The Mifa Continues to Grow, Securing its Spot as the Leading Global Animation Market 

Around 2,700 professionals in the animation industry unite at the International Animation Film Market, which is opening its doors on 15^th June. This year’s Mifa is a shining example of internationalisation, with the participation of new delegations from New Zealand, Paraguay, Peru, Ecuador and Turkey.

After celebrating its 30^th anniversary in 2015, the Mifa has become THE main event for international professionals. Some upcoming highlights

Mifa Special Events: The Animation Industry’s Key Appointments

The salons at l’Impérial Palace welcome a wide array of events: press conferences, networking opportunities, discussions and professional speed dating sessions. Two new events that were created in 2015 are coming back this year

Meet the Festival Programmers

A gathering set up to promote distribution of national productions from several emerging markets as well as animation hotspots around the globe.

Tuesday 14^th June, 4:00-6:00 pm, Impérial Palace, Tente Impériale

Meet the Funds

A discussion between regional and national funding organisations and project leaders selected for the Mifa Pitch sessions.

Also worth noting

This year, Europe Creative’s conference: Europe's Animation Industry: How Do We Build Scale?
Wednesday 15^th June, 2:30 pm, Impérial Palace, Verdi A&B

The CNC is also holding a conference : What Opportunities Are There for French Programmes Abroad?
Wednesday 15^th June, 4:00 pm, Impérial Palace, Tente Impériale

An Exemplary Exchange Platform

Recruitment: The talent of today and tomorrow at the Mifa

This is a rare opportunity for recruiters to scout talent, either fresh faces or experienced veterans, and for applicants to present their work to a wide range of international studios, from small independent ones to the most famous. Some new companies are participating this year, like Flying Bark (Australia), Cirkus (New Zealand), Huevocartoon (Mexico). National clusters and networks are also coming to showcase their businesses with the recruitment sessions, such as Pôle Image Magelis (Prima Linea Productions, Studio Hari, Normaal, Xilam, etc.) for Angoulême, and Point Est (Amopix, Will Production, Innervision, etc.) who will be representing Alsatian studios.

Overview: 

Wednesday 15^th 
9:30 am-12:30 pm: Laika, Cirkus Animation, Pixar, Flying Bark, etc.
1:00-4:00 pm: Cube Creative, Normaal, Cyber Group Studios, etc.
5:30-7:30 pm – Point Est: Sacrebleu Productions, Innervision, Will Production, Amopix, etc.

Thursday 16^th
9:30 am-12:30 pm: Illumination Mac Guff, Cartoon Network, Ubisoft Annecy  etc.
1:00-4:00 pm: Laika, Disney Channel, 2 Minutes, Studio Redfrog, Mikros Image, Xilam Lyon, etc.
4:30-7:30 pm – Pôle Image Magelis: Xilam, Prima Linea Productions, Studio Hari, etc.

Friday 17^th
9:30 am-12:30 pm: On Entertainment, Singing Frog, Huevocartoon, etc.

1:00-4:00 pm : ArtFX, Mosvold Studios, Cartoon Network Asia, Mikros Image, Xilam Lyon, etc.

Impérial Palace, salon Prestige

Territory Focus: A whole territory within reach

These meetings are the occasion to show off a country or territory’s animation industry and flaunt their resources and skills. Four session are scheduled this year: 

Share With: An exclusive place to meet up with big investors

These sessions give participants, especially producers, the opportunity to meet short film and TV series buyers and feature film distributers. Major buyers are coming.

Wednesday 15^th – Friday 17^th June, Impérial Palace, Haendel B

Focus studio: Major studios open up about their creative process

These showcases invite festivalgoers to discover the technical or creative processes of the biggest animation studios and to talk with the talent about their latest creations. 

Monday 13^th – Friday 17^th June, salle Pierre Lamy

Mifa Pitches: A Few Minutes of Persuasion

A platform dedicated to budding animation talent, the Mifa Pitch sessions give projects a decisive boost to get off the ground. This year, we received 412 projects (37% more than in 2015), 35 of which will be presented at the Mifa. Projects from China, Peru, Latvia, Algeria, South Africa, Georgia and more are on the programme.

Wednesday 15^th and Thurday 16^th June, Impérial Palace, Ravel A&B

Due to their success, the Animation du Monde sessions have become a category in their own right within the Mifa Pitches. They were set up to showcase talent from emerging animation markets. For this second edition, around 100 projects were sent in from 4 continents and 9 of them have been selected to receive coaching and be presented to an audience. 

Thursday 16^th June, 11:30 am-1:00 pm, Impérial Palace, Ravel A&B

French animation in the spotlight

Playing along with the Festival, that is, examining French animation from a non-French perspective, the SPFA, TVFI and CITIA are organising a panel discussion entitled A Buyer’s Insight into French Animation. Several international broadcasters will be giving advice about French animation’s keys to success as well as the challenges it faces.

Friday 17^th June, 10:00-11:30 am, Impérial Palace, Ravel A&B

Again on the French animation theme, the Ina and the French Screenwriters Guild are teaming up for a panel discussion about the current state of French animated series (and their renewals) and to talk about options for the future: Putting the Charm Back into French Animated Series: From Writing to Technical and Artistic Design.

Thursday 16^th June, 4:00 pm, Impérial Palace, Ravel A&B 

Press conferences

Come to the major animation studios and most popular youth channels’ press conferences! Coming in 2016: France Télévisions, Lagardère Active and Les Espoirs de l’animation, TFou d’animation, CANAL+ Family and the SPFA.

Wednesday 15^th and Thursday 16^th June, Impérial Palace

A two-timing award

In 2016, the Mifa & Variety’s Animation Personality of the Year Award is going to Peter Lord and David Sproxton, founders of Aardman Animations. This award is meant to celebrate their company’s 40th anniversary as well as commemorate Aardman’s relentless creativity and drive that make them a leader in the European and international animation industry. 

Check out Annecy Festival photos on Google photos ​

Security measures

Vigipirate is France’s security alert system, which is currently activated, requiring us to strengthen our security and inspection measures: please comply with these measures that are meant to keep everyone safe and anticipate any eventual delays. 

You must wear your badge at all times within the Festival and Market areas. 

Luggage

When you arrive, please leave your luggage at your hotel or wherever you’re staying before coming to pick up your badge at the Festival or Mifa Welcome Areas. No luggage will be authorized on any event sites.
We apologize in advance for any inconvenience. 

Contacts

Laurence Ythier
Media Relations & Special Operations Manager

Véronique Dumon
Media Support