The Annecy International Animated Film Festival and the International Animation Film Market (MIFA), both sponsored by BNP Paribas since 2007, will be taking place from June 7-12, showcasing both long and short animated films in celebration of the Festival’s 50th birthday.

One of the major film festivals in France, second only to Cannes, Annecy is the world’s largest gathering of animators. The event has played an important role in the wide diffusion of the genre and in securing its current place in international cinema.

Since 1960, the festival has allowed for the discovery of animated masterpieces and, as is the case with any good festival, has given rise to important side-effects. It is a site where new names and young talents in the field emerge. It is a lookout point for new trends. And it is an excellent place to screen premieres and retrospectives and to mount exhibitions.

This year, the official selection includes 45 feature-length films including Wes Anderson’s “The Fantastic Mr. Fox” as well as the premiers of Sylvain Chomet’s “The Illusionist” and Dreamworks’ “Shrek Forever After.” A number of prestigious guests will be there to mark the occasion, from Pete Docter to John Lasseter.

The MIFA, the conference for animation professionals, will be held from June 9-11, and is designed to help facilitate the exchange of ideas and works as well as to provide important networking opportunities.

MIFA is the only organisation of its kind to bring together all major figures in the animation industry, spanning across the mediums of television, cinema, video, VOD, Internet and mobile devices.

To the delight of its cinephile audience, a free outdoor nighttime cinema on the shores of Lake Annecy has been set up for the length of the festival…

So head on over to Anncey to take part in the animation celebration of the year!