In the year 2200, private detective Aline Ruby and her android partner Carlos Rivera are hired by a wealthy businessman to track down a notorious hacker. Combining 2D and 3D animation, this stylish, smart, and futuristic sci-fi film noir is a cinematic adventure packed with humor and exhilarating action sequences.

Two intrepid sisters discover a secret passage from their world into that of their favorite book, The Kingdom of the Winds. This surreal, dreamlike story—helmed by French animator, screenwriter, and director Benoît Chieux—won the Audience Award at the 60th Annecy International Animation Film Festival.

The Annecy International Animation Film Festival is the largest of its kind in the world. Each year it gathers moviegoers from around the globe to discover new works by lauded filmmakers and creators. Straight from the 2023 edition and curated by the Annecy Festival team, this program includes a series of not-to-be-missed international award-winning shorts and custom opening sequences by Gobelins Paris students.

10-year-old Nina has always filled her imagination with her father’s diverting hedgehog-themed stories—but reality comes crashing down when he loses his job. Fueled by rumors of a treasure hidden at the factory, Nina, her best friend Mehdi, and an enterprising hedgehog that bursts from her father’s illustrations organize a risky heist.

In the heart of Africa’s equatorial forest, the king of Mabunos is poisoned by one of his subjects. Two close aids of the palace are tasked with traveling to a sacred cave in search of an antidote that will cure their ruler—and they only have seven days to succeed before he perishes. This vibrantly illustrated film from Cameroonian directors Daniel Minlo and Cyrille Masso is steeped in legend, lore, and sprawling scenescapes.

Set in 1990 Quebec, the film depicts the (literal) growing pains and general absurdity of adolescence. Through a darkly comedic narrative, Canadian director Joël Vaudreuil and French animator Nicolas Moussette incisively illustrate what happens when the biting and fantastical mix with trademark teenage angst.

This feature animation debut by Spanish director Pablo Berger adapts American author Sara Varon’s popular graphic novel for the big screen. The story, set in 1980s New York City, follows Dog, who—tired of being alone—builds himself a robot companion. Their friendship blossoms through a touching journey of companionship, its importance, and its fragility.

From acclaimed Iranian filmmaker Sepideh Farsi and celebrated French animator Zaven Najjar comes a visceral odyssey of the descent into war through the eyes of an innocent. Set in 1980 Abadan in the chaotic wake of a devastating Iraqi missile strike, the film follows 14-year-old Omid, who’s braved the siege to stay with his ailing grandfather, as he survives and resists along with others who’ve remained in the ruined city.

The eclectic New Francophone Shorts, NFS programs bring together the best of new animated creations from emerging and established filmmakers. Selections are chosen from lauded film festivals, and for the first time, this year’s program will be a juried competition.

The jury for the New Francophone Shorts program, including Marco Chin, Marco de Blois, and Candy Kugel, will be in attendance.

Curated by Frédéric Savard, this program of shorts features a selection of eleven thought-provoking animated films from the National Film Board of Canada’s collection.

Living up to its namesake, this out-of-the-ordinary late-night program featuring the best of Annecy International Animation Film Festival’s WTF 2023 films is steeped in dark humor, scares, and irreverent subject matter that will have you exclaiming “what the f*ck?” through your tears of joy and surprised shrieks. If you’re feeling adventurous, attend this lineup of 13 short films. Recommended for ages 18 and over.

The eclectic New Francophone Shorts, NFS programs bring together the best of new animated creations from emerging and established filmmakers. Selections are chosen from lauded film festivals, and for the first time, this year’s program will be a juried competition.

The jury for the New Francophone Shorts program, including Marco Chin, Marco de Blois, and Candy Kugel, will be in attendance.

Curated by La Cinémathèque québécoise animation film conservationist Marco de Blois, this selection of shorts gathers standout films from the most recent Les sommets du cinéma d’animation, Québec’s leading animation festival. Representing the wealth of Quebec and Canada’s works, these movies feature a diversity of techniques and perspectives and tap into fiction, experimental cinema, and the documentary form.

An evening of inspiration, conversation, and drinks for movie lovers, creators, and everyone in between!

Established by NYC-based animation filmmakers, Animation Speak/Easy is bringing its popular interactive bimonthly event to this year’s Animation First Festival. At the gathering, three guest artists will be asked to share an animated short that inspires them, after which a lively audience discussion will ensue.

Peter de Sève guides us through the artworks and artists that have influenced his work and spurred his creative process. Peter will also be available to sign copies of his limited edition Animation First poster and books.

Graphic designer and filmmaker Zaven Najjar presents Allah is Not Obliged (Allah n’est pas obligé), his first feature film based on the eponymous international bestseller by Ivory Coast author Ahmadou Kourouma

Animation Jam returns for a second year! Students from the BRASSART School in France and the Maryland Institute College of Art in Baltimore will be given 48 hours to complete an animation sequence inspired by the festival’s opening night film, Jérémie Périn’s Mars Express. The final sequences will be screened at the closing night and made available online.

Back for a fourth year, the Animation First Student Short Film Competition highlights the work of emerging talent from some of the most renowned animation schools in France and the United States. Prizes are awarded for Best French Student Shorts and Best American Student Shorts.

Throughout the festival, the FIAF Library will be free and open to the public for augmented and virtual reality experiences from French studios and distributors.