213 Films in Competition Headline Annecy’s 50th Anniversary

Official 2010 Annecy Poster. Click for Full Size Image.

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Featuring an announced program packed with conferences, presentations, exhibitions and 6 days filled with screenings of the world’s best animation, the Annecy International Animation Film Festival celebrates its 50^th Anniversary from June 7-12 in Annecy, France.  The 2010 edition boasts an official selection made up of films in competition in categories for short films, features, TV, commissioned films and graduation films along with sneak previews of out of competition shorts and features. Over 500 films will be shown, including 213 in official competition.

Annecy remains the premier animation festival, each year focusing its efforts on showcasing and celebrating the newest, the most creative and broad ranging array of animation of any festival.  The event consistently brings together some of the most talented and respected creative professionals in the industry. Everyone from established or up-and-coming animators, directors, producers, teachers, students, studios, graphic designers, artists, long-standing fans or newcomers to the art and the general public attends. The Festival not only offers a selection of films in competition, but also a trip to the heart of the past, present and future of animation. It is likewise the perfect occasion to take a look behind the scenes of films and their production secrets during meetings with producers, directors and creative professionals involved in the animation process. 

In addition, the Mifa, which houses the vendor exhibition halls, meeting rooms and business conference components of the event, continues to provide fertile ground for product sales, content licensing and acquisition, top level recruiting and fundraising.  Once known primarily for the festival, Annecy has done an excellent job in creating an inviting destination for the “business” side of the industry, which traditionally has not always played nicely with the “creative” types.  Celebrating its 25^th Anniversary this year, the Mifa’s growth has made the event a much more important destination for individuals and companies involved in getting animation funded, produced, distributed and put in front of consumers. 

According to the festival organizers, “Over the past 50 years, the Festival has gone through more changes than we can imagine. It has grown, developed, created its own personality, provoked and anticipated trends and remained true to its tastes and beliefs, making animation an art form in itself. However, the Festival is not afraid of standing back and taking a look at itself. It is always trying to improve and fine-tune and promote its choices without becoming big-headed, even though, today, it has become an unmissable event for the animation community the world over.”

The Annecy Festival runs from June 7-12, 2010.  The International Animation Film Market (Mifa) takes place during the festival, running June 9-11, 2010. The Mifa will also be celebrating its 25th anniversary in 2010! The Creative Focus and Conferences run June8-11, 2010.  Visit http://annecy.org [2] for complete event information.