In the end, it’s the people you meet.

More impressive than the films are the people you encounter. Besides the screenings and presentations, people are mingling at organized and impromptu picnics and paddleboat races in the park. The hardy extended their experience late into the night (3:00 or 4:00 am) at the "American bar," which is really a Scottish pub, tucked away in a back street. An enterprising former employee of the bar opened a late-night restaurant next door to catch the overflow and there were two discos operating nearby. One of the biggest parties, besides the opening and closing official parties, was thrown by the Korean delegation, where many of the animators were asked to drawn on a paper mural.

One gets the sense that the indie stalwarts flock to Annecy to catch up with people, enjoying some libations and the camaraderie with their brethren, assess the progress of the progeny and pick up a few insights in the retrospectives. That and hopefully see a spark of new a talent or an intriguing process to recharge their creative batteries.

Herein the festival fulfills this need well, so animation folk look forward to future gatherings in that special week they call Annecy.

Sarah Baisley is the editor of Animation World Magazine.