John Canemaker (l) and Richard Williams peddle each other's books. All photos courtesy of Nancy Denney-Phelps.

2008 marks the 100th birthday of pioneer animator Emil Cohl's Fantasmagorie and, in a special presentation, the film was screened with piano acompaniment provided by festival director Serge Bromberg. It was a fitting opening-night tribute. Serge was then joined on stage by director David Silverman and his tuba. While David played, Serge narrated the dialogue to Winsor McCay's Gertie the Dinosaur.

Throughout the week, a nod to Cohl's genius was given in a series of screenings. A program of early silent films gave us a glimpse into the world of the animators who followed in Cohl's footsteps. Six French animation schools came together in a workshop that resulted in four short films using material from Cohl films. From June 9 to October 31, The Spirit of Emile Cohl, 100 years of Unbridled Animation will be on view at the Musee-Chateau d'Annecy. The exhibition shows the great pioneer's contributions to moving pictures with a collection of 10 of his films that have been linked with animated works from the past and present. Contemporary animators such as Bill Plympton, Paul Dreissen and Koji Yamamura have created drawings and animated shorts in homage to Cohl.

Tex Avery would have been 100 years old this year, and 100 Years of Madness took us into his crazy world, from the art deco Page Miss Glory (which Avery disliked so much that he refused to have his name on it) to the hilarious adventures of Droopy.

One of the most enjoyable events of the festival was a morning cocktail party to open triple Oscar winner Richard Williams' exhibit in the library of the Bonleiu, which is also the festival headquarters. Richard's artwork included storyboard sketches, original cels, and life drawings. Williams, who started his professional career as a painter and had never exhibited his drawings before, said that he especially wanted to show his drawings as an example to young animators, so that they could see that you need to learn to draw before you take to your computer.