Animation Is Film announces the fourth edition of the Festival

Animation is film (AIF) and its partner, the Annecy International Animation Film Festival, have announced that the fourth edition of the US-based festival is scheduled for this fall October 22-24 at TCL Chinese 6 Theaters in Hollywood. For the first time this year, AIF will include virtual and in-person screenings. Founded in 2017, AIF celebrates animated films from around the world, embracing the medium's highest aspirations as an artistic film art form on par with live action.

“Animation Is Film is thrilled to once again celebrate the best in animation from around the world. The enthusiasm for AIF's return to Hollywood - from filmmakers, industry partners and audiences - is hugely rewarding and makes it clear that people are eager to meet in person. Despite the pandemic, animation has thrived as an industry and as an art form, and we are thrilled to present a diverse list of established studio projects and personal films from international up-and-coming directors. And for the first time, AIF will offer virtual presentations so audiences outside of Los Angeles County can join in the fun, ”said Matt Kaszanek, director of AIF.

Due to COVID-19 restrictions, the 2020 edition of the AIF has been canceled. In 2019, the festival presented new animated features from Asia, Europe, South America and North America and included special presentations, retrospectives and short film programs to over 7.000 guests with sold out audiences.

The 2019 winners included the Oscar nominee I have lost my body, along with critically acclaimed and internationally acclaimed films The fantastic tale of Marona, Grow old with you e The swallows of Kabul. Previous editions of AIF have also featured highly selective programming, which included a special screening of the Academy Award-winning short film love for hair (2019) and Oscar and Golden Globe nominees The head of the family (2017) and Mirai (2018)

“Animation is back in Los Angeles and this is great news! As one of the co-founders of the festival, 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 the directors and meet the public again, "said Mickael Marin, director and CEO of the Annecy Film Festival.

Animation Is Film fills a gap in the US market with a world-class animation festival, on par with major events in Europe and Asia, and based in the animated film capital of the world, Los Angeles. Embracing the highest aspirations of animation as a cinematic art form similar to live action, the festival is an international supporter of filmmakers who push the boundaries of their work to the wider range of artistic expression of the medium.

AIF is produced by GKIDS in collaboration with the Annecy International Animation Film Festival. Major industry and media sponsors include: ASIFA-Hollywood, Cartoon Network, 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.

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