Animation Is Film Returns This October
Animation Is Film Festival is now well established as an American counterpart to the likes of Annecy International Animation Festival and the Ottawa International Animation Festival. Held every October by GKIDS Films in association with Annecy International and Variety, the festival brings the very best in world animation to the big screen in Hollywood.
This year's festival runs from October 17-19 at the historic TCL Chinese Theaters. It features a selection of screenings of the latest features from around the world, including several premieres, as well as filmmaker Q&As, previews and panels.
The opening night kicks off with a selection of shorts in the Best Of Annecy program. The big event of the night is Mamoru Hosoda's latest Scarlet, complete with director Q&A. The screening is already sold out, but you could check for cancellations and returns. The night concludes with a screening of Australian indie feature Lesbian Space Princess.
October 18 kicks off with a behind-the-scenes session and director Q&A of Disney's Zootopia 2. Screening at the same time is the U.S. premiere of Studio 4°C's latest anime feature, ChaO. Later that afternoon there is a screening of Laika's ParaNorman, in remastered 3D. The film will be accompanied by the world premiere of the new sequel short ParaNorman: The Thrifting and a director's Q&A. A second program of shorts follows, along with the animated adaptation of All You Need Is Kill. Later comes Chinese feature A Story About Fire, France's Arco, Alberto Vázquez's Decorado and a sold-out screening of the Chainsaw Man movie, Reze Arc.
The festival's final day kicks off with a filmmaker panel for Pretty Pretty Please I Don't Want To Be A Magical Girl. Mexico's first stop-motion feature I am Frankelda gets its US Premiere and a director's Q&A. More shorts follow, followed by the US Premiere of French feature Little Amélie or the Character of Rain. K-Pop Demon Hunters is getting the filmmaker Q&A treatment in a special event on Sunday afternoon. The festival closes out with a student shorts showcase, and showing at the same time, new Chinese feature Nobody.
Additionally, a special festival preview is taking place on October 13 of Netflix's Roald Dahl adaptation The Twits. Entry to the event is free, but you'll need to RSVP.
Tickets for all remaining screenings and ticket packages are available now via the festival website.
