Dir. Amandine Fredon, Benjamin Massoubre, 2022
In French with English subtitles

Little Nicholas – Happy as can be is a beautiful and delicate retelling of artist Jean-Jacques Sempé’s and René Goscinny’s lives which co-exist within the fictitious adventures of Le Petit Nicolas, the beloved character they created.

Straight from the biggest animation festival in the world, this program includes a series of notable Annecy Film Festival award-winning shorts such as Steakhouse (Jury Award) and Amok (Cristal for a Short Film).

Signature Sempé brings to New York and the FIAF Gallery a selection of Jean-Jacques Sempé’s most iconic works including rare drawings from his inaugural trip to New York, a collection of his New Yorker covers, and his illustrations of France’s beloved character, Le Petit Nicolas.

Dir. Anca Damian, 2021
In English

Discover a musical fable based on Robinson Crusoe, mixed with the magic of The Little Prince, and the humor of Monty Python! Follow Robinson and Friday in their quest to find freedom in a surreal world populated by outcasts and mermaids.

Award-winning screenwriter, filmmaker, and Animation First 2023 Guest of Honor Anca Damian will discuss her new film, The Island, its AR companion piece, In Search of Paradise, as well as current projects and career highlights. The conversation and Q&A will be moderated by Richard Pena, former Director of Programming at New York Film Festival.

Experience some of the major themes of Anca Damian’s film The Island, such as migration, ecology, alienation, and tech addiction, in its augmented reality companion, In Search of Paradise.

Straight from the 2022 edition of the world famous Annency International Animation Film Festival, this seven-film program includes some of the best animated shorts for children.

Dir. Michel Ocelot, 2022
In French with English subtitles

With trademark animation and ingenious use of color and technique, director and illustrator Michel Ocelot transports audiences to three very different worlds, during three different periods in history. Discover the remarkable tales highlighting courage and the will to fight injustice that span Ancient Egypt, the French Middle Ages, and 18th century Turkey.

This eclectic program of short films from new and established talent provide a unique perspective on the richness and diversity of animation coming out of both France and Canada today.

Dir. Pierre Földes, 2022
In English

Internationally best-selling Japanese author Haruki Murakami’s short stories are transformed into a fantastical story about a group of people on a journey that helps them find deeper meaning in their lives.

Dir. Alberto Vázquez, 2021
In Spanish with English subtitles

Vázquez’ gruesome and damning portrait of war and religion is set in gorgeous forest landscapes where flora and fauna thrive while bears and unicorns fight in bloody battles. After the struggle, what will be left of their beloved home?

Shooom’s Odyssey: Born in the bayou in the midst of a storm, baby owl Shooom must fend for herself and her unhatched sibling while searching for her mother.

Funny Birds: When shy Ellie attempts to return a rare ornithology book to the school library, a life-changing adventure begins.

This eclectic program of short films from new and established talent provide a unique perspective on the richness and diversity of animation coming out of both France and Canada today.

Dir. René Laloux, 1986
In French with English subtitles

Originally released in 1987, the sci-fi film was edited of its sexual elements and original score, stateside. This newly restored version is how the director intended the film to be seen by U.S. audiences.

Dir. Alain Ughetto, 2021
In Italian and French with English subtitles

Told as a fictional dialog between Alain Ughetto, the filmmaker, and Cesira, his grandmother, this charming stop-motion film is a deeply personal, yet universal account of the hard-working Italian immigrants who fled poverty and fascism at the turn of the 20th Century.

In this Work in Progress, award-winning Iranian filmmmaker Sepideh Farsi will detail the artistic choices she made for her upcoming film, The Siren. The film tells the story of Omid, a young boy living in Abadan during the 1980 Iraqi siege of the Iranian petrol city.

In this Work in Progress, co-directors and co-writers Chiara Malta and Sébastien Laundenbach will discuss the creative process behind Chicken for Linda!, their new feature. The animated adventure features a mother on the frantic run to cook her daughter’s favorite dish, chicken with peppers.

Artist Cédric Babouche and producer Aymeric Castaing present a closer look at the making of the video game, Dordogne. The stunningly beautiful video game prototype allows players to delve into the Dordogne region of France, experiencing its vibrant landscapes within hand-painted watercolor environments. The conversation will be moderated by Francesco Antolini, Game Designer and Instructor at NYU Game Center.

The entertainment industry is constantly evolving. While audiences and distributors are ravenous for content, it’s a difficult terrain for creators to navigate. This panel, co-hosted by non-profits FIAF and French in Motion, will discuss the current landscape of the animation industry, the genres, formats and pitches distributors are currently looking for, and the strategies for getting your idea in front of the right people.

Join Little Nicholas – Happy as can be co-directors Amandine Fredon and Benjamin Massoubre, Françoise Mouly, the artistic director of the New Yorker, and gallerist Martine Gossieaux for an illuminating conversation surrounding the making of the film, and the continued appeal and appreciation of both Sempé and Le Petit Nicolas.

Throughout the festival, the FIAF Library will be free and open to the public to experience video games and virtual reality films from French studios and distributors.

Throughout the festival, the FIAF Library will be free and open to the public to experience video games and virtual reality films from French studios and distributors.

The Animation First Student Short Film Competition, back for a third year, highlights the work of emerging talent from some of the most renowned animation schools in France and the United States. Prizes are awarded for Best French Student Shorts and Best American Student Shorts.

This program comprises some of the best and most recent short films made by French students, and highlights the talent and passion of the young adults currently studying animation. The program is curated by Christine Mazereau, the head of RECA, the French Animation School Network based in Paris.

This year, Animation First will launch its first Animation Jam, where students from two animation schools will be given 48 hours to complete a short, animated film. The short will be screened before the closing night feature film, No Dogs or Italians Allowed.

Animation First, presented by FIAF, is the only US festival dedicated to French-speaking animation. FIAF is thrilled to launch Animation First On Tour to offer cinemas, universities, and organizations across the US the opportunity to screen a selection of feature and short films from the festival at their venues.