Animation Is Film Announces 2026 Lineup
Animation Is Film (AIF) announces its 9th edition, taking place October 16–19, 2026, with the main program running at TCL Chinese 6 Theatres in Hollywood.
For the first time in the festival’s history, AIF kicks off with an animated series, the world-first theatrical premiere of the first two episodes of Dana Terrace’s Knights of Guinevere from Glitch Productions, following Episode 1.02’s online debut.
“We’re thrilled to kick off another lively, animated weekend of the year’s very best with a special theatrical presentation of Dana Terrace’s Knights of Guinevere,” said Animation Is Film’s Director, Matt Kaszanek. “Dana is the artist behind one of the most beloved animated series of this decade. So naturally, it is with otherworldly excitement that we embrace her return to showrunning with a big screen presentation of this visionary series.”
AIF once again presents premieres of many of this year’s most celebrated titles, including Louis Clichy’s Iron Boy, winner of the Un Certain Regard Special Jury Prize at Cannes and the Jury Award and Audience Award at Annecy and selected for the Toronto and New York Film Festivals; Leah Nelson’s critically acclaimed Tangles; and Julián, the latest feature from Ireland’s Cartoon Saloon and Oscar-nominated director Louise Bagnall.
Other highly anticipated screenings include Jim Queen, another Cannes and Annecy hit; the North American Premiere of Shingo Natsume’s ghost – end of night; O Filho da Puta (Son of a Bitch), a hand-drawn film from Brazil, and The Violinist, winner of the 2026 Annecy Cristal.
“Continuing our commitment alongside Animation Is Film is a wonderful opportunity to extend, in Los Angeles, the international journey of the films and talents revealed and celebrated in Annecy,” said Mickael Marin, CEO of Annecy Festival organizing body CITIA. “We are delighted to contribute to their encounter with new audiences and to see AIF pursue, with this new edition, its essential mission in support of animation that is ever more bold, creative and free.”
AIF sets out to both introduce new auteurs to film lovers — including the feature directorial debut of Masanao Kawajiri, Cherry and Virgin — and welcome back established figures of animation filmmaking, like Sébastien Laudenbach with Viva Carmen! Laudenbach’s previous film, Chicken for Linda!, won both AIF’s Grand Jury Prize and Audience Award in 2023.
In addition to its competition program, AIF’s lineup includes studio presentations, retrospective screenings, filmmaker talks and works-in-progress. Highlights include a special conversation with the founders of Cartoon Saloon, reflecting on 25 years of the studio; a behind-the-scenes look at Walt Disney Animation’s upcoming Hexed; a rare theatrical presentation of Paramount’s Avatar Aang: The Last Airbender; Yoshiaki Kawajiri’s 2000 cult classic Vampire Hunter D: Bloodlust; and a work-in-progress look at Amphibia creator Matt Braly’s independently funded project Clara and the Below.
Industry panels include Inside Animation, in partnership with UTA, a wide-ranging conversation on the state of animation, from the trends shaping the business to how new voices and projects are breaking through. The discussion will explore the evolving role of representation, what agents look for in emerging talent, and the opportunities defining the next generation of animation.
AIF’s five short film presentations span international festival selections, emerging voices, student work and new animation from around the world. Two AIF-curated programs bring together awards contenders and new discoveries: Best of Annecy, in partnership with WIA, brings a selection of standout films from one of the most influential film festivals to L.A.; New Voices in Animation, presented in partnership with Asians in Animation, BRIC Foundation, Latinx in Animation, Legends Animated, Silver Lake Shorts and Titmouse Foundation, spotlights new and underrepresented talent; and the annual Student Showcase brings together next-gen creatives and emerging voices from leading animation schools in the U.S. and around the world.
AIF is produced by GKIDS in partnership with the Annecy International Animation Film Festival and Variety. Tickets are on sale at AnimationIsFilm.com.
Read the full story on Animation Magazine.