Animation First 2023 Program
Friday, January 27–Sunday, January 29
In Person at FIAF
FIAF is delighted to present the sixth edition of Animation First, the only U.S. festival dedicated to showcasing the legacy and innovation of francophone animation.
Crafted for both adult and younger audiences, the festival will screen seven feature films (including four U.S. and three NY premieres) and five short film programs with over 65 new shorts (including eight U.S. and 12 NY premieres) from January 27–29. Films are in French with English subtitles unless otherwise noted. Award-winning screenwriter and filmmaker Anca Damian, this year’s Guest of Honor, will join us for a conversation and the NY premiere of her new film, The Island, and its AR companion piece, In Search of Paradise. The festival will also present many free events: a Jean-Jacques Sempé exhibition, “Work in Progress” presentations, panel discussions, video games, and AR-VR experiences. The third annual Student Short Film Competition, the RECA Short Film Program, and the first ever Animation Jam, will highlight films by students from top animation schools in the U.S. and France.
COMING UP
Spotlight on Anca Damian, Festival Guest of Honor
The Island
1:45pm
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.
A Conversation with Anca Damian
3:45pm
Moderated by Richard Pena
Award-winning screenwriter, filmmaker, and festival guest of honor Anca Damian will discuss her new film, The Island, the AR companion piece, In Search of Paradise, as well as current projects and career highlights.
Augmented Reality
In Search of Paradise
11am–6pm
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.
Feature Films & Shorts
Shooom’s Odyssey
and Funny Birds
12pm
Shooom’s Odyssey: Born in the midst of a storm, baby owl Shooom must fend for herself and her unhatched sibling. Against all odds, she is determined to find her mother, be it an alligator or a squirrel.
Funny Birds: Shy Ellie prefers observing and reading about birds over making new friends. When she attempts to return a rare ornithology book to the school library, a life-changing adventure begins.
New Francophone Shorts: Program 2
4:30pm
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.
Gandahar
6:15pm
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.
No Dogs or Italians Allowed
8:30pm
Festival Closing Night Party from 7:30–8:30pm
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.
Works in Progress
Dordogne
1:30pm
Moderated by Francesco Antolini
Learn more about this stunningly beautiful video game prototype that allows players to delve into the Dordogne region of France, experiencing it’s vibrant landscapes within hand-painted watercolor environments.
Exhibitions
Jean-Jacques Sempé
Signature Sempé
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.
Video Games
11am–6pm
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.
Virtual Reality
11am–6pm
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.
Student Shorts
Animation Jam
Friday, January 27–Sunday, January 29, 2023
In Person Screening
Sunday, January 29, 2023
8:30pm
On Demand
Monday, January 30–Sunday, February 12, 2023
This year, Animation First will launch its first Animation Jam, where students will be given 48-hours to complete an animation sequence. The completed short film will be screened before the closing night feature film, No Dogs or Italians Allowed.
US & French Student Short Film Competition
Sunday, January 29, 2023
8:30pm
FIAF Florence Gould Hall
On Demand
Monday, January 30–Sunday, February 12, 2023 Online on Eventive
The Animation First Student Shorts Competition is back for its third 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.
RECA Short Film Program
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.
PAST FILMS/EVENTS
Opening Night
Little Nicholas – Happy as can be
7pm
Festival Opening Night Party from 8:30–9:30pm
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.
Best of Annecy 2022
9:30pm
Festival Opening Night Party from 8:30–9:30pm
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).
Jean-Jacques Sempé
Signature Sempé
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.
Feature Films & Shorts
Best of Annecy Kids 2022
11:45am
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.
The Black Pharaoh, the Savage and the Princess
1:30pm
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.
New Francophone Shorts: Program 1
3:45pm
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.
Blind Willow, Sleeping Woman
6pm
Followed by a Q&A and reception with filmmaker Pierre Földes
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.
Unicorn Wars
8:45pm
Reception: 7:45pm-8:45pm
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?
Works in Progress
The Siren
A Conversation with Sepideh Farsi
12:30pm
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.
Chicken for Linda!
4:15pm
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.
Panel Discussions
PENCIL ON THE PULSE: Pitching and Producing in Today’s Animation Market
4:30pm
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.
Sempé and Le Petit Nicolas
2:30pm
Moderated by Philippe Labaune
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.
Animation First 2023 is curated by Delphine Selles-Alvarez, FIAF Film Curator, and Chloé Dheu, FIAF Film Coordinator. Catherine Lamairesse served as Festival Consultant.
Festival Leadership Support
Florence Gould Foundation, and Public Funds from the New York City Department of Cultural Affairs in partnership with the City Council
Festival Supporting Sponsors
Focus Entertainment, Pôle Image Magelis (Angoulême), Romanian Cultural Institute, School of Visual Arts (SVA), Sofitel New York, UniFrance, and Villa Albertine