Animation First: French Animation Festival Returns This January.

Animation First, North America's first and only festival dedicated to French animation returns for its sixth iteration this January. Held at the French Institute Alliance Francaise (otherwise known as FIAF) in New York, the festival shines the spotlight on animation from France, and sometimes further afield.

This year, the line-up includes seven feature films, including four US and three NY premieres, five short film programs including 65 new shorts, including eight US and twelve NY Premieres. Romanian filmmaker Anca Damian is this year's guest of honour, taking part in a conversation and presenting the New York premiere of her latest film The Island.

The festival will open with feature Little Nicholas-  Happy As Can Be and the Best Of Annecy 2022 shorts program. It will be accompanied by an exhibition of the work of Little Nicholas co-creator Jean-Jacques Sempé, Signature Sempé, which will be at the FIAF Gallery until April 7, 2023.

The feature line-up also includes the premiere of the latest from acclaimed French filmmaker Michel Ocelot, The Black Pharaoh The Savage and The Princess, cult curio Gandahar, Haruki Murakami adaptation Blind Willow, Sleeping Woman, and the eagerly anticipated Spanish adult animated feature Unicorn Wars. The closing night feature is No Dogs Or Italians Allowed.

The festival will also host a slate of free events including work-in-progress presentations, panels, video game events and VR and AR experiences- including In Search Of Paradise, The AR companion piece to The Island.

The festival will also feature the third annual Student Short Film competition, celebrating the best work from French and American animation schools, as well as the first Animation Jam, where student animators will be given 48 hours to complete an animation sequence.

Animation First will take place at FIAF New York from January 27-29. Visit the website to purchase tickets to individual events or a festival pass.