Still Time to Sign Up For Annecy on June 15th!

Annecy - still time to sign up

Annecy is to animation as Cannes is to Film. Like Cannes, there is no particular reason why this small and rather attractive town on a lake in the French Alps should host the world's biggest animation festival - except for the fact that they have always done so. They got there first, and while many towns and cities now have animation festivals, Annecy is the first, the original, the biggest and still the best. So, should animators go all the way to the French Alps to find out about animation?

Annecy

Why go to Annecy?
Any animator who wants to make a career in the business needs to go to Annecy. Even if you only go once, go there just to say you have been.

Annecy evening screening. Photo: Wikipedia

What happens?
Everything to do with animation. Films, panel discussions, workshops, lectures from directors. There is plenty to see at Annecy that you can see nowhere else.  Competing films are projected in various cinemas around the city, and an open-air night projection (see above) is organized on Pâquier, in the centre of town, where films are projected on a giant screen.

Annecy is one of four international animated film festivals sponsored by the Association Internationale du Film d'Animation (or ASIFA, the International Animated Film Association).

When do the winners get announced?
On the final Saturday evening, the last day of the festival, all the winning film-makers are presented with an award.

Who goes to Annecy?
Annecy is full of professional animators, studios, recruiters, students, producers - in short, everyone in the business.

Annecy. Image: Wikipedia

When does it take place?
The festival is held in the French Alpine town of Lake Annecy from 15 to 20 June.  It's a beautiful place, full of ski-ers in winter, and, in summer, animators. The MIFA festival takes place alongside the Annecy festival and is held from 17 to 20 June.

How do you get there?
Most people fly to Geneva and then take a bus - it takes around an hour to get to Annecy.

What is MIFA?
MIFA stands for Marché International du Film d'Animation, which literally translates as the International Market for Animated Films. It's the business side of the Annecy Festival, where deals get made and projects get financed and distributed.

Where can I find out more?
For more information check out their official website here.

---Alex

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