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Animation Is Film (AIF), the U.S. sister festival of Annecy, organized in collaboration with GKIDS, has revealed the complete lineup for its 8th edition, scheduled for October 17–19 at the TCL Chinese 6 Theatres in Hollywood. This year’s program features premieres, special screenings, industry panels, and short films that highlight animation as a vibrant global art form.

The festival will kick off with Scarlet, the latest film from Academy Award-nominated director Mamoru Hosoda (Mirai), produced by Studio Chizu and distributed in the U.S. by Sony Pictures Classics. The centerpiece of AIF is the Los Angeles premiere of Arco, the debut feature from French director Ugo Bienvenu, which recently won the Annecy Cristal Award. This film is being distributed in the U.S. by Neon.

The festival will conclude with the U.S. premiere of another standout from Annecy, Little Amélie or the Character of Rain, co-directed by Maïlys Vallade and Liane-Cho Han, and distributed by GKIDS. In addition to the competition titles, AIF will showcase the U.S. premiere of the Chinese feature Nobody, which set a box office record for a Chinese 2D feature this summer. Other highlights include the world premiere of Laika’s newly remastered ParaNorman in 3D, paired with the new short ParaNorman: The Thrifting, a special screening of the anticipated Chainsaw Man — The Movie: Reze Arc, and the U.S. premiere of the Mexican stop-motion feature I Am Frankelda, based on the popular series.

Short film programming remains a key focus, featuring four curated blocks, the return of Best of Annecy (presented with Women in Animation), and the annual Student Showcase that highlights emerging talent. AIF will also present a selection of short films from students at CalArts, USC, CSU Long Beach, CSU Fullerton, and ArtCenter College of Design.

Industry highlights include filmmaker panels for Disney’s Zootopia 2, Netflix and Sony’s KPop Demon Hunters, and a preview of the pilot Pretty Pretty Please I Don’t Want to Be a Magical Girl. A pre-festival showcase will be hosted by Netflix, featuring a screening of its upcoming adaptation of Roald Dahl’s The Twits at the Egyptian Theatre on October 13.

AIF director Matt Kaszanek expressed pride in this year’s event, stating, “It’s with enormous pride that AIF returns in its role as the first opportunity for Los Angeles to experience these essential films on their journey to end-of-year awards and Best-of lists. This carefully curated lineup — featuring new works from animation legends alongside feature film debuts — is a celebration of the medium. It’s wonderful to be home.” Mickael Marin, CEO of CITIA — Annecy International Animation Film Festival, added, “As a founding partner, we’re proud to see AIF thrive as a landmark event for animation in Los Angeles. Each year, many of the films discovered and celebrated in Annecy find a new audience, confirming the strong bond between our two festivals. Together, we continue to champion animation as an art form that is daring, universal, and endlessly inspiring.”

2025 AIF Official Selection Competition Section

• All You Need Is Kill, Ken’ichiro Akimoto (Japan)
• Arco, Ugo Bienvenu (France/United States)
• ChaO, Yasuhiro Aoki (Japan)
• Decorado, Alberto Vázquez (Spain)
• I Am Frankelda, Arturo Roy Ambriz (Mexico)
• Lesbian Space Princess, Emma Hough Hobbs Leela Varghese (Australia)
• Little Amélie or the Character of Rain, Maïlys Vallade Liane-Cho Han (Belgium/France)
• Nobody, Shui Yu (China)
• Scarlet, Mamoru Hosoda (Japan)
• A Story About Fire, Wenyu Li (China)

Shorts Program 1

• Éiru, Giovanna Ferrari (Ireland, Cartoon Saloon)
• Forevergreen, Nathan Engelhardt Jeremy Spears (U.S.)
• Cardboard, J.P. Vine (United Kingdom, Locksmith/DNEG/Ritzy)
• Versa, Malcoln Pierce (U.S., Walt Disney Animation)
• Snow Bear, Aaron Blaise (U.S.)

Shorts Program 2

• Autokar, Sylwia Szkiłądź (Poland/Belgium)
• Como Si La Tierra Se Las Hubiera Tragado, Natalia Leon (Mexico/France)
• Gigi, Cynthia Calvi (France)
• The Night Boots, Pierre-Luc Granjon (France)
• Playing God, Matteo Burani (Italy/France)
• Retirement Plan, John Kelly (Ireland)
• Shadows, Rand Beiruty (France/Jordan)

Best of Annecy (with Women in Animation)

• Afterglow, Sophia Belleli, Lazarine Biaud, Joyanne Marquetant, Sarah Remane Yann Tournois (Hungary)
• Hairy Legs, Andrea Dorfman (Canada)
• Ovary Acting, Ida Melum (Norway/Sweden/United Kingdom)
• Safo, Rosana Urbes (Brazil)
• Sulaimani, Vinnie Ann Bose (France)
• Zwermen – Murmuration, Janneke Swinkels Tim Frijsinger (Belgium/The Netherlands)

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