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Animation Is Film Returning to Hollywood October 22-24

AIF is back this Fall as a hybrid on-site / virtual festival after 2020 was canceled due to the pandemic; produced by GKIDS in partnership with the Annecy Festival, event embraces the highest aspirations of animation as a cinematic art form.

AIF is back for 2021! Animation Is Film (AIF) and its partner, the Annecy International Animation Film Festival, have announced the fourth edition of the U.S.-based festival will be held October 22-24 at the TCL Chinese 6 Theatres in Hollywood. This year, for the first time, AIF will include both virtual and in-person screenings. Founded in 2017, AIF celebrates animated films from all over the world, embracing the highest aspirations of the medium as an artistic cinematic art form on par with live-action.

"Animation Is Film is thrilled to once again celebrate the best in animation from around the world,” said Matt Kaszanek, AIF director. “The enthusiasm for AIF's return to Hollywood—from filmmakers, industry partners, and audiences—is extremely gratifying, and makes clear that people are eager to gather in person. Despite the pandemic, animation has thrived as an industry and as an art form, and we are excited to present a diverse slate of projects from established studios as well as personal films from emerging, international filmmakers. And for the first time, AIF will offer virtual presentations, so audiences outside LA County can join the fun."

Due to COVID-19, AIF 2020 was cancelled. In 2019, over 7,000 guests watched presentations of new animated feature films from Asia, Europe, South America, and North America, including special presentations, retrospectives, and short film programs. 2019 winners included Oscar nominee I Lost My Body, along with the critically-acclaimed Marona’s Fantastic Tale, Weathering With You, and The Swallows of Kabul. Earlier editions of AIF also showcased highly selective programming, which included a special screening of the Academy Award-winning short film Hair Love (2019), and the Oscar and Golden Globe nominees The Breadwinner (2017) and Mirai (2018).

“Animation is back in Los Angeles and that's excellent news!” said Mickael Marin, director and CEO of Annecy International Animation Film Festival. “As one of the festival’s co-founders, we are thrilled to celebrate the art of animation at the fourth edition of Animation is Film. Annecy will be happy to be there to support directors and meet the audience again.”

With an event based in L.A., the global capital of animated filmmaking, Animation Is Film fills a gap in the U.S. market with an established world-class animation festival on par with the major events in Europe and Asia. AIF is produced by GKIDS in partnership with Annecy International Animation Film Festival. Major industry and media sponsors include:  ASIFA-Hollywood, Cartoon Network, DreamWorks Animation, ELMA, Fathom Events, Laika, Netflix, Paramount Animation, Pixar Animation Studios, Shout! Factory, Sony Pictures Animation, Walt Disney Animation Studios, Warner Animation Group, and Warner Bros. Animation.

Source: Animation is Film