The Annecy International Animation Film Market (Mifa) is commemorating its 40th anniversary from June 10th to 13th, 2025, marking four decades of evolution as a pivotal hub for the global animation industry. Véronique Encrenaz, Director of Mifa, unveiled highlights of this edition on a recent talk, emphasizing its expanded scale, diverse programming, and continued commitment to fostering industry connections and talent development.
Mifa 2025 is encompassing an area exceeding 10,000m², featuring 200 stands in an expanded Exhibition Area, which gains an additional 600m² on its first floor. The market is also hosting 200 events, promising a comprehensive program for professionals. A significant return is the XR&Games area, which is reintegrating into the heart of the Mifa’s main Exhibition Area, placing it closer to industry professionals. Le Campus Mifa, dedicated to talent development, has also been restyled and revitalized with an even more extensive program.
A highlight of the anniversary celebrations is the presentation of the Mifa Animation Industry Award to iconic producer Didier Brunner, known for films such as “Kirikou.” Brunner’s recognition carries historical significance, as “Kirikou” was first presented as a pitch project at an early Mifa edition in 1993. The award ceremony take place on June 9th, 2025.
The core of Mifa’s offerings, its Industry Content, is housing at the Impérial Palace, providing a wide array of formats to support professionals. This includes 32 Pitch sessions, a cornerstone of the market. The 7 Mifa Pitch sessions, including a new category dedicated to animated documentaries, have seen a record number of 917 project submissions from 92 countries. From these, 48 projects were shortlisted, with 24 directed by women and 25 being French productions or co-productions.
Complementing these are 25 Partners Pitch sessions, where over 120 projects in development from all continents will be showcased. These sessions underscore Mifa’s role as a crucial international crossroads, providing a vital platform for emerging talent from diverse regions, including India, Madagascar, the Andean countries, Mediterranean countries, Hungary (this year’s spotlight country), Japan, South Korea, South Africa, and various others across Europe, Asia, and Latin America. Key partner organizations such as Women in Animation, Ibermedia Next, CEE Animation Forum, and La Liga de la Animación Iberoamericana utilize these pitches to present new voices on the international stage.
Mifa’s comprehensive program extends to 11 Mifa Conferences, categorized into Innovation/Technology, Industry, and Business themes. Sessions delves into cutting-edge topics like AI for Animation, Real-Time technologies, and VR tools in filmmaking, as well as broader industry discussions such as “How Can Broadcasters Play Their Part in Facing the Market Downturn?” and “The Future of Animation Studios: Reinvention and Resilience.”
The market also facilitates extensive networking and exposure through Press Conferences by major broadcasters and industry bodies, Demo Sessions by leading software and hardware providers like Pixar’s RenderMan and Autodesk, and Studio Focus presentations from global giants such as Adult Swim, Netflix Animation Studios, LAIKA, Warner Bros. Discovery, and Wētā FX. Industry Panels will address key issues, including the Women in Animation World Summit and specific focuses on countries like Spain, Australia, and China. “Share With” sessions feature major figures from companies like Tencent and The New York Times, sharing their latest news and insights. Additionally, “Meet the…” sessions offer targeted meetings for publishers, festival programmers, producers, sales agents, buyers, and composers.
The XR&Games Area prominently features the Festival’s Official Selection of competing VR Works, alongside meetings for IP adaptation between content owners and game/animation studios. This year, the Mifa is also launching the second edition of the Video Game Cinematic Works & Game Trailers Competition in collaboration with Weird Market – Paramotion Films from Spain, showcasing entries from 21 countries including work from Ubisoft and Blizzard Entertainment.
For students and young talents, Le Campus Mifa offers an expanded 4-day program with 40 events. Hungarian Director Áron Gauder, winner of the Jury Award at Annecy in 2023, serve as Patron of this year’s event. The campus host renowned guests including Michel Gondry and David Silverman (The Simpsons), offering masterclasses, workshops, and recruitment sessions. Key studios such as Walt Disney Animation Studios, Netflix Animation Studios, and ILM/Lucasfilm is presenting for recruitment, with nearly 25 studios offering new career opportunities. The campus also features a brand-new Student Pitch for graduation film projects from international animation schools.
Beyond the market’s specific offerings, Annecy Festival continues to champion gender equality, a commitment initiated with a dedicated edition in 2015. Mickaël Marin, CITIA CEO, emphasizes that while significant progress has been made (women directed 46% of animation short films in 2023, up from 21% of feature films approved by the CNC in 2013), true parity has not yet been achieved, especially considering that only 19% of European animation feature films between 2018 and 2022 were directed by women. The festival actively promotes balanced representation, with 8 out of 15 official jury members being women in 2025. This focus on gender equality will also be highlighted through dedicated programs like “Women and Animation, 10 years,” a tribute to Hungarian Women Directors, and various panels and workshops at Mifa, including the “Women in the Animation Industry: A Decade of Change, A Future to Shape” conference and a new partnership with Festival Sœurs Jumelles to spotlight female composers in animation.
The Annecy International Animation Film Festival and its market, the MIFA (International Animation Film Market), are organized by CITIA (Cité de l’image en mouvement), a French entity dedicated to the culture, training, and economy of the image sector. The event receives extensive support from various bodies, including the French Ministry of Culture, alongside numerous public institutions, regional governments, film commissions (like UniFrance, Telefilm Canada, or Screen Australia), and international funding bodies that bolster the presence and development of animation projects from their respective countries.
