Annecy Intl. Animation Festival Returns to the Fore

variety.com:

Martin Dale ContributorThe Annecy Intl. Animation Festival is returning to a full-fledged in-person event in 2022, expecting more than 10,000 attendees, from more than 90 countries June 13-18.“The world’s animation community will be back in Annecy — the key meeting place for the industry and artists,” says fest director Mickaël Marin, beaming.The Annecy team has striven to maintain connections and momentum within the animation community during the pandemic, through the 2020 online edition and 2021 hybrid fest, complemented by yearround masterclasses, professional meetings, seminars and dedicated trips, including recent trips to Nigeria, Israel and Brazil.The fest also collaborates with events such as Ventana Sur in Argentina and the Animation Day in Cannes.

Annecy’s 2022 lineup includes feature films and series produced in France, such as the opening film, “Minions: The Rise of Gru,” made at Illumination MacGuff for Illumination/ Universal; “Arcane,” made by Fortiche for Netflix/Riot Games; and “Gremlins: Secrets of the Mogwai,” made by Blue Spirit for Warners.“Annecy has become the key meeting place for the international industry,” says Blue Spirit’s Eleanor Coleman. “There are so many different levels to experience it on.

As a festival or a market.You can go as a student or emerging producer. It’s the place to be!” This year’s highlights include Netflix’s sea monster adventure “The Sea Beast,” and first glimpses from “Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse,” “Puss in Boots: The Last Wish,” from DreamWorks Animation, “Ernest and Celestine, a Trip to Gibberitia,” and Walt Disney’s “Strange World.” The Netflix Animation Showcase focuses on the streamer’s upcoming slate, from pre-school to anime, adult and tentpoles,.