In-Person at FIAF: Fri, Feb 11–Sun, Feb 13
Online Nationwide: Mon, Feb 14–Mon, Feb 21

FIAF was proud to celebrate the fifth anniversary of its popular Animation First Festival with a special edition featuring distinct programs in person and online.

Animation First is the only festival in the US dedicated to showcasing the enduring legacy and trailblazing innovation of French animation. Learn more about it here here.

This year, the festival presents 51 premieres of feature-length and short films, Works in Progress of highly anticipated films, a 2nd Annual Student Short Film Competition, and more. Guest of Honor Florence Miailhe will open the festival with her award-winning first feature The Crossing. A special talk on the influence of Disney in French Animation and the 30th anniversary screening of Beauty and the Beast is presented in partnership with The Met Museum.

View program below.


IN PERSON: Feature Films


Feature Film

The Crossing

La Traversée

NY Premiere
Online: Sat, Feb 19–Mon, Feb 21
On Eventive
In Person: Fri, Feb 11 at 7pm
FIAF Florence Gould Hall
Ages 13 & up

Introduction by Florence Miailhe

Dir. Florence Miailhe, 2021
In French with English subtitles

On a migratory road, two older children, Kyona and Adriel, are quickly separated from their parents and siblings. Together they embark on a heroic journey which takes them from childhood to adolescence through a continent torn apart by war and persecution.

Feature Film

Princess Dragon

Princesse Dragon

US Premiere
Online: Sat, Feb 19–Mon, Feb 21
On Eventive
In Person: Sat, Feb 12 at 11am
FIAF Florence Gould Hall
Ages 5 & up

Introduction by producer Patricia Robert and Matthieu Levisse, Director of Marketing at Ankama

Dir. Anthony Roux and Jean-Jacques Denis, 2021
In French with English subtitles

Bristle is a little girl raised by dragons. She breathes fire and is as strong as ten men, yet she is not actually a dragon. When her father must repay a debt to Sorcerog, Bristle is given away to the froggy witch.

Feature Film

My Sunny Maad

Ma famille Afghane

US Premiere
In Person: Saturday, February 12, 2022
8pm
FIAF Florence Gould Hall
Mature Audiences

Video introduction and online Q&A by director Michaela Pavlátová

Dir. Michaela Pavlátová, 2021
In Czech and Dari with English subtitles

Golden Globes Awards 2022 – Nominated for Best Motion Picture – Animated

Set in 2011 post-Taliban Kabul, with gorgeous 2D animation, great texture and depth, Michaela Pavlátová’s first film offers a penetrating observation of a woman who wants to save her relationship while challenging oppressive rules and traditions.

Feature Film

My Neighbors’ Neighbors

Les Voisins de mes voisins sont mes voisins

US Premiere
In Person: Saturday, February 12, 2022
10:15pm
FIAF Florence Gould Hall
Mature Audiences

Video introduction by director Léo Marchand

Dir. Léo Marchand, Annelaure Daffis, 2021
In French with English subtitles

In a French apartment building, the inhabitants seem to be dealing with the strangest hazards of life: an ogre breaks his teeth on the day of the annual Ogre Feast; a magician cuts his assistant in half and her legs run off…

Feature Film

Little Vampire

Petit Vampire

US Premiere
In Person: Sunday, February 13, 2022
10:30am
FIAF Florence Gould Hall
Ages 6 & up

Dir. Joann Sfar, 2020
In English

Little Vampire has been 10-years-old for the last 300 years. Despite living in a haunted house with a merry group of monsters, he is bored to death. With great generosity, tenderness and humor, Joan Sfar (The Rabbi’s Cat) brings to life the beloved Little Vampire, star of his eponymous graphic novel.

30th Anniversary Screening

Beauty and the Beast


In Person: Sunday, February 13, 2022
3pm
FIAF Florence Gould Hall
Ages 8 & up

Dir. Gary Trousdale and Kirk Wise, 1991
In English

An arrogant young prince and his castle’s servants fall under the spell of a wicked enchantress, who turns him into a hideous Beast until he learns to love and be loved in return. FIAF is proud to bring The Beauty and the Beast back to the big screen!

Feature Film

Archipelago

Archipel

NY Premiere
In Person: Sunday, February 13, 2022
5:15pm
FIAF Florence Gould Hall
Mature Audiences

Video introduction by filmmaker Félix Dufour-Laperrière
Q&A with Félix Dufour-Laperrière available online on Eventive
Closing Night Celebration at 6pm

Dir. Félix Dufour-Laperrière, 2021
In French with English subtitles

Félix Dufour-Laperrière’s Archipelago offers a contemplative and poetic travelogue along the St. Lawrence River. It expands into a semi-fictional odyssey through the filmmaker’s native province: Quebec.

Closing Night Feature Film

The Summit of the Gods

Le Sommet des dieux

In Person: Sunday, February 13, 2022
7:30pm
FIAF Florence Gould Hall
Ages 13 & Up
Free!

Closing Night Celebration at 6pm
Video introduction by filmmaker Patrick Imbert

Dir. Patrick Imbert, 2021
In French with English subtitles

The story initially unfolds as a mystery: were George Mallory and his companion Andrew Irvine the first men to scale Everest on June 8, 1924? In Kathmandu, 70 years later, a young Japanese reporter named Fukamachi goes on a journey that leads him, step by step, towards the summit of the gods. Spectacular and emotional, this film is “an ode to extreme climbers” (IGN).


IN PERSON: Shorts & TV Specials/Series


Opening Night Shorts

Best of Annecy 2021


In Person: Friday, February 11, 2022
9:15pm
FIAF Florence Gould Hall

Opening Night Reception at 8:30pm

The Annecy International Animation Film Festival is the biggest animated film festival in the world. Straight from the 2021 edition and curated by the festival team, this program includes a series of notable award-winning shorts.

TV Special

Mum is Pouring Rain
Mussels & Fries

Maman Pleut des Cordes
Moules-Frites

In Person: Saturday, February 12, 2022
1:45pm
FIAF Florence Gould Hall
Ages 8 & up

Mum is Pouring Rain, dir. Hugo De Faucompret
8-years-old Jane is a strong-minded girl. Her mother Cécile, however, is going through a little depression. She decides to get help, and sends Jane to spend Christmas with her grandmother, in the countryside.

Mussels & Fries, dir. Nicolas Hu
Noée, a 9-year-old girl, joins her mother on an island in Brittany. Soon she discovers that all the children on the island know each other well and love sailing. How will Noée manage to sail and fit in?

Shorts

Spotlight on Florence Miailhe


In Person: Saturday, February 12, 2022
3:30pm
FIAF Florence Gould Hall
Mature Audiences

Introduction by Florence Miailhe

Over the course of her three-decade career in animation, Florence Miailhe has created a precious body of award-winning short films. Her richly picturesque films often explore subjects like femininity, the human body, and desire.

Shorts

New French Shorts: Program 1


In Person: Saturday, February 12, 2022
5:45pm
FIAF Florence Gould Hall
Online: Monday, February 14–Monday, February 21, 2022
On Eventive
Mature Audiences

Straight from France, these two eclectic programs bring together films from established filmmakers as well as emerging talent. Each one opens up a unique world and speaks to the rich diversity of animation in France today.

Shorts

New French Shorts: Program 2


In Person: Sunday, February 13, 2022
12:45pm
FIAF Florence Gould Hall
Online: Monday, February 14–Monday, February 21, 2022
On Eventive
Mature Audiences

Straight from France, these two eclectic programs bring together films from established filmmakers as well as emerging talent. Each one opens up a unique world and speaks to the rich diversity of animation in France today.

Shorts & TV Series

Focus on Jean-Charles Mbotti Malolo


In Person: Sunday, February 13, 2022
2:45pm
FIAF Skyroom
Ages 11 & up
Tickets available at the door

Screening & Talk with Jean-Charles Mbotti Malolo

Emerging filmmaker Jean-Charles Mbotti Malolo presents several short films, along with a few episodes of his new series Ex-Aequo!. Weaving his passion for dance and sports, Mbotti Malolo’s films offer powerful, sensitive and insightful portraits and stories.


IN PERSON: Works in Progress / Talks


Work in Progress

Lastman (Season 2)


In Person: Saturday, February 12, 2022
11am
FIAF Skyroom
In English • 80 min
Free!

US Premiere of Episode 1 and Conversation with director Jérémie Hoarau

Director Jérémie Hoarau will discuss the process behind this new season and the important changes he introduced. He will be joined, remotely from France, by several of the series writers. The event will include the US premiere of the first full episode.

Work in Progress

No Dogs or Italians Allowed

Interdit aux chiens et aux italiens

In Person: Saturday, February 12, 2022
1:30pm
In English
FIAF Skyroom
Free!

Conversation with director Alain Ughetto

In this Work in Progress, Alain Ughetto will discuss his journey in crafting this very personal film based on the story of his own family who left their homeland in Piedmont, Italy to settle in France at the turn of the 20th century.

Work in Progress

Little Nicholas

Le Petit Nicolas

In Person: Saturday, February 12, 2022
3:30pm
In English
FIAF Skyroom
Free!

Conversation with co-directors Benjamin Massoubre in person and Amandine Fredon live and online

Director Benjamin Massoubre presents the creative process behind the forthcoming feature Little Nicholas, based on the eponymous book series about a little boy. He will be joined, live from France, by co-director Amandine Fredon.

Work In Progress

The Inventor


In Person: Sunday, February 13, 2022
1pm
In English
FIAF Skyroom
Free!

Conversation with executive producer Ilan Urroz and director Jim Capobianco live and online

In this Work in Progress, Ilan Urroz, executive producer, will be on hand to discuss this much anticipated film with clips and images. He will be joined online by filmmaker Jim Capobianco who will address the creative choices he made with Granjon for their stop-motion and 2-D drawn adventure film and how they work as a team from LA and the South of France.

Talk

Conversation with Florence Miailhe

Festival Guest of Honor

Online: Fri, Feb 18–Mon, Feb 21
On Eventive
In Person: Sat, Feb 12 at 5:30pm
FIAF Skyroom
In English • Free!

Moderated by Signe Baumane

Author of many short films and a recent award-winning first feature, The Crossing, Florence Miailhe, Animation First 2022’s guest of honor, discusses the inspiration behind her carefully crafted and deeply poetic films.

Panel Discussion

The Influence of Disney in French Animation


Online: Fri, Feb 18–Mon, Feb 21
On Eventive
In Person: Sun, Feb 13 at 5pm
FIAF Skyroom
In English • Free!

Animation experts will discuss the influence films created by The Walt Disney Company have had on French animation, and the fascinating history between the two countries’ industries as far back as the mid 20th century.


FIAF GALLERY


Exhibition

Augmented Reality

Animated Comic Strips by EMCA Students

FIAF Gallery
In Person: Saturday & Sunday, February 12 & 13, 2022
10am–7pm
Free!

This exhibition brings together the best augmented reality works created in 2019 and 2020 by fourth-year students at EMCA, on of the top animation schools in France. Each three-panel comic strip contains a hidden scenario, an animation with music, which is revealed with your smartphone and the Artivive app.


ONLINE: Feature Films


Feature Film

An American Tail


Florence Miailhe Selects
Online: Monday, February 14–Monday, February 21, 2022
Ages 5 & Up

Dir. Don Bluth, 1986
In English

Directed by widely acclaimed animation veteran Don Bluth (The Secret of NIMH, The Land Before Time), and a huge success upon its release, An American Tail is an exquisitely animated film and a sweet, melancholy story of immigration.

Feature Film

The Bears’ Famous Invasion of Sicily

La Fameuse invasion des ours en Sicile

Online: Monday, February 14–Monday, February 21, 2022
Ages 6 & Up

Dir. Lorenzo Mattotti, 2019
In French with English subtitles

Inspired by the 1945 classic Italian children’s book by Dino Buzzati, acclaimed Italian illustrator Lorenzo Mattotti brings bold colors and a graphic eye to his first feature film, a tale about friendship, tolerance, and nature.

Feature Film

The Tower

Wardi

NY Premiere
Online: Monday, February 14–Monday, February 21, 2022
Ages 13 & Up

Dir. Mats Grorud, 2017
In Arabic and French with English subtitles

Wardi, an eleven-year-old Palestinian girl, lives with her whole family in a refugee camp in Lebanon. There, she learns about her family’s history through stories told by three generations of refugees.

Feature Film

The Crossing

La Traversée

NY Premiere
Online: Sat, Feb 19–Mon, Feb 21
On Eventive
In Person: Fri, Feb 11 at 7pm
FIAF Florence Gould Hall
Ages 13 & up

Introduction by Florence Miailhe

Dir. Florence Miailhe, 2021
In French with English subtitles

On a migratory road, two older children, Kyona and Adriel, are quickly separated from their parents and siblings. Together they embark on a heroic journey which takes them from childhood to adolescence through a continent torn apart by war and persecution.

Feature Film

Princess Dragon

Princesse Dragon

US Premiere
Online: Sat, Feb 19–Mon, Feb 21
On Eventive
In Person: Sat, Feb 12 at 11am
FIAF Florence Gould Hall
Ages 5 & up

Introduction by producer Patricia Robert and Matthieu Levisse, Director of Marketing at Ankama

Dir. Anthony Roux and Jean-Jacques Denis, 2021
In French with English subtitles

Bristle is a little girl raised by dragons. She breathes fire and is as strong as ten men, yet she is not actually a dragon. When her father must repay a debt to Sorcerog, Bristle is given away to the froggy witch.


ONLINE: TV Specials/Series


TV Series

Ex-Aequo!


Online: Monday, February 14–Monday, February 21, 2022
Ages 11 & up

Dir. Karine Chaunac, Jean-Charles Mbotti Malolo & Camille Duvelleroy, 2021
In English and French, Spanish, Portuguese, Flemish with English subtitles

Set over 10 minutes each and based on interviews with international athletes and sports professionals, Ex-Aequo! poignantly brings to life stories of discrimination based on race, gender, sexual orientation and disability.

TV Special

Liberated!

Libres !

Online: Monday, February 14–Monday, February 21, 2022
Mature Audiences

Down with sexual diktats! Writers and broadcasters Ovidie and Sophie-Marie Larrouy examine prejudice and taboos around sex and encourage women to have it when they want, how they want, and most of all, if they want.

TV Special

The Mysteries of Paris

Les Mystères de Paris

US Premiere
Online: Monday, February 14–Monday, February 21, 2022
Ages 11 & up

One of France’s first serial novels, The Mysteries of Paris was originally published in 90 parts between 1842 and 1843 in the newspaper Journal des Débats. Keeping the serial format, this modern animated spin rejuvenates the story with the digitalization of the original engravings.


ONLINE: Shorts


Shorts

Best of Annecy 2021: Spotlight on Women Directors


Online: Monday, February 14–Monday, February 21, 2022
Mature Audiences

This year, in collaboration with Women in Animation, the International Animation Film Festival’s team curated a selection of shorts by women directors with films shown at the 2021 festival.

Shorts

New French Shorts: Program 1


In Person: Saturday, February 12, 2022
5:45pm
FIAF Florence Gould Hall
Online: Monday, February 14–Monday, February 21, 2022
On Eventive
Mature Audiences

Straight from France, these two eclectic programs bring together films from established filmmakers as well as emerging talent. Each one opens up a unique world and speaks to the rich diversity of animation in France today.

Shorts

New French Shorts: Program 2


In Person: Sunday, February 13, 2022
12:45pm
FIAF Florence Gould Hall
Online: Monday, February 14–Monday, February 21, 2022
On Eventive
Mature Audiences

Straight from France, these two eclectic programs bring together films from established filmmakers as well as emerging talent. Each one opens up a unique world and speaks to the rich diversity of animation in France today.

Shorts

US & French Student Short Film Competition


Online: Monday, February 14–Monday, February 21, 2022
LIVE Online Awards Ceremony: Sat, Feb 19 at 2pm ET
Mature Audiences

The Animation First Student Shorts Competition is back for its second edition! It features the work of emerging talent from some of the most renowned animation schools in France and the United States. The jury will award prizes to the Best French Film and Best American Film.

Shorts

Fontevraud Presents


Online: Monday, February 14–Monday, February 21, 2022
Mature Audiences

The program brings together shorts directed by a new generation of animators from all over the world, hosted by Fontevraud, one of the most exciting incubators for animated film.

Shorts

Fresh Out of School — Andrée Chedid Collection

En sortant de l'école — Collection Andrée Chedid

US Premiere
Online: Monday, February 14–Monday, February 21, 2022
Ages 10 & up

Fresh Out of School — Andrée Chedid is a collection of 13 animated short films showcasing the beloved French poet’s work. These animated poems were created by 13 young directors who have just graduated from the best animation schools.

Shorts

Pictanovo Presents


Online: Monday, February 14–Monday, February 21, 2022
Mature Audiences

Pictanovo – images en Hauts-de-France is dedicated to supporting audiovisual and film production in the Hauts-de-France region. This program gathers some of the best animated shorts they have supported over the last decade.

Shorts

Wonderful Wacky Wolves

Loups tendres et loufoques

Online: Monday, February 14–Monday, February 21, 2022
Ages 5 & Up

Wolves stories for the little ones

​​A seriously vain wolf, a wolf cub who wants to try hunting on his own, and a little wolf who loves the company of others… Wonderful Wacky Wolves revisits the storybook image of these sometimes misunderstood animals with delightful humor and poetry.


ONLINE: LIVE Events


Talk & Workshop

Augmented Reality in Social Media & Metaverse

With Professor Kevin Park

LIVE: Thursday, February 17, 2022
6pm ET
In English • 60 min
Online
Free!

Learn to turn still images into moving pictures using a smartphone and Snapchat in this Augmented Reality talk and workshop with New York Tech professor Kevin Park and his graduate assistants.

LIVE Event

Animation First Awards Ceremony


LIVE: Saturday, February 19, 2022
2pm ET
Online
Free!

Winners announced for US & French Student Short Film competition and audience award for Best New French Short.

Panel Discussion

Women in Animation


LIVE: Sunday, February 20, 2022
3pm ET
Online
Free!

Co-presented with Women in Animation. The discussion will bring together women in their mid-career who work in different positions in the animation pipeline in France and the US.


ONLINE: Talks & Works in Progress


Work In Progress

Uncanny Stories

L’Étrange collection

Online: Monday, February 14–Monday, February 21, 2022
In English • 60 min
Free!

A Conversation with the Writers

Uncanny Stories is a horror anthology conceived and created by artists passionate about the genre. For this exclusive prerecorded Work in Progress, all the writers gathered together to discuss the creation of the series and the artistic choices they made to adapt the classic horror stories.

Talk

Conversation with Florence Miailhe

Festival Guest of Honor

Online: Fri, Feb 18–Mon, Feb 21
On Eventive
In Person: Sat, Feb 12 at 5:30pm
FIAF Skyroom
In English • Free!

Moderated by Signe Baumane

Author of many short films and a recent award-winning first feature, The Crossing, Florence Miailhe, Animation First 2022’s guest of honor, discusses the inspiration behind her carefully crafted and deeply poetic films.

Panel Discussion

The Influence of Disney in French Animation


Online: Fri, Feb 18–Mon, Feb 21
On Eventive
In Person: Sun, Feb 13 at 5pm
FIAF Skyroom
In English • Free!

Animation experts will discuss the influence films created by The Walt Disney Company have had on French animation, and the fascinating history between the two countries’ industries as far back as the mid 20th century.

Documentary

Building Leonardo da Vinci’s Inventions


Online: Monday, February 14–Monday, February 21, 2022
In English • Free!

Over 500 years after Leonardo da Vinci invented them, the machines designed by the genius in the 1480s are finally becoming a reality. These video excerpts offer an exclusive look at the 3D models and virtual 3D experiences set within the gardens of Château du Clos Lucé in the Loire Valley in France.