The eighth edition of Animation First, celebrating the artistry of French animation, presents six feature-length films and eight short film programs, with a special focus on Belgian animation.

Best for families:

Tales from the Magic Garden
Fri, Feb 6 at 7pm
Florence Gould Theater

Followed by Animation First Centerpiece Night Party

75min, DCP. In French with English subtitles  
Age: 6+
Three kids discover the power of imagination when they retell the stories once shared by their late grandmother, in this whimsical film crafted with stunning puppetry and stop motion.  

Full Schedule:

OPENING NIGHT - Tuesday, February 3

7pm: Dandelion's Odyssey followed by the Opening Night Party. (FGT)

Wednesday, February 4 

6:45pm: New Francophone Shorts 1 (FGT)

8:30pm: New Francophone Short 2 Dark After Dark (FGT)

Thursday, February 5

5:30pm: Professional Panel (SKY)

7:00pm: Animation Speak/Easy (TIN)

CENTERPIECE NIGHT - Friday, February 6

7:00pm: Tales from the Magic Garden (FGT)

8:15pm: Centerpiece Party (TIN)

9:30pm: Best of Annecy 2025 (FGT)

Saturday, February 7

10:30am: Shorts: First Snow (SKY)

1:45pm: Shorts: Strawberries, Snails and Slugs: the Films of Sylvia Szkiłądź (FGT)

2:00pm: First Look: Sidi Kaba and the Gateway Home (SKY)

4:00pm: The Sound of Animation: Nicolas Becker and Momoko Seto in Discussion (SKY)

4:15pm: Shorts: The Magician of Ostend - The Films of Raoul Servais (FGT)

7:00pm: Allah is Not Obliged (FGT)

9:30pm: Heart of Darkness (FGT)

Sunday, February 8

12:00pm: New Francophone Shorts 3 (FGT)

TBD: Shorts: Magnificent Puppets: The films of De Swaef and James Roels (SKY)

2:00pm: The Songbirds' Secret (FGT)

3:45pm: Making of The Songbirds' Secret (SKY)

5:15pm: Artist Talk: Animating the Surreal: a conversation with Lavis and Szczerbowski (FGT)

6:30pm: Closing Night Reception (TIN)

8:15pm: Death Does Not Exist (FGT)