The Annecy Festival and MIFA 2025 celebrated its 40th anniversary in Annecy with record participation, drawing 18,200 attendees from 118 countries. The industry-focused market hosted 6,550 accredited professionals and nearly 200 stands. The festival emphasized themes of innovation and inclusion, launching a major initiative: a new residency program starting in 2027 to support women directors.
Studio presence and indie resilience
Major studios leveraged the event as a launchpad for upcoming slates:
- Netflix previewed its animated spinoff Stranger Things: Tales from ’85, showcased In Your Dreams, and revealed details on Splinter Cell: Deathwatch.
- Disney premiered footage for Zootopia 2 and shared new details on Elio and its next original feature, Gatto.
- Sony impressed audiences with Goat, a visually bold sports action-comedy.
- Warner Bros. divisions showcased a large volume of new and returning animated titles, making one of their strongest appearances in recent memory.
- Despite the large Hollywood presence, the festival dedicated significant space to independent and experimental work. None of the 10 films in the main competition were studio-backed. Countries like India and Taiwan increased their presence, emphasizing a growing global interest in non-Western talent. MIFA amplified indie innovation through artist residencies, immersive programs, and support schemes.
Country Spotlight and Technological Integration
Hungary was honored as the official country of focus, showcasing over 80 animated works spanning its 111-year history in the art form. The tribute included restored classics and contemporary student projects. Hungary utilized the festival’s first geodesic screening venue, the Hungarian Dome, to house innovative pieces like the VR documentary 10 Hours Missing, highlighting its forward-thinking approach to storytelling and production infrastructure. Hungary continues to attract international co-productions via incentives like its 30% tax rebate.
