (annecyfestival.com) and its accompanying MIFA market has revealed a staggering lineup of programming highlights including screenings in and out of competition Particular spotlights of this edition are a tribute to Hungarian animation the music video works of auteur animators and the MIFA’s 40th anniversary the 2025 edition introduces a new short film program as a complement to the Midnight Specials screenings which focus on weird and wonderful films This year’s attendees will also be the first to experience the Annecy Dome a cozy new 32-seat venue to experience immersive works in the heart of Annecy’s city center Joining the previously announced Short Film and TV Film selections we now have the roster of Feature Films showcased in the 2025 program: Another annual highlight of Annecy’s programming is the Works in Progress section which this year will present sessions exploring 16 upcoming projects: 12 feature films and four television series The Annecy Festival will welcome Oscar-winning filmmaker Michel Gondry for the very first time The visionary artist transformed the world of music videos through his work with artists such as Björk The Festival will present him with an Honorary Cristal in recognition of his exceptional contribution to the vitality of animation as well as present his new animated feature Maya Give Me Another a Title in a special screening event Honorary Cristals will also be awarded to indie animation icon Joanna Quinn (featured in the Women and Animation program) and to Matt Groening Annecy will also open its arms to Raphael Bob-Waksberg (creator of BoJack Horseman) who will be offering an early look at his upcoming Netflix series Long Story Short; Pixar CCO Pete Docter offering an early look at the studio’s upcoming features Elio Hoppers and Toy Story 5 as well as celebrating the 30th anniversary of Toy Story; and Genndy Tartakovsky creator of beloved series and films including Dexter’s Laboratory on deck to showcase his Sony Picture Animation adult comedy Fixed ahead of its Netflix debut Outside the competition and official festival programs Annecy attendees will find a number of compelling new feature films representing a variety of stories and animated visions: Major animation players from Hollywood and France will showcase their next big titles and mark their successes during the Festival Disney’s Animation Studios (previously announced): Warner Bros. Animation (announced this morning) Netflix (announced this morning) This non-competitive category launched last year enables the general public and families to discover 13 sneak preview films: This spotlight on Hungarian animation will be the opportunity for festivalgoers to discover all the depth of this production through 9 programs curated by Anna Ida Orosz animation specialist at the Film Archive of the National Film Institute in Budapest A collection of commercial films to award-winning films from heritage films to graduation films from the esteemed MOME University the whole history and diversity of Hungarian animation will grace the Annecy cinema theatre screens there will be a free and public open-air screening of Gauder’s Four Souls of Coyote a Hungarian music videos program in the section “The Video Clip Geniuses,” a Midnight Special screening and Making of devoted to Ruben Brandt the WIP on Anita Doron’s Fairyheart and a number of free exhibitions around the city The Video Clip Geniuses will celebrate the art of animated music video production with five programs of clips interspersed with discussions with each artist the Festival will be garnishing the city with many free exhibitions in the center of Le Pâquier next to the lake “Arcane at Annecy 2025 – The Exhibition Event” — produced by Fortiche Production Riot Games and the Annecy Festival — will take a behind-the-scenes look at the creation and production of one of the most striking and award-winning animation series for adults in recent years Annecy 2025 celebrates 40 years of supporting the global animation film industry’s ecosystem: the International Animation Film Market (MIFA) The market has enjoyed steady growth in the last four decades over 10,000 m² – including the exhibition area the Impérial Palace conference center as well as the Campus MIFA dedicated to young aspiring talent since 2023 – welcomes professionals and students from almost a hundred nations The MIFA also boasts 200 events over the course of four days: conferences workshops and pitches for projects in development from around the world the Mifa Exhibition Area is expanding to welcome even more territories (Australia Kosovo and Hungary) and new companies (Mattel not to mention the ever increasing number of schools and new technology stands a Hungarian pavilion along with a significant delegation will be present which demonstrates the dynamism of this industry within the international market Jury Award winner at Annecy in 2023 for Four Souls of Coyote has accepted the role of Patron of the MIFA Campus He will be giving a Masterclass for all the students coming to Annecy from around the world MIFA will also offer a Talent Panel by the MOME University as well as various other professional panels The program includes a flurry of press conferences from producers and broadcasters including Mediawan Kids & Family The market will also highlight daily themes: Women in Animation (Monday) Video Games with a cinematics competition (Tuesday & Wednesday) Animated Documentary (Thursday) and Music (Friday) The MIFA Conference section is focused on the future supporting industry transformation and spotlighting emerging talent In addition to Masterclasses by Michel Gondry and Áron Gauder MIFA Campus will offer a freshly reorganized selection of daily content: Spend a whole weekend exploring Annecy's romantic canals and alpine lake They call Annecy the "Venice of the Alps" for good reason. An utterly charming town in the Haute-Savoie region of Southeastern France it is crisscrossed by canals lined by flower boxes and encircles a great with shorelines best seen from the bow of a boat Guided by French friends with a family home here café and curio shop I could squeeze into summer When to arrive: If you're traveling overseas booking a Thursday night flight to Geneva Airport (GVA) that arrives Friday morning is best United and Swiss Airlines offer non-stop flights to GVA Getting around town: Almost everyone cycles Lake Annecy is lined with friendly bike shops that rent out e-bikes Where to stay: Airbnb rentals are popular in Annecy, which makes it easy to feel like a local with your own fridge and washing machine. For a mid-tier hotel, the Black Bass has a prime lakeside position with a hip vibe. On the higher end, Le Palace de Menthon literally feels like a palace with a full-service spa and glass-encased rooftop restaurant What to pack: Pack bathing suits and beachwear, along with comfortable sneakers, hiking boots and athleisure to make the most of the alpine trails. Annecy is also home to 10 Michelin-starred restaurants which require smart-casual evening wear for dinner (think summer dresses Morning: Start your morning like a true Annécienne: with really good coffee. Head into the historic old town called Annecy-le-Vieux and stroll down the charming, cobblestone Rue Jean-Jacques Rousseau, where you'll find Café Bunna Annecy Despite being the "smallest coffee shop in Annecy" (it's literally a hole in the wall) there is a barista counter churning out some of the town's best lattés croissants and baguettes served warm and laden with fresh local goat and cow cheese How to spend the day: Imagine if Italy's Lake Como had a wide, 42-km (26-mile) bike path along its entire perimeter where pro-cyclists spend summers breezing past the petals of wildflowers – that's Lake Annecy. The world revolves around cycling here, regardless of skill level. I recommend Cyclable rentals which has two separate locations and a robust inventory you'll pass signage designed to lure you into a lakeside lunch Generally speaking, the restaurants here are casual waterfront affairs, often facing their own pier or patch of beach. A great spot for lunch is Le Poisson Rouge the fare is local (think filets de perche served with crisp pomme frites) and the Aperol spritz cocktails are flowing You could easily while away the entire afternoon here if you had no agenda which hosts only nine tables and serves a tightly orchestrated Morning: Get ready to shop, fueled by a light, healthy breakfast at the hip beach café Pura Vida Most retail shops in Annecy aren't open on Sunday so getting an early start on Saturday is the best way to go Two stores stand out for genuine made-in-France craftsmanship. One is Paul Marius, selling vintage leather goods designed in Normandy. Here, you'll find a colorful collection of handbags, backpacks, duffle bags, wallets and sneakers. Next, head back over to Rue Jean-Jacques Rousseau and get lost in the homeware reverie that is Le Tetras a Savoyarde shop filled with pottery hand-painted by local artisans The place is stocked floor-to-ceiling with whimsical egg cups salad bowls and cherry red fondue sets for that idyllic French farmhouse tablescape (the shopkeeper will bubble wrap your purchases tight as a drum if you've got space in your suitcase) How to spend the day: A visit to Château de Menthon-Saint Bernard is an absolute must It's a stunning medieval castle on a hill which is said to have inspired Walt Disney's Sleeping Beauty Take a 45-minute guided tour for the full backstory which includes a primer on the life of Count François de Menthon (1900-1984) a WWII French liberation fighter and professor who despite being wounded in the French army and captured by members of the Vichy regime which you'll need a bit of time to process Within walking distance is the public Plage de Menthon Saint Bernard you can shelter in the shade of the trees and swim to your heart's content You can bring your own lunch or patronize the cheap-and-cheerful beach café (which sells ice cream you'll probably want to take it easy on lunch because tonight's dinner is another knock-out Epicurean experience Dinner: If I had to choose one meal in Annecy, it would be Chef Jean Sulpice's Michelin-starred restaurant at Auberge du Père Bise Even locals aspire to eat here because the ambiance is magical you can witness the mirror of Lake Annecy meeting the mountains whilst sitting shaded by the broad green leaves of sweet-smelling mulberry trees presenting dish after remarkable dish from a six or eight-course menu go with the lighter menu and take your time the dish I still crave is the "cueillette d'été," a perfect circle of summer vegetables that make a kind of laurel crown for emulsified cream sauce It's a celebration of the season in a bowl For the meal's grand finale: a massive wheel of local Beaufort cheese "in the spirit of an alpine pasture," sliced paper-thin on your plate finished perfectly with a swig of caramel-colored Roussillon wine Morning: In any weather, Sunday morning is best spent sipping coffee and tucking into avocado toast at Dip Honest Food Annecy's answer to Brooklyn's boho-chic brunches It's an all-day café populated by locals who seem to be perpetually sipping noisettes with nowhere to go How to spend the day: Pack a backpack with a water bottle and a change of fresh clothes, lace up your hiking boots and head directly to Roc de Chère a protected nature reserve spanning 168 acres of dense forests sandstone ridges and dramatic limestone cliffs making the experience accessible even to wannabe hikers like me It may take 90 minutes to reach its summit but you'll be rewarded with breathtaking views of the lake the surrounding Mont Veyrier mountains and the postcard-picture village of Talloires below On a clear morning, you'll spot dozens of people paragliding through this pure mountain air. Most take off from Col de la Forclaz, which is home to well-known paragliding schools, including Les Passagers du Vent and Annecy Aventure you'll need to book your slot ahead of time (prices range between €85 to €170) park your car at the "Col de la Forclaz" public car park To end your weekend with a soft landing, I suggest a languorous, late lunch in the elegant restaurant inside Le Cottage hotel. From behind its panoramic bay window, the surface of the lake seems to change colors from turquoise to zephyr green to azure blue, depending on the angle of sun rays that seem to beam through the clouds just for you, making this horizon that much harder to leave. Take it in. Raise a glass of Chablis, savor the last few tender bites of lobster cassoulet and try not to mourn over the loss of sheer delights, like apricot gelato with wild thyme. As they say, you can't take it with you. Cartoon Network Studios and Hanna-Barbera Studios Europe will be back at the Annecy International Animation Film Festival in June with exclusive sneak peeks and a generational gathering of some of CNS’ most visionary and influential animators in honor of the studio’s 25th anniversary Hanna-Barbera Studios Europe has produced Annecy’s official 2025 trailer which features Bugs Bunny and other  iconic Warner Bros characters making their way to this year’s festival Animation to participate in such a meaningful way,” said Sam Register “I want to thank Marcel Jean and the festival leadership for entrusting us with this year’s trailer We look forward to our time at this year’s festival and celebrating this artform that we love so much.” Creating Creativity: Celebrating 25 Years of Cartoon Network Studios A special event celebrating the studio that defied industry norms and defined animation for a generation of fans Join a gathering of visionary creators — Genndy Tartakovsky (Dexter’s Laboratory) Adam Muto (Adventure Time: Fionna and Cake) — for a conversation covering the history and enduring legacy of Cartoon Network Studios Animation and based on the New York Times bestselling DC/Vertigo graphic novel Get Jiro is set in a not-too-distant future Los Angeles where master chefs rule the town and people literally kill for a seat at the best restaurants A mysterious sushi master named Jiro enters a bloody culinary war to craft his recipe for revenge Join members of the creative team for an exclusive exploration of the creative and production process of bringing this exciting graphic novel to life Following the events of Merry Little Batman Alfred and young Damian Wayne — who has now taken on the mantle of Little Batman — alongside a few newcomers to Wayne Manor as they navigate the fun and frustrations of life as a super family Join members of the creative team for a special behind-the-scenes look into the artistic development and production of this highly anticipated series coming soon to Prime Video from Warner Bros and Hanna-Barbera Studios Europe showcase their high-profile slate of current and upcoming film and series projects Learn how these three storied studios aim to be the broadest purveyor of animation in the world producing content that touches every audience group and every platform and exclusive first looks from the always original Cartoon Network Studios and the whimsical world of Hanna-Barbera Studios Europe Animation spotlight their strategy and efforts in the booming adult animation space Adult Swim) and Peter Girardi (Executive Vice President Animation) preview current and upcoming projects and share their team’s strategies to ensure Warner Bros Discovery remains the destination for adult animation Netflix will once again make a big splash at the Annecy International Animation Film Festival with a genre-spanning line-up of films Arcane earning seven Annie Awards and Orion and the Dark scoring Children and Family Emmys for Best Special Production and Best Writing Next on Netflix Animation returns to Théâtre Bonlieu on Wednesday This year’s session will feature exclusive previews of In Your Dreams and Stranger Things: Tales From ‘85 Executive producer Eric Robles will present a world-exclusive first look at the Stranger Things animated series production designer Steven Pilcher and VFX supervisor Nicola Lavender will debut never-before-seen footage from their upcoming film In Your Dreams during a special panel In Your Dreams is a comedy adventure that follows Stevie and her brother Elliot as they journey into the absurd landscape of their own dreams If the siblings can withstand a snarky stuffed giraffe the Sandman will grant them their ultimate dream come true … the perfect family the film features the voices of Jolie Hoang-Rappaport The world premiere of Fixed will take place at Annecy on Wednesday From visionary director Genndy Tartakovsky comes Fixed all-around good dog who discovers he’s going to be neutered in the morning As the gravity of this life-altering event sets in Bull realizes he needs one last adventure with his pack of best friends as these are the last 24 hours with his balls The Sony Pictures Animation production debuts August 13 He will be joined by the team behind his upcoming adult comedy series Long Story Short is an animated comedy about one family we follow the Schwooper siblings from childhood to adulthood and back again The series is produced by Tornante Television and animation studio ShadoMachine Annecy attendees can get a behind-the-scenes look at upcoming projects in Work-in-Progress and Making of sessions for the animated adaptation of Ubisoft’s popular Tom Clancy game franchise and Folivari’s French preschool series 7 Bears Splinter Cell: Deathwatch follows legendary agent Sam Fisher as he is drawn back into the field when a wounded young operative seeks out his help in partnership with Derek Kolstad (John Wick) Co-directors are Guillaume Dousse and Félicien Colmet-Daage 7 Bears centers on a lovable pack of furballs who put a fuzzy twist on the fairytales we thought we knew Based on the acclaimed graphic novels by Emile Bravo Netflix will host a dedicated Animated Series Studio Focus on Thursday giving audiences an in-depth look at its full animation series slate Seuss’s Horton!) to adult epics (Blue Eye Samurai Season 2 This session — led by Netflix Animation executives John Derderian (Vice President Adult Spectacle) and Dominique Bazay (Director Family Spectacle) — will share insights into the creative and production processes behind the streamer’s upcoming animated slate Netflix titles — Asterix & Obelix: The Big Fight (Astérix & Obélix: Le Combat des Chefs) and Devil May Cry — will compete in Annecy’s Official TV Films Competition In the new fully-animated Asterix & Obelix series from TAT Productions Rome is desperate to conquer the last independent village in Gaul and the home of Asterix and Obelix The secret to the Gauls’ battle superiority is a magic potion but when the potion master loses his memory the villagers are left to their own devices against the might of Rome Created by Alain Chabat and based on the classic comics by René Goscinny and Albert Uderzo Read more about Devil May Cry in Animation Magazine‘s feature story here Disney Television Animation and 20th Television Animation will come together at Annecy Talented creators from The Walt Disney Company’s studios will present previews of their upcoming productions  and participated in Q&As, panels, screenings and surprises during the 2025 Annecy International Animation Film Festival (June 8-14 | annecyfestival.com) This year’s edition will also celebrate the 30th anniversary of Toy Story The Festival welcomes studio leaders Pete Docter (Pixar Animation Studios’ Chief Creative Officer) and Jared Bush (Walt Disney Animation Studios’ Chief Creative Officer; Zootopia 2 director/writer); special honorees including celebrated Disney Animation director Ron Clements (The Little Mermaid The Princess and the Frog) and The Simpsons creator Matt Groening; and renowned filmmakers and creative executives behind highly anticipated titles including Disney Animation’s Zootopia 2 Marvel Animation’s Eyes of Wakanda and 20th Television Animation’s The Simpsons Festival attendees will be treated to behind-the-scenes details insight and a pair of exclusive screenings — a new short and a full episode from Lucasfilm’s Star Wars: Visions and Star Wars: Tales of the Empire Making his first appearance at the Annecy Festival Walt Disney Animation Studios’ Chief Creative Officer & Oscar-winning director/writer Jared Bush (Encanto Moana) will unveil a sneak peek of the upcoming theatrical release Zootopia 2 — a film he is directing (with Byron Howard) and writing — on Friday The sequel to the global phenomenon sees detectives Judy Hopps and Nick Wilde on the twisting trail of a mysterious reptile who turns the animal metropolis upside down The film is set for a theatrical release on November 26 legendary Disney Animation Director Ron Clements (The Little Mermaid Moana) will be honored with an induction into Annecy’s prestigious Walk of Fame Festival attendees will also get the chance to experience the original Zootopia with a special open-air screening on the evening of June 14 Pixar’s Chief Creative Officer Pete Docter (Monsters Soul) will host an exclusive presentation on Friday showcasing Pixar’s upcoming slate of animated titles Docter will be joined on stage by Elio directors Madeline Sharafian (Burrow SparkShort) and Domee Shi (Bao short Turning Red) and producer Mary Alice Drumm (Coco) They will offer a sneak peek of footage from the feature a young boy and space fanatic with an active imagination and a huge alien obsession when he’s beamed up to the Communiverse an interplanetary organization with representatives from galaxies far and wide Elio’s all in for the epic undertaking Mistakenly identified as Earth’s leader Elio must form new bonds with eccentric alien lifeforms navigate a crisis of intergalactic proportions and somehow discover who and where he is truly meant to be Docter will continue to explore Pixar’s upcoming films including first looks at the studio’s 2026 releases Hoppers an animal lover who seizes an opportunity to use new technology to ‘hop’ human consciousness into life-like robotic animals; and Toy Story 5 in which the toys encounter new challenges when technology enters the picture This year marks Toy Story‘s 30th anniversary Docter will share little-before-seen footage of Pixar as a nascent studio working to create this film that would forever change animation In recognition of his contributions to animation Oscar-winning director Pete Docter will also be inducted into Annecy’s Walk of Fame Marvel Animation will host an exclusive premiere screening of the first episode of the action-adventure series Eyes of Wakanda The story follows the adventures of brave Wakandan warriors throughout history the heroes must carry out dangerous missions to retrieve Vibranium artifacts from the enemies of Wakanda They are the Hatut Zaraze and this is their story Director and executive producer Todd Harris will be on hand for a conversation about the four-episode series event attendees will get an exclusive look at the upcoming anime-inspired Disney+ Original series Dragon Striker from Disney Television Animation set in a world where sports and magic combine including executive producer and co-creator Sylvain Dos Santos head writer Paul McKeown and art director Claire Sun will take audiences through the creative development journey of the series from the genesis of the project to the international music studio sessions and the artistic complexities involved in the production process Additionally, Disney Television Animation’s buddy comedy Kiff will compete as an official TV Films selection at this year’s festival creator and executive producer of The Simpsons along with executive producer and showrunner Matt Selman and consulting producer/animator David Silverman providing fans and professionals with the rare opportunity to experience unique moments with the trio at the world’s largest animation festival Selman and Silverman will participate in several key events during the Festival including an exclusive Screening Event on June 10 where they will share insights into the creation of The Simpsons and its impact on the animation industry The Screening Event will be followed by a Q&A session and a signing event giving fans the chance to interact with these animation legends an Honorary Cristal will be presented to Groening in recognition of his outstanding contribution to animation Silverman will take part in a live drawing session at the Campus Mifa Lucasfilm will present the world premiere of Black, a brand-new Star Wars: Visions short from David Production as part of the Short Films competition Black is written and directed by Shinya Ohira The short follows a psychedelic battle between past and present and life and death that plays out in the haunted psyche of an Imperial trooper who is on the cusp of defeat comprising nine shorts by nine Japanese anime studios will be streamed on Disney+ later this year Lucasfilm will also present “Devotion,” an episode from the critically acclaimed Star Wars: Tales of the Empire in the Official Selection TV Films Competition Created by supervising director Dave Filoni (The Clone Wars The Mandalorian) and directed by Saul Ruiz this chapter follows former Jedi Barriss Offee who is inducted into the New Galactic Empire’s division of Inquisitors CG comedy-adventure feature Stitch Head will make its World Premiere amid this year’s bustling Annecy International Animation Film Festival in June The monster-making flick hails from Cologne-based Gringo Films and aims to re-construct the classic story of Frankenstein for families around the world Synopsis: In a castle’s laboratory high above the little town of Grubbers Nubbin the maddest of all mad professors awakes monstrous creations to (almost) Life™ … then promptly forgets all about them so the townsfolk below don’t form an angry mob and burn the castle to the ground Meet Stitch Head — the Professor’s very first creation The show needs a new attraction and when Freakfinder meets humble Stitch Head The cast is led by Asa Butterfield (Sex Education) as Stitch Head Joel Fry (Cruella) as Stitch Head’s freshly-created best friend a fearless young girl and the monster’s greatest ally They are joined by Rob Brydon (The Amazing Maurice) and comedians Fern Brady and Jamali Maddix Steve Hudson directed and adapted the screenplay from the children’s book by Guy Bass The film is produced by Sonja Ewers for Gringo Films with Mark Mertens serving as producer for Fabrique d’Images “Guy Bass’ original book — featuring a castle full of monsters all terrified of the humans in the village below — is a wonderful comic inversion of the Frankenstein genre that’s been so much fun to bring to life — even now it makes us laugh every time,” said Hudson Guy’s characters are so emotional and engaging Stitch Head assumes he can never be loved — but in the end discover that love is all around him I really hope that’s something sticks with our audience long after they’ve seen the film.” Stitch Head boasts a strong lineup of co-production companies includes Marc Gabizon and Michael Luda with Fabrique d’Images The film was animated by Assemblage Entertainment with music by composer Nick Urata (Little Miss Sunshine “We’ve loved collaborating with the exceptionally talented Stitch Head team for the past two years I am thrilled with the final result of the movie and I can’t wait to share it with audiences at Annecy and around the world!” said Aniventure CEO Adam Nagle “Annecy is the world’s leading animation festival and Stitch Head is our debut animation feature but we’ve done everything we could to make Stitch Head the best film it could possibly be For Stitch Head now to be celebrating its premiere alongside the best animation in the world is a dream come true.” GFM Animation is handling worldwide sales and will be screening the film to distributors in London and at Cannes Contact Amanda Kerridge (amanda@gfmanimation.com) for more information The Annecy International Animation Film Festival has announced a raft of titles that have been selected to compete in this year’s Official competition and Contrechamp competition streams 21 features have made the cut as the annual event edges closer to kicking off on June 8 And there’s a strong contingent of kid-friendly titles in the running this year: Featured image: Little Amélie or The Character of Rain This is just some random content to show the different layouts possible The Annecy International Animation Film Festival has revealed the list of 35 shorts selected for the official competition in its upcoming edition over 3,900 shorts from a hundred countries were submitted for consideration The selection committees were coordinated by Maud Ahamadnia The final decisions were made by Annecy’s festival director Marcel Jean after consulting with the selection committee Here are the 35 titles selected for the Official Shorts Competition: The winner of the competition will automatically be shortlisted for next year’s Academy Awards Here are the selections for the other sidebars: Visit the website (Annecyfestival.com) to find out more about the 2025 edition Annecy will reveals its picks for student films VR and animated features categories in upcoming weeks The 2025 Annecy International Animation Film Festival will be held in Annecy The Annecy screening of Mononoke the Movie Trilogy: Chapter 2: The Ashes of Rage marks its Western premiere The third film, Gekijōban Mononoke Dai-San-Shō: Hebigami, will open in spring 2026 The original novel by Sakurazaka is set in a future Earth under attack by alien invaders known as Mimics Humanity's infantry goes into battle in powered armor suits that enhance their deadliness he finds himself awakening to a time prior to the battle Through a repeating process of dying and learning from his mistakes he slowly finds a way to live longer and longer and finds himself drawn to an elite soldier named Rita Vrataski Shueisha published the novel in December 2004. Viz Media published Sakurazaka's novel in English to launch its Haikasoru imprint for Japanese science fiction and fantasy in 2009 The novel inspired the live-action Hollywood movie adaptation Edge of Tomorrow in 2014, starring Tom Cruise and Emily Blunt. Edge of Tomorrow made over US$100 million in the U.S., US$15 million in Japan, and US$370,541,256 worldwide The Feast of Amrita (Amrita no Kyōen) anime film opened in Japan in May 2023 The film screened alongside a "refined version" of Aragne: Sign of Vermilion (with at least 60 revised shots) Update: Edited screening background for Nightmare Bugs Sources: Annecy, Mainichi Shimbun's Mantan Web Netflix is set to feature its upcoming Ghostbusters animated series at the Annecy International Animation Film Festival The series will be highlighted during Netflix’s Animated Series Studio Focus session on June 12 alongside other anticipated titles like Dr This session will be led by Netflix Animation executives John Derderian (Vice President Before fans get excited about a potential reveal of Ghostbusters, it’s worth noting that the Studio Focus session is part of Annecy’s industry-only programming and won’t be open to the general public. Additionally, given recent job postings for the series it’s a fairly safe bet that we’re still a ways off from a formal first look.​ Disclaimer: This website receives compensation through the use of third-party affiliate links."Ghostbusters" and "Ghost-Design" are registered Trademarks of Columbia Pictures Ghost Corps (Sony Pictures) Previews of “Elio,” “The Cat in the Hat” and an animated movie based on the same material as “Edge of Tomorrow” are also in the mix The Annecy International Animation Film Festival is nearly here The annual film festival and market takes place from June 8 to June 14 in a gorgeous town that served as the inspiration for Belle’s village in Disney’s “Beauty and the Beast” (yes This year’s slate is overflowing with must-see screenings and panels Among the special screenings this year are Andy Serkis’ long-awaited take on George Orwell’s “Animal Farm,” Michel Gondry’s “Maya Give Me Another Title” (he’ll also be receiving an Honorary Cristal Award this year “in recognition of his exceptional contribution to the vitality of animation”) Genndy Tartakovsky’s R-rated “Fixed” and “The SpongeBob Movie: Search for Squarepants,” the new feature from Paramount Animation Pixar will screen their new feature “Elio.” There will be exciting presentations from Disney who will reveal a first-look at footage from “Zootopia 2,” courtesy of director (and Walt Disney Animation Studios CCO) Jared Bush show an episode of Marvel Studios’ “Eyes of Wakanda” and present an episode of “The Simpsons,” along with a conversation with creator Matt Groening director David Silverman and writer Matt Selman There will also be the premiere of a new “Star Wars: Visions” short called “Black,” which is in competition alongside a “Star Wars: Tales of the Empire” installment “Devoted,” which also is in competition Sony Pictures Animation will be showcasing their animated basketball comedy “GOAT” and DreamWorks Animation will feature “Bad Guys 2.” Warner Bros Animation will have a panel devoted to 25 years of Cartoon Network Studios along with an Adult Swim showcase of season 3 of “Smiling Friends.” (Warner Bros Studios Animation will be on hand to preview “The Cat in the Hat.”) Netflix will be showing off their new animated “Stranger Things” project “Stranger Things: Tales from ’85,” with producer Eric Robles and screen two clips from the upcoming animated feature “In Your Dreams,” written and directed by Alex Woo creator of “Bojack Horseman,” talking about his new Netflix animated series “Long Story Short,” plus screening the very first episode For the first time ever they will also have a dedicated Animated Series Studio Focus giving audiences an in-depth look at our full animation series slate Series included will be everything from preschool (“Dr Seuss’s Horton!”) to adult animated series (“Blue Eye Samurai” season 2 to family titles (“Ghostbusters,” “Minecraft”) in addition to “The SpongeBob Movie,” will be presenting “Aang: The Last Airbender,” the feature-length animated spinoff the beloved animated series Among the movies being screened at the festival are “A Magnificent Life” from visionary French filmmaker Sylvain Chomet; “All You Need is Kill,” a Japanese animated feature based on the same source material as the Tom Cruise movie “Edge of Tomorrow;” and a French/Brazilian adaption of Joseph Conrad’s “Heart of Darkness.” Might be worth keeping in mind that “Flow” and “Memoir of a Snail,” both juggernauts heading into the awards season last year TheWrap spoke to Annecy artistic director Marcel Jean “The features selection is stronger than ever this year all of the films that are in competition could be awarded It will really be between the jury members what they want to recognize – if they want to recognize a technical achievement or a political engagement or a risk Because a lot of films are saying very strong thing about the world that we live in.” Jean said that Gondry coming back to the festival had been in the works for a while He met with Gondry in Los Angeles in February 2020 Of course the global pandemic canceled the festival “It was impossible to have him before this year and this year he was available,” Jean said This led to a focus on animated music videos Raman Djafari (who also designed this year’s festival psoter) Victor Haegelin and Jérôme Combe and Fortiche the studio behind “Arcane,” who got their start doing music videos “And they still do music videos around ‘Arcane,’” Jean added When we asked about “SpongeBob,” Jean said that Paramount between “SpongeBob,” their upcoming “Smurfs” projects and things like “Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Mutant Mayhem,” which premiered at the festival two years ago (a sequel is on the way “Paramount is becoming a specialist in these kinds of strange and funny creatures.” One element of this year’s festival that Jean is particularly fond of us the animated intro for the panels and screenings which this year will be handled by Warner Bros before the screening of “The Day the Earth Blew Up,” the “Looney Tunes” movie Jean gestured for Register to come with him and together they watched what Jean referred to as “the partners trailer.” “I said ‘Would you like to do it for next year?’” Jean explained I would like to do it and if the studio doesn’t give me the green light I will pay for it myself.’” And thus – it was done based on the book of the same name by Ahmadou Zaven Najjar rose to the challenge of adapting Ahmadou Kourouma’s novel Allah is Not Obliged It’s a tall order given the book’s raw which the director manages to preserve in this first-person narrative of a child soldier.” based on Confidences by Marcel Pagnol (France,Luxembourg Release date 15th October 2025 – Wild Bunch Distribution “Sylvain Chomet makes his comeback with this feature film dedicated to Marcel Pagnol It is such a delight to see the filmmaker’s sophisticated graphics again and for the first time he uses dialogue to capture the musical Marseille accent.” Ugo Bienvenu offers us an astonishing first science-fiction feature film for all the family in which a 10-year-old girl takes in a boy of the same age from the future.” “This whimsical tale comes to us from Japan with its assertive graphic style and bold colours somewhat reminiscent of Masaaki Yuasa and Taiyō Matsumoto.” • Dandelion’s Odyssey by Momoko Seto – WIP 2024 (Belgium “It is an understatement to say that Momoko Seto’s debut feature was eagerly awaited we were fascinated by this original imagery a skillful blend of scientific shooting techniques and digital animation we are hurtling along a strange and perilous journey…” • Death Does Not Exist by Félix Dufour-Laperrière – WIP 2024 (Canada who won an award in the Contrechamp selection in 2021 with Archipel the film plunges us into the torments of a young woman haunted by guilt following an attack that went wrong.” • Into the Mortal World by Zhong Ding (China) “This is yet another demonstration of the exceptional expertise of Chinese studios Into the Mortal World is intended for all audiences • Little Amélie or the Character of Rain by Maïlys Vallade and Liane-Cho Han Maïlys Vallade and Liane-Cho Han adapted Amélie Nothomb’s novel with finesse and sensitivity brought to life by both the magical script and Mari Fukuhara’s music the film will appeal to audiences of all ages.” • Olivia and the Invisible Earthquake by Irene Iborra “One of the great surprises of the selection This is the only stop-motion feature film in the Official competition Olivia and the Invisible Earthquake intelligently and skilfully addresses children tackling an essential social reality without pettiness or sentimentality.” • The Last Blossom by Baku Kinoshita – WIP 2024 (Japan) ” The Last Blossom is set in the yakuza underworld and evokes the atmosphere of some of Takeshi Kitano’s films (Hana-bi An opportunity to discover a truly unique director this unique film follows two children in the 1940s Sardinian countryside A moving and gripping experience due to its interesting subject matter and experimental form.” • Endless Cookie by Seth Scriver and Pete Scriver (Canada) “Seth Scriver brought us Asphalt Watches in competition in 2014 now he’s back this year withEndless Cookie co-directed with his half-brother Pete Scriver it parallels the differences between the experience of the two brothers “Ryuya Suzuki’s first feature film reminds us of the minimalist visual aesthetics of On-Gaku: Our Sound by Kenji Iwaisawa Jinsei is an uncompromising social satire that examines identity and the meaning of life the viewer becomes witness to a man’s life who has no history and is in search of an identity.” • Lesbian Space Princess by Emma Hough Hobbs and Leela Varghese (Australia) “This wacky comedy comes to us from Australia Directed by Emma Hough Hobbs and Leela Varghese Lesbian Space Princess is both delightful and surprising.” “In his highly stylized debut feature German Director Heinrich Sabl transports us to 1945 to a strange hotel where little Sophie encounters horrors while history’s tragedy is played out all around her.” “Out of Brazil comes this astonishing Curt Unckel biopic the famous German ethnologist and writer christened Nimuendajú by the Guarani people in 1906 Director Tanya Anaya succeeds in capturing this man’s deep commitment as he witnessed first-hand the persecution suffered by the indigenous people.” • Olivia & the Clouds by Tomás Pichardo Espaillat (Dominican Republic) “Tomás Pichardo Espaillat’s fourth selection for Annecy is the first animated feature to come out of the Dominican Republic an amazing journey between four characters and even more animation techniques.” musician Eric San (Kid Koala) adapts his own graphic novel the orphaned daughter of a famous astronaut raised by a robot guardian and herself destined for space exploration A film for all the family that tackles the subject of memory.” • Tales from the Magic Garden by David Sukup “Four directors from four countries join forces to create a bundle of tales spotlighting the imagination We’re almost surprised to find so much cohesion in this children’s film whose very genesis proves that across different origins and cultures collaboration and understanding are possible.” • The Great History of Western Philosophy by Aria Covamonas (Mexico) openly uses several great historical figures to deliver a delirious satire using collage with surrealist overtones.” “This is perhaps the most unexpected film of the selection The forbidden love story between a Swedish diplomat and a young North Korean woman under the watchful eye of his interpreter and We will reporting live from Annecy later this year Annecy International Animation Film Festival posted 30 TV films and specials that will be competing in the official selection category this year The festival organizers also revealed the Commissioned Film selection which features 31 memorable title sequences For more information about the popular festival, which takes place June 8-14 in France, visit annecyfestival.com Posted in: Adult Swim, Cartoon Network, Max, TV | Tagged: , From previews of new series to an all-star panel for Cartoon Network Studios' anniversary here's how Annecy Festival 2025 is shaping up The Annecy International Animation Festival 2025 has rolled out its schedule and… wow. Running from June 8th to the 14th just from the television/streaming standpoint we touched on how Adult Swim's adaptation of the New York Times bestselling DC/Vertigo graphic novel Get Jiro we're getting a better look at what Warner Bros and Hanna-Barbera Studios Europe have in store for the festival "Get Jiro!" and "Bat-Fam" Getting Spotlighted: Along with Get Jiro!, Warner Bros Animation will also preview the upcoming Prime Video series Bat-Fam The follow-up to Merry Little Batman spotlights Batman and some new faces hanging out in Wayne Manor as they tackle "the fun and frustrations of life as a superfamily." Check Out the Star-Studded Annecy International Animation Festival 2025 Teaser: Hanna-Barbera Studios Europe provided this year's festival trailer (which you can check out above) Directed by Grant Orchard with Ben Bocquelet as executive producer the clip starts off with Bugs Bunny – but before you know it you will find yourself rewatching it a dozen times to capture all of the "guest stars" who appear "Creating Creativity: Celebrating 25 Years of Cartoon Network Studios": In honor of its anniversary, Cartoon Network Studios is hosting a panel featuring Genndy Tartakovsky (Dexter's Laboratory) and Adam Muto (Adventure Time: Fionna and Cake) and Hanna-Barbera Studios Europe" and "Adult Animation at Warner Bros Discovery – Studio Focus": While the former is expected to offer "industry insights and exclusive first-looks," the latter will see Adult Swim and Warner Bros Animation discussing their approach to the expanding adult animation market Adult Swim President Michael Ouweleen and Warner Bros Animation – Alternative Programming EVP Peter Girardi will be on hand to offer previews and discuss the studios' continued approach to animation Animation to participate in such a meaningful way," shared Sam Register Cartoon Network Studios & Hanna-Barbera Studios Europe "I want to thank Marcel Jean and the festival leadership for entrusting us with this year's trailer We look forward to our time at this year's festival and celebrating this art form that we love so much." This website is using a security service to protect itself from online attacks The action you just performed triggered the security solution There are several actions that could trigger this block including submitting a certain word or phrase You can email the site owner to let them know you were blocked Please include what you were doing when this page came up and the Cloudflare Ray ID found at the bottom of this page Last year, the animation studio TeamTO went through a challenging period, facing financial difficulties that led to court-ordered reorganization. This was followed, at the end of 2024, by its acquisition by Riva Studio Now under the leadership of its new CEO Marco Balsamo TeamTO appears determined to show it is regaining strength: new projects will be announced at the Annecy Festival in addition to the launch of an animation tool and a production management sofware Two conferences are planned at Annecy Festival as part of the MIFA (the International Animation Film Market) conference program The first of these conferences will be a Studio Focus centered on TeamTO’s 20th anniversary The studio will also showcase share its future plans including new projects and a revamped pipeline: Celebrate 20 years of TeamTO with an exclusive look at its daring new chapter and the launch of its proprietary technology Welcome to the next era of TeamTO — driven by innovation This first-look presentation unveils a fearless creative evolution: original IP and the global debut of its proprietary 3D tech—now shared to empower creators and studios worldwide This presentation will take place on Tuesday As hinted at in the description of the first session TeamTO will also take advantage of the Annecy Festival and MIFA to unveil tools available to all animation studios Developed by the studio’s technology branch these two tools are named after citrus fruits: Tangerine and Yuzu To learn more about these products—especially how Tangerine delivers its 30% productivity gain—be sure to attend TeamTO’s second conference in the Rotonde de l’Europe room (Impérial Palace 3DVF attend the 2025 Annecy Festival and MIFA We’ll be covering these announcements in more detail when the time comes By | 04/23/2025 12:48 pm | Be the First to Comment! Annecy has selected 21 animated features to screen in its two competiton programs: the Official Competition and the Contrechamp [Reverse Shot] Competition the latter category designed to honor edgier and quirkier features that might otherwise not receive the attention they deserve and fascinating films that deserve to be seen and discussed every bit as much as this year’s mainstream studio efforts like Bad Guys 2 and Zootopia 2 but you’ll rarely ever hear these films discussed online with the same fervor and enthusiasm as people reserve for the umpteenth sequel of a Hollywood franchise That’s why it’s more important to pay attention to the films on this list. There are numerous Oscar contenders on the lists below, as well as many films that aren’t meant for year-end awards but are still plenty deserving of your attention. Most of them will be more widely available to view in some form or another over the next 12 months, and it’s worth bookmarking this page to refer to later. Five of the films in competition originate from Asian countries, while four have roots in Latin America. Ironically, three Canadian directors and one Mexican director have films in competition, but not a single American film was selected. France was involved in the production of eight of the 21 features in competition. Below is a list of the titles in competition accompanied by commentary from the Annecy Festival’s artistic director Marcel Jean about why each film was selected: Sylvain Chomet makes his comeback with this feature film dedicated to Marcel Pagnol. It is such a delight to see the filmmaker’s sophisticated graphics again, and for the first time, he uses dialogue to capture the musical Marseille accent. For his first feature film, Zaven Najjar rose to the challenge of adapting Ahmadou Kourouma’s novel Allah is Not Obliged. It’s a tall order given the book’s raw, unusual language, which the director manages to preserve in this first-person narrative of a child soldier. True to his graphic style, Ugo Bienvenu offers us an astonishing first science-fiction feature film for all the family, in which a 10-year-old girl takes in a boy of the same age from the future. This whimsical tale comes to us from Japan, with its assertive graphic style and bold colors, somewhat reminiscent of Masaaki Yuasa and Taiyō Matsumoto. It is an understatement to say that Momoko Seto’s debut feature was eagerly awaited! We are delighted to discover that, from the very first seconds of the film, we were fascinated by this original imagery, a skillful blend of scientific shooting techniques and digital animation. Like dandelion seeds, we are hurtling along a strange and perilous journey…. Félix Dufour-Laperrière, who won an award in the Contrechamp selection in 2021 with Archipel, returns to Annecy with his third feature. Visually stunning, the film plunges us into the torments of a young woman haunted by guilt following an attack that went wrong. This is yet another demonstration of the exceptional expertise of Chinese studios. Into the Mortal World is intended for all audiences, a spectacular, funny film, full of action and emotion. For their first feature film, Maïlys Vallade and Liane-Cho Han adapted Amélie Nothomb’s novel with finesse and sensitivity. A dazzling offering, brought to life by both the magical script and Mari Fukuhara’s music, the film will appeal to audiences of all ages. One of the great surprises of the selection! This is the only stop-motion feature film in the official competition. Olivia and the Invisible Earthquake intelligently and skillfully addresses children tackling an essential social reality without pettiness or sentimentality. The Last Blossom is set in the yakuza underworld and evokes the atmosphere of some of Takeshi Kitano’s films (Hana-bi, Sonatine). An opportunity to discover a truly unique director, Baku Kinoshita. A delightful discovery, this unique film follows two children in the 1940s Sardinian countryside. A moving and gripping experience due to its interesting subject matter and experimental form. Seth Scriver brought us Asphalt Watches in competition in 2014, and now he’s back this year with Endless Cookie, co-directed with his half-brother Pete Scriver. In a bursting, humorous style, it parallels the differences between the experiences of the two brothers, one white and the other Native. Ryuya Suzuki’s first feature film reminds us of the minimalist visual aesthetics of On-Gaku: Our Sound by Kenji Iwaisawa. Jinsei is an uncompromising social satire that examines identity and the meaning of life. Through a videotape, the viewer becomes witness to a man’s life who has no history and is in search of an identity. This wacky comedy comes to us from Australia, where the title already says it all. Directed by Emma Hough Hobbs and Leela Varghese, Lesbian Space Princess is both delightful and surprising. In his highly stylized debut feature, German director Heinrich Sabl transports us to 1945, to a strange hotel where little Sophie encounters horrors, loses her memory, and finds it again, while history’s tragedy is played out all around her. Out of Brazil comes this astonishing Curt Unckel biopic, the famous German ethnologist and writer christened Nimuendajú by the Guarani people in 1906. Director Tanya Anaya succeeds in capturing this man’s deep commitment as he witnessed first-hand the persecution suffered by the indigenous people. Tomás Pichardo Espaillat’s fourth selection for Annecy is the first animated feature to come out of the Dominican Republic, an amazing journey between four characters and even more animation techniques. For his first feature film, musician Eric San (Kid Koala) adapts his own graphic novel, published in 2011. It features Celeste, the orphaned daughter of a famous astronaut, raised by a robot guardian and herself destined for space exploration. A film for all the family that tackles the subject of memory. Four directors from four countries join forces to create a bundle of tales spotlighting the imagination. We’re almost surprised to find so much cohesion in this children’s film, whose very genesis proves that across different origins and cultures, collaboration and understanding are possible. Aria Covamonas, an unclassifiable filmmaker, openly uses several great historical figures to deliver a delirious satire using collage with surrealist overtones. This is perhaps the most unexpected film of the selection. The forbidden love story between a Swedish diplomat and a young North Korean woman, under the watchful eye of his interpreter and, no doubt, the secret services. Pictured at top, left to right: Arco, Death Does Not Exist, The Great History of Western Philosophy. Amid Amidi is Cartoon Brew's Editor in Chief. FranceChevron AnnecyChevron Benny Burdock/Stockimo/AlamySave this storySaveSave this storySaveAll products and listings featured on Condé Nast Traveler are independently selected by our editors we may receive compensation from retailers and/or from purchases of products through these links The rest of the lake shoreline is dotted with charming towns: Talloires, Duingt, and Menthon-Saint-Bernard each boast their fair share of exciting shops And those mountains that stretch into the sky They offer plenty of opportunities for action and adventure and almost wholly flat bike path that skirts along Lake Annecy’s shores as it winds through all of the lakeside towns is a stunning way to enjoy the area Though it can be far more crowded in the warmer months locals and tourists alike utilize the greenway year-round Le Clos des Sens' melting leek with bay leaf sauce Chef Franck Derouet helms Le Clos des Sens nestled in the more residential corner of Annecy-le-Vieux and offering hyperlocal cuisine that spotlights ingredients coming from the lake and handful of locavore sources within a hundred kilometers (62 miles) of the restaurant and a raw fera (another lake fish) with fermented garum Clos des Sens also offers a unique “food and jus” pairing which combines dishes with different broths and herbal teas all of which are perfect for chilly winter evenings Under two miles away, in the lakefront village of Talloires, is where you’ll find two-Michelin star L'Auberge du Père Bise’s dining room overlooking the water from a small point in this micro harbor Pere Bice uses the bounty of the lake and its surrounding mountains and meadows to create a menu that employs local meats and produce the restaurant offers a six- or eight-course prix fixe menu featuring locally harvested crayfish and perch and venison that is bolstered with local beetroot The menu can be paired with a wine selection that perfectly matches each bite of the meal you’ll never wait more than a few minutes for service at the tiny shop’s counter Le Fornil de Mon Père has locations in Annecy-le-Vieux and Menthon as well Directly across the lake from Talloires, in the town of Duingt, Le Bon Wagon sits in an old train station that has been converted into a bike shop/café that serves up colorful poke bowls Stationed on the lake’s greenway (which was formerly a railway hence the café’s former life as a train station) Le Bon Wagon is a perfect spot for a bike-in/bike-out lunch and there’s plenty of vehicle parking if it's too cold for a bike ride On the opposite end of the spectrum from lakeside fine dining is Le Balcon du Lac a brasserie at the peak of the Col de la Forclaz a 3,800-foot mountain that rises directly behind Talloires the restaurant serves traditional Savoyard fare in both an indoor dining room and on its balcony which lays claim to what is arguably the best view anywhere in Lake Annecy Spending Christmas in quiet Lake Annnecy is markedly different than the busy French ski resort towns of Megève and Chamonix—but the town still glows red and white with festive lights and market stalls The more hardcore set can bike the area’s mountain roads—many of which have been featured in the Tour de France—and/or gravel trails that ring the lake on all sides Hotel du Palais de l'Isle overlooks a quiet canal—one of the many that earned the city of Annecy its Venice of France monicker a cozy hotel that offers tons of charm featuring a Keith Haring-inspired mural and mixed-media installations punctuating the halls to feel more like an artist’s commune than a city-center hotel a four-star hotel that was originally built as an abbey in the seventeenth century the Abbaye de Talloires has hosted guests such as Mark Twain and Paul Cézanne there’s little reason to leave the hotel’s grounds you’d be missing out on everything that makes this lake one of Europe’s most enchanting Want to be the first to know? Sign up to our newsletters for travel inspiration and tips A Guide to Korčula, Croatia Why Everyone Will Be Going to Osaka in 2025 A London Local’s Melting-Pot Itinerary for Food This New Eco-Cruise Through the Galápagos Takes Passengers On a Safari at Sea up-to-the-minute voice in all things travel Condé Nast Traveler is the global citizen’s bible and muse We understand that time is the greatest luxury which is why Condé Nast Traveler mines its network of experts and influencers so that you never waste a meal or a hotel stay wherever you are in the world Ahead of its own June festivities in the French Alps the Annecy Festival will present an Annecy Animation Showcase as part of the Festival de Cannes’ Animation Day (May 18) The showcase will present five feature films from established filmmakers and upcoming storytellers on the global scene Variety shared the details of the featured movies: Synopsis: Adapted from the beloved picture book Julián Is a Mermaid by Jessica Love Julián follows a boy who wants to be a mermaid The wide-eyed Julián spends a summer of discovery in N.Y.C they brace themselves for tense conversations and new adventures awakens something within Julián… questions about who he is and who he could be Julián’s journey will reach across the diaspora from Brooklyn block to the depths of the ocean gender expression and the hidden heritage of his family Synopsis: From Tekkonkinkreet director Michael Arias Sunny is a moving narrative set in 1970s Japan a foster home that’s a sanctuary for children caught in the cracks of society Told through the eyes of its young inhabitants Sunny explores the fragile strength of found families and childhood resilience the project already signals the return of a masterful voice in anime cinema with a poignant they will discover what it means to become themselves as they uncover new paths amidst the memories languages and images of the cities they inhabit the film is based on Frida Nilsson’s book directed by Lee Film founder Linda Hambäck (who previously adapted Nilsson’s The Ape Star) and written by Hambäck and Jessika Jankert What follows is a narrow trash can escape and the acquaintance of an obnoxious dump-dwelling rat named Dante Synopsis: Somewhere in a picturesque and peaceful countryside of China uncovers terrible secrets about the circumstances of her birth she finds the most unlikely allies: a beautiful hero from past legends By | 04/23/2025 11:30 am | Be the First to Comment! Netflix has announced its line-up of presentations and screenings at this year’s Annecy animation festival Here is the streamer’s complete Annecy event line-up: It’s no secret that Magic: The Gathering hasn’t had the smoothest track record when it comes to TV and film adaptations several projects based on MTG have been announced this week brings new hope for fans eagerly awaiting the Magic: The Gathering animated series on Netflix many believed the project would meet the same fate as previous failed adaptations the MTG animated series will feature at the prestigious Annecy International Animation Film Festival this June it’s the strongest indication yet that development is moving forward Netflix recently revealed its full Annecy Festival lineup showcasing a wide range of animated projects and the Magic: The Gathering series made the cut The series will be part of the Animated Series Studio Focus event where Netflix will share insights into the creative and production processes behind its animated slate While other projects in the lineup were promised “never-before-seen footage” and “early looks,” no specific promises were made for MTG fans may only get a few screenshots or work-in-progress images rather than a full trailer or full scene reveals this is still a major positive development It officially confirms that Netflix and the creative team are actively working on the series keeping it alive in a notoriously difficult space for adaptations Another point of interest: the MTG animated series is grouped alongside Netflix's acclaimed "adult spectacle" shows like Blue Eye Samurai suggesting the adaptation might lean into a more mature tone for an older audience Which is something long-time Magic fans may appreciate especially given the darker narratives seen in recent MTG card sets While it’s best to temper expectations for the Annecy Festival reveal Magic: The Gathering fans should definitely keep an eye out If the series is stable enough to be featured at a major international festival or even a projected release window isn’t too far off the good news is clear: the Magic: The Gathering animated series is alive and its journey toward finally hitting screens is still moving forward Are you waiting for the MTG series or do you think this one will get canceled too Let us know you answers in the comments section below As always, stay tuned to Gamefragger.com for more Magic: The Gathering news drawn in classic 2D by Warner Bros.’ Hanna-Barbera Studios Europe The delightful short ad was directed by Grant Orchard (Hey Duggee) with executive producer Ben Bocquelet (The Amazing World of Gumball) with Eric Bauza voicing WB’s iconic character It’s got us really excited for the annual international event and hopeful for more of the Looney Tunes’ presence during the ceremonies Here are some of the titles we’re most excited to see and learn more about Fans of the anthology series will get an early peek at season three, which arrives in October and is led by Japanese animation houses The specific short getting an Annecy spotlight “Black,” is directed by Shinya Ohira and centers “a psychedelic battle between past and present and life and death plays out in the haunted psyche of an Imperial trooper who is on the cusp of defeat.” Soul) will be presenting a showcase of the studio’s upcoming slate including Elio The festival will also celebrate 30 years of Toy Story with new behind-the-scenes look at the CG animated film that started it all Walt Disney Animation Studios’ CCO and award winning director-writer Jared Bush (Encanto Moana) will appear at Annecy for the first time to give a sneak peek at Zootopia 2 Marvel Animation will host a special “making-of session” that will double as an exclusive premiere screening of the first episodes of its Black Panther universe series Eyes of Wakanda “The story follows the adventures of brave Wakandan warriors throughout history They are the Hatut Zaraze and this is their story.” The series hits Disney+ in August executive producer and showrunner Matt Selman and animator David Silverman are set to be honored at the festival for the longest-running animated show’s achievements in the arts A panel will “offer a rare insight into the groundbreaking legacy of The Simpsons in animation,” among other events that will take attendees behind the scenes of modern pop culture’s first family of animation The creators behind Merry Little Batman including director Mike Roth will lift the lid on the caped crusader and son’s continuing adventures with Bat-Fam A conversation between creators of Cartoon Network’s most formative animation shows during its first 25 years including Gendy Tartakovsky (Dexter’s Laboratory) and  Adam Muto (Adventure Time: Fionna and Cake) Stranger Things: Tales from ’85 showrunner Eric Robles will be on hand to give the world a first look at the animated show in the universe of Stranger Things The streaming platform will also give a peek at  brother and sister adventure feature fantasy film In Your Dreams which centers around the siblings going dream-hopping to find the sandman Andy Serkis’ adaptation of  George Orwell’s ever-so timely Animal Farm will make its debut at Annecy as an official selection screening event produced by Aniventure and Imaginarium with CG production by Cinesite This looks unhinged as beloved anime Naruto sees a collab with Oasis “celebrating manga culture with an animated film inspired by the openings taking the audience into an epic adventure alongside the Oasis mascots This project pays tribute to the aesthetic and narrative codes of anime The all-animal animated sports feature Goat from Tyree Dillihay and co-director Adam Rosette will be featured at the festival The Bad Guys 2 will make its debut at the festival We’re hoping there will be some sort of update on The Wild Robot 2 For more information about Annecy 2025 visit the festival’s official site here ' + scriptOptions._localizedStrings.webview_notification_text + ' " + scriptOptions._localizedStrings.redirect_overlay_title + " " + scriptOptions._localizedStrings.redirect_overlay_text + " TEHRAN-Iranian filmmaker and painter Shiva Sadegh Asadi will serve as a juror at the 49th Annecy International Animation Film Festival set to be held from June 8 to 14 in France She has been selected as one of three jury members for the short competition section of the festival Sadegh Asadi will serve along with Andrew Ruhemann director and the founder of Passion Pictures and Christopher Sanders A graduate of animation from Tehran University of Art Sadegh Asadi is has directed several notable animations and “Aquatic” (2024) and have won international admiration and awards notably the Hiroshima International Animation Festival Jury Award and the Filmfest Dresden Audience Award in 2022 She has gradually developed her early painterly style by combining it with stop-motion techniques She uses objects and pieces of paper to create distorted figures and fragmented space combined with the representation of various viewpoints Sadegh Asadi considers her paintings to be the main source of inspiration for her animated films she focuses on the human being's inner self The Annecy International Animation Film Festival officially abbreviated in English as the Annecy Festival or simply Annecy was created in 1960 and takes place at the beginning of June in the town of Annecy the festival became an annual event in 1998 It is one of the four international animated film festivals sponsored by the International Animated Film Association The festival is a competition between animated films of various techniques (traditional films produced for television and advertising in addition to the competing films projected in various cinemas of the city an open-air night projection is organized on Pâquier classic or recent films are projected onto the giant screen the winners of various categories are awarded The Annecy International Animation Film Festival has officially announced on April 23 the original animated feature produced by Winsing Animation has been selected for the Feature Films Competition in the Official category at its 2025 edition The film is set to be screened during the festival offering global audiences the opportunity to experience this visually stunning and emotionally powerful journey on the big screen A breathtaking fantasy adventure rich with emotion and artistry Into the Mortal World tells the gripping tale of two siblings unite their extraordinary abilities to save the mortal world As part of Winsing’s Eastern Legends series the film blends rich Chinese mythological elements with a universal message about family Since its theatrical debut in the summer of 2024 the film has emerged as one of the top-rated Chinese animated features in recent years It received widespread acclaim and was recognized including a Golden Rooster nomination and Best Animated Film at both the Golden Dragon Awards and Asia Pacific Film Festival ‘We are deeply honored that Into the Mortal World has been recognized by Annecy This selection is not only a milestone for Winsing Animation but also a celebration of Eastern aesthetics in the global animation landscape’ said Ben Gu CEO of Winsing Animation and Chief Producer and Distributor of the film Director Zhong Ding also shared his thoughts: I’m incredibly grateful and honored As the only Chinese animated feature selected in this year’s Official Feature Films competition this recognition means a lot to our team—it validates the passion and hard work we’ve put into the film This film is our bold attempt to reinterpret Chinese mythology with a fresh perspective creating new female characters and visual styles that reflect both tradition and innovation The Annecy International Animation Film Festival is one of the world’s most prestigious animation events The inclusion of Into the Mortal World underscores Winsing’s growing presence in international markets and its commitment to original Las Casas 3535 • C1238ACC | Buenos Aires • Argentina Tel: (54 11) 4924-7908 • 4924-2017 • 4922-8791 • 4926-2164 • 4926-2160 | Fax: (54 11) 4925-2507 TEHRAN-Two short animated movies from Iran will take part in the 49th Annecy International Animation Film Festival set to be held from June 8 to 14 in Annecy Farsi” directed by Samaneh Shojaei and “By the Way” directed and produced by Mahboobeh Kalaee and Ali Fotoohi are the Iranian participants in the festival A production of the Documentary and Experimental Film Center (DEFC) Farsi” will be shown in the Official Section of the festival we observe her friend’s mental illnesses and disorders Selected to be screened in the Perspectives section “By the Way” is a 6-minute film that depicts Majid it is neither the time nor the place for such love The Annecy International Animation Film Festival was created in 1960 and takes place at the beginning of June in the town of Annecy It is one of the four international animated film festivals sponsored by the International Animated Film Association (ASIFA)