The Event Remains THE Place to Be in the Animation Sector

Annecy 2016 was a tremendous success, featuring animation from all over the world and paying tribute to all the wonders found in French animation.

The event united 9,153 badgeholders (up 10.3%), with 85 countries represented and around 500 films screened during the Festival.

The Mifa alone drew 2,800 badgeholders (up 4.5% vs 2015), marking its most successful year yet with a steady rise over the last 12 years.

Looking Back on Annecy 2016

The Red Turtle kicked off the 40^th Festival.

Unveiling never-before-seen footage from Ice Age: Collision Course (20^th Century Fox) and from Moana (Walt Disney Animation Studios).

Featuring premieres of Finding Dory, Nerdland and Belladonna of Sadness, and world premieres of The Secret Life of Pets and Louise.

Outstanding meetings with international animation celebs: Bruno Coulais, John Kricfalusi, Peter Lord, David Sproxton, Anthony Roux and more.

DreamWorks decided to give Annecy a sneak peek of several upcoming productions: A Masterclass by Guillermo del Toro on Trollhunters, a WIP Feature session on Trolls, a Focus studio on the series Voltron: Legendary Defender and their next feature Boss Baby, set for release in Spring 2017. Jeffrey Katzenberg was a surprise guest and he received a very special prize.

The WIP sessions are getting more and more popular: The place was packed for Funny Little Bugs, Zombillenium and White Fang, and fans ate up the new WIP TV format with Pigeons & Dragons, Samurai Jack, The Big Bad Fox and Other Tales and Lastman.

First-class Conferences were held on anything and everything in animation from virtual reality to studio anatomy to the state of the art VFX in The Jungle Book and in Warcraft.

Virtual Reality crashed the party in Annecy, where either simply curious or die-hard fans were able to test the limits of animation.

Didier Brunner received the Honorary Cristal during the Closing Ceremony.

My Life as a Courgette stole Annecy’s heart and took home the Audience Award and the Cristal for a Feature Film.

François Hollande, the President of France, and Audrey Azoulay, the French Minister for Culture and Communication, came and met the professionals on Thursday 16^th June.

Frédérique Bredin, President of the CNC, spoke about the opportunities for French animation programmes abroad.

The SPFA gave its 2015/2016 review-outlook of French production. 

The Territory Focus on France, organised by Film France and the FICAM, concluded that France is a place where talents, skills and technological expertise come together with the 30% Tax Rebate for International Productions (TRIP), establishing the country as an international animation hub.

French broadcasters’ commitment: France Télévisions, CANAL+, Lagardère Active, TF1 have reconfirmed their support for French animation professionals by presenting the various projects they’re involved in.

Panel Discussion organised by the CNC and CITIA: From French Animation’s Boom in the 80s up till Today. With Dominique Puthod, Jack Lang, Marc du Pontavice, Jacques Bled and Kristof Serrand

The 1^st European Animation Awards’ General Assembly took place 14^th June under the auspicious guidance of Peter Lord (President) and Didier Brunner (Vice-President).

Special attention was paid to the French and European animation feature film industry, a significant and strategical theme discussed during two meetings: the European Film Forum Panel Discussion, organised by the European Commission and Europe Creative and the Conference organised by CITIA talking about the positioning of independent European films in theatres.

The 2016 Mifa & Variety’s Animation Personality of the Year Award went to Peter Lord and David Sproxton, founders of the celebrated British studio, Aardman Animations.

More than 800 candidates were selected to take part in 60 recruitment sessions. Over sixty of the most reputed studios in the world (Illumination MacGuff, Pixar, Ubisoft, Mikros Animation, Xilam, etc.) met with the brightest young professionals in the market for over 100 job offers.

Find the list of award winners

Relive Annecy 2016 with this video

Read the Annecy Live

Check out the daily publications from :

Variety Annecy E-Show Dailies 2016

Le Film français

Première

See you in Annecy from 12^th to 17^th June 2017, with China as Guest Country!

Check out Annecy Festival photos on Google photos ​​