Fresh off its Academy Award victory for Best Animated Short with The Girl Who Cried Pearls, the National Film Board of Canada (NFB) is set to return to the Annecy International Animation Film Festival and its accompanying MIFA market, from June 21 to 27, where the world’s premier animation event will feature a robust Canadian delegation showcasing a diverse lineup of highly anticipated premieres, works-in-progress, and strategic industry initiatives.
Leading the NFB’s presence in the Official Competition is the international premiere of Catherine Lepage’s new animated short, Ultra Strong. Produced and executive produced by Christine Noël—who also co-produced the Oscar-winning The Girl Who Cried Pearls—the 9-minute film is a candid, self-deprecating autofictional exploration of youthful ideals, ranging from Cinderella to heavy metal.
The project stands out for its high-profile collaborations, featuring the special participation of Iron Maiden frontman Bruce Dickinson, who plays an idealized version of himself in both the English and French versions. It also includes narration and original music by Régine of Arcade Fire. Lepage assembled an almost entirely female core crew for the production, including sound designer Sacha Ratcliffe, animator Rachel Samson, and editor Xi Feng. Ultra Strong arrives in Annecy with strong momentum, having already secured the Special Mention for Best Animated Film and the People’s Choice Award at the 2026 Sommets du cinéma d’animation in Montreal.
In the Works in Progress category, the NFB will unveil The Shiatsung Project, an animated feature co-directed by Brigitte Archambault and Eva Cvijanović. Co-produced by Embuscade Films and the NFB, the narrative centers on a woman living in an impenetrable suburban bungalow with a talking screen as her sole companion. The Annecy presentation will feature the co-directors alongside producers Félix Dufour-Laperrière and newly appointed AMPAS member Jelena Popović, in a session moderated by film educator Vivien Forsans.
Beyond its screenings, the NFB will maintain a strong institutional and strategic footprint at the MIFA market. A major highlight will be an exclusive networking event co-hosted by Suzanne Guèvremont, NFB Chairperson, and Julie Roy, Executive Director and CEO of Telefilm Canada. Set for June 23 at the Impérial Palace park, the event aims to explore new global partnership opportunities and celebrate the Canadian animation sector.
Additionally, director Catherine Lepage will represent the NFB at the 10th Women in Animation (WIA) World Summit. She will participate in the «Short Films and Fresh Perspectives» panel, moderated by Meredith Shea, Chief Membership, Impact and Industry Officer at the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences (AMPAS).
Also, The festival’s thematic «Animated Thrills and Chills» program will screen eight NFB titles, emphasizing animation not merely as a genre, but as a robust cinematic language. The showcase spans three distinct themes and features acclaimed works like The Trenches by Claude Cloutier, who is also serving on the Annecy jury this year for the Graduation Films and Off-Limits Short Films categories.
Furthermore, the NFB’s legendary archival contributions will be highlighted in the Annecy Classics section through Walking with Animators. Eight years in the making, this documentary by Gilles Penso and Alexandre Poncet features extensive NFB archival footage and insights from Eloi Champagne, the NFB’s Head of Technical Direction, alongside conversations with acclaimed filmmakers like Theodore Ushev, Regina Pessoa, and Joanna Quinn.
Rounding out the Canadian footprint, the NFB is also supporting independent talent through its Aide au cinéma indépendant du Canada (ACIC) and Filmmaker Assistance Program (FAP). Three NFB-supported independent shorts will screen at the festival: Marcy Page’s Virgin Fandango and Birute Sodeikaite’s Blessed in the Official Competition, alongside Julie Charette’s La comète in the Perspectives competition.
The extensive 2026 delegation highlights the NFB’s continued commitment to elevating Canadian voices, driving international co-productions, and shaping the future of the global animation industry.
