Animation Is Film Festival Reveals 2026 Slate.

It's nearly that time of year again. The time when some of the best in animation cinema from around the world comes to Hollywood. It can only be the Animation Is Film Festival. Established in 2017, the festival is organised by GKIDS Films in association with Annecy International Animation Film Festival and Variety.  It was created, according to its mission, to fill "a gap in the market by launching a world-class animation festival in the US, with its home in the world capital of filmmaking. It presents animation in all its forms, from studio fare to indie, from the US and countries worldwide and both for adults and family audiences.

This year's festival takes place from October 16-19, 2026 at the historic TCL Chinese 6 Theatres in Hollywood. 

This year's festival kicks off on the 16th with the Best Of Annecy screening, in association with WIA. The program features a selection of animated short films screened at this year's Annecy Festival. Later in the evening is a screening of the first two episodes of the TV series Knights of Guinevere, the adult animation from The Owl House creator Dana Terrace. The screening will be followed by a panel/Q&A featuring Dana Terrace. Also screening that evening is the first in-competition feature, Brazil's Son Of A Bitch (O Filho Da Puta). Rounding out the first day of the festival is anime feature Ghost- End of Night from director Shingo Natsume and renowned studio Madhouse. The sci-fi feature will have its North American Premiere at the festival.

Moving on to the 17th, the day kicks off with a double-header of events. It's a shame you won't be able to see them both, so you'll have to make a tough choice. First is a screening of Wolfwalkers, followed by a celebration of 25 years of Irish studio Cartoon Saloon. Founders Tomm Moore, Nora Twomey and Paul Young will be there in person. The film finally screens at the festival, after having its originally planned 2020 screening nixed by the pandemic. Taking place at the same time is a preview and behind-the-scenes look at Walt Disney Animation Studios' upcoming film Hexed. Later, Amphibia creator Matt Braly and art director Britney Thoreson offer a work-in-progress look at their new series Clara and The Below. Later that same afternoon, Cartoon Saloon's new film Julian receives its US Premiere. Director Louise Bagnall, making her feature debut, will be in attendance. 

Taking place at the same time is AIF's first shorts program. Getting a rare cinema screening later on is Aang: The Last Airbender. Creative Lauren Montgomery will be attending. The early evening screening is the acclaimed animated biography Tangles.  A bittersweet story of one family's experience with alzheimer's, the film has already scored six nominations at festivals including Annecy and Cannes. Director Leah Nelson will be the in-person guest at the screening. Later that night comes Bobbypills' queer French comedy Jim Queen. The guests will be directors Nicolas Athane and Marco Nguyen. The final screening of the second day is cult classic horror anime Vampire Hunter D: Bloodlust. The 2000 classic from anime legend Yoshiaki Kawajiri (Ninja Scroll) is screening in a new HD remaster, which makes its West Coast debut at AIF.

The final day of the festival opens with a screening of Annecy Cristal winner, The Violinist. The film's directors, Ervin Han and Raul Garcia, will be in attendance. Taking place at the same time on another screen is the Animation Is Film Student Showcase. The showcase features shorts from students from Gobelins, École des Nouvelles Images, MOPA, Royal College of Art and more. 

Later in the afternoon, the festival will hold a panel that is free to attend. Inside Animation: The Talent, Trends & Opportunities Shaping the Industry will be hosted by leading UTA agents, discussing the present and future of the animation industry. Later, Annecy and Cannes-prize-winning 2D feature Iron Boy will receive its LA premiere. Former Pixar animator Louis Clichy, the film's director, will be in the house. Clashing with that screening is the second half of AIF's main shorts program.

Later on is Viva Carmen!, an adaptation of the classic opera. Coming from maverick French filmmaker Sébastien Laudenbach (Chicken for Linda, The Girl Without Hands), you can bet it's like no version of Carmen you've ever seen before. The final feature of this year's festival is the indie anime Cherry and Virgin, the debut feature from Masanao Kawajiri. Kawajiri will also be attending. Closing out the festival for another year is New Voices In Animation. The screening will include work from animators from underrepresented groups, followed by a chance to hear from the filmmakers themselves. Featured shorts include Wheels and Roses, Buggie, The Fisherman's Lullaby and more.

Tickets and more details are available here. But don't dawdle, as they have a habit of selling out!