Animation Is Film Unveils October Dates, Fest Poster

Animation Is Film (AIF) is set to make a triumphant return in 2025, with the festival scheduled to take place from Friday, October 17 to Sunday, October 19 at the iconic TCL Chinese Theatres in Hollywood. This highly anticipated event, now in its eighth year, is a celebration of the art and innovation of animated cinema, presented in collaboration with the Annecy International Animation Film Festival, GKIDS, and Variety.

According to Matt Kaszanek, Director of Animation Is Film, the festival’s primary goal has always been to showcase how animation pushes the boundaries of what cinema can achieve. The growing popularity of the festival year after year is a testament to the fact that American audiences truly appreciate the artistry and creativity of animated films. With 2025 shaping up to be an exceptional year for the medium, the organizers are thrilled to bring the festival back to Los Angeles.

Mickaël Marin, director general and CEO of the Annecy Festival, expressed pride in being a partner for Animation Is Film, noting that the festival celebrates animation as a bold and boundary-pushing art form. Each year, Animation Is Film brings together a passionate community of cinephiles and animation enthusiasts in the heart of Los Angeles, uniting them with a shared love for animated storytelling in all its forms.

To mark the announcement of the festival’s return, a teaser poster for 2025 was unveiled, created by French artist Camille Authouart. Authouart, whose short film “La Grande Arche” was featured at AIF in 2023, brings a unique and artistic perspective to the festival’s visual identity.

Animation Is Film has become a significant platform for films on the road to awards season, with many premiering or gaining early recognition at the festival. In 2024, the Grand Jury Prize winner, “Flow,” went on to win both an Academy Award and a Golden Globe, while the Oscar-winning short “In the Shadow of the Cypress” made its Los Angeles premiere at AIF.

Over the years, the festival has hosted early events for acclaimed and award-winning titles such as Hayao Miyazaki’s “The Boy and the Heron,” Guillermo Del Toro’s “Pinocchio,” and Disney’s “Encanto.” Founded in 2017, Animation Is Film continues to play a vital role in the U.S. by providing a world-class platform for animated cinema, showcasing the medium’s full artistic potential and captivating audiences with its diverse and innovative storytelling.