Gkids, Annecy and Variety To Launch L.A. “Animation Is Film” Festival in October

Gkids, Annecy and Variety To Launch L.A. “Animation Is Film” Festival in October

June 16th, 2017

Jerry Beck

GKIDS, the distributor of acclaimed animated features, Annecy International Animation Film Festival, the world’s leading animation Festival and Market, and Variety magazine, have announced the launch of ANIMATON IS FILM, an annual animation film festival in Los Angeles. The first edition will run October 20-22 at the TCL Chinese 6 Theater in Hollywood (Mann’s Chinese Theater) with a showcase of 20 programs including feature films in competition, special presentations, retrospectives and short film programs.

ANIMATION IS FILM aims to fill a gap in the US market by establishing a world class animation festival on par with the major events in Europe and Asia – and locating it in the world capital of animated filmmaking. The Festival will be a vocal advocate, in the heart of Hollywood, for excellence in animation, and for filmmakers who push the boundaries of their art to the fullest range of expression that the medium is capable of.

The mission of the Festival is to:

• Present a highly selective, annual showcase of the best new works of animation from around the world, with programs for both adults and families.

• Champion and support filmmakers who use animation to pursue unique cinematic visions and who are unconstrained by conventional notions of what animation is capable of.

• Champion and support women filmmakers.

• Champion and support filmmakers from a wide range of cultural, economic, and national backgrounds.

• Support communication, understanding and positivity in the world.

The Festival Organizing Committee includes:

Eric Beckman – Founder and CEO, GKIDS, Co-founder, New York Int’l Children’s Film Festival
Patrick Eveno – CEO, CITIA – Annecy International Animation Film Festival
Mickaël Marin – CITIA Managing Director, Head of Economic Development & Mifa
Marcel Jean – Artistic Director, Annecy International Animation Film Festival
Michelle Sobrino-Stearns – Group Publisher, Variety
Steven Gaydos – Executive Editor, Variety
Peter Debruge – Chief Film Critic, Variety
Fumi Kitahara – Chair of Publicity, Women in Animation

Of the Festival, GKIDS Founder and CEO Eric Beckman said, “Creating a stateside film festival that recognizes the highest aspirations of animation as a cinematic art form has long been a dream of GKIDS. We are thrilled that Annecy and Variety have partnered with us to launch Animation is Film and bring exceptional animated filmmaking from around the world to audiences in Los Angeles, the world capital of filmmaking. We look forward to working with an expanding group of partners and supporters to grow the festival over the coming years.”

“The Annecy International Animation Film Festival and Market are excited to be working together with Variety and GKIDS to create Animation Is Film. This new event is a wonderful opportunity to radiate animation and all its diversity in the heart of Hollywood and is a very important step in our strategy to expand abroad. The festival is another occasion, following Annecy Goes to Cannes and the creation of the Annecy Asia International Animated Film Festival in Seoul, to promote films and artists from all over the world to an even wider audience.”

“We are honored to partner with GKIDS and Annecy to bring the best of animated films to Los Angeles through the launch of Animation Is Film,” said Variety Group Publisher and CRO, Michelle Sobrino-Stearns. “The festival will be a champion of excellence in animation, an exciting audience event, and a significant new addition to the cultural landscape of Los Angeles.”

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Jerry Beck

Writer, cartoon producer and author of more than 15 books on animation history. A former studio exec with Nickelodeon and Disney; currently on the faculty at both CalArts in Valencia and Woodbury University in Burbank, California.