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, stresses for this year edition 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 takes place in the evening today, June 9th.

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 main 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.

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.

Nicolás Smirnoff, Alberto Buitron

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