This year, the 44th Annecy Animated Film Festival (running 8 to 14 June) has chosen to shine a light on Hungary’s rich animated film heritage, as well as the dynamism of its modern-day filmmaking which has been recognized across the world in recent times.

"Despite the political turmoil, the historic richness of Hungarian animation has never faltered. For more than twenty years, many student films have heralded the arrival of a real new wave, while the recent successes of films by Flóra Anna Buda (27), Balázs Turai (Amok), Nadja Andrasev (Symbiosis) and Áron Gauder (Four Souls of Coyote) have come and reinforced this emergence to demonstrate the cultural vibrancy and profound originality of this country's production. The significant undertaking of digitizing and restoring works that the Hungarian National Film Institute is doing will enable Annecy 2025 to present the great Hungarian animation classics in optimal conditions," said Marcel Jean, Annecy Festival's Artistic Director.

A special feature of the festival will be the inaugural Annecy Dôme, a new 32-seat venue in the city center dedicated to animated films from Hungary and other countries such as Mexico and France in an immersive form.

3 Hungarian jurors will be present in different categories:

György Ráduly: Official Feature Films Jury

Director of the Film Archive at the National Film Institute Hungary

Nadja Andrasev: Contrechamp Feature Films Jury

Film Director of some multi-award-winning films such as The Noise of Licking and Symbiosis, Production Manager, Executive Producer.

Réka Bucsi: Graduation Films & Off-Limits Short Films Jury

Film Director of some multi-award-winning films such as Symphonie n°42 , LOVE and Solar Walk.

As well as Máté Józsa, Emma Nyári and Máté Horesnyi for the Perspectives Jury.

This spotlight on Hungarian animation will be the opportunity for festivalgoers to discover all the depth of this production through 9 programs selected by Anna Ida Orosz, animation specialist at the Film Archive of the Hungarian National Film Institute. A collection of commercial films to award-winning films, shorts and feature films, from heritage films to graduation films from the prestigious MOME University, the whole history and diversity of Hungarian animation will grace the Annecy cinema theatre screens.

The Mifa will host a Hungarian pavilion in the new area located on the 1st floor of the Exhibition Area, where there is a new space especially for Mifa's companies and delegations. The presence of a significant delegation demonstrates the dynamism of this industry within the international market.

There will be a host of events dedicated to Hungarian animation throughout the week, to showcase their talent and content:

A Hungarian Pitch session in which 5 projects will be presented. Hot pitches of Hungarian Talents; and An Industry Panel: Production power, Global vision: Futureproofing Hungarian Animation.

Director Áron Gauder, Jury Award at Annecy in 2023 for Four Souls of Coyote, will be Patron of Le Campus Mifa, this area that is entirely devoted to future animation professionals. For this occasion, he will be giving a Masterclass for all the students coming to Annecy from around the world.