Animation Is Film (AIF) is set to make its highly anticipated return in 2025, running from Friday, October 17 to Sunday, October 19 at the iconic TCL Chinese Theatres in Hollywood. As the sister festival to France’s renowned Annecy Animation Festival, AIF has established itself as a premier event celebrating the art and innovation of animated cinema. In partnership with the Annecy International Animation Film Festival, GKIDS, and Variety, the festival aims to showcase the limitless possibilities of animation in storytelling.
Director of Animation Is Film, Matt Kaszanek, expressed his excitement for the upcoming year, stating, “Since its inception, Animation Is Film’s purpose has been to celebrate the idea that animation pushes the boundaries of what cinema is capable of. The growth of the festival year after year is confirmation that American audiences embrace this. 2025 is shaping up to be an extraordinary year for the medium. We love Los Angeles and are so happy to be back.”
Mickaël Marin, director general and CEO of Annecy Festival, also shared his enthusiasm for the partnership, highlighting AIF as a festival that celebrates animation as a bold and boundary-pushing art form. The festival serves as a gathering place for animation enthusiasts and cinephiles, uniting them in their shared love for animated storytelling.
To mark the announcement, AIF unveiled its 2025 teaser poster created by French artist Camille Authouart, whose work was previously featured at the festival in 2023. The poster hints at the creativity and talent that will be on display during the festival.
Over the years, Animation Is Film has become a significant event in the lead-up to awards season, with many films premiering or gaining traction at the festival. Past winners, such as “Flow,” which went on to win an Academy Award and a Golden Globe, have solidified AIF as a launching pad for award-winning animated films. Notable titles like “The Boy and the Heron” by Hayao Miyazaki, “Guillermo Del Toro’s Pinocchio,” and Disney’s “Encanto” have also graced the festival with early screenings.
Since its establishment in 2017, AIF has played a vital role in the U.S. animation scene, providing a platform to showcase the full artistic potential of animated cinema. As the festival gears up for its 2025 edition, animation enthusiasts and film lovers alike can look forward to a weekend filled with creativity, innovation, and the magic of animated storytelling.
