Returning for its 8th edition, the festival runs January 21-26; seven feature-length films and five short film programs will screen, with a special focus on Swiss animation.
L’Alliance New York has revealed the trailer for the 8th edition of Animation First. The upcoming festival runs January 21-26 2025, and will present seven feature-length films and five short film programs, with a special focus on Swiss animation.
Curated by programmers Delphine Selles-Alvarez and Chloé Dheu, this year's opening night features a reception followed by the East Coast premiere of Michel Hazanavicius’ The Most Precious of Cargoes (La Plus Précieuse Des Marchandises), with the director (The Artist) in-person. Other highlights include the centerpiece feature, the US premiere of Claude Barras’s Savages (Sauvages); the closing night film on Sunday, January 26, The Time Masters (Les Maîtres du temps); the US premiere of the short The Machine-Men (Les Hommes Machines) by science-fiction animator René Laloux (Fantastic Planet).
Selles-Alvarez and Dheu explain, “The 2025 edition of Animation First offers a bold mix of features, shorts, talks, and VR that range from family-friendly to experimental and off the charts. Playful, serious, engaging, and at times radical, the festival will transport audiences to places far and wide.”
15 guests from around the world will participate in filmmaker talks, a first look presentation, and Q&A discussions. Back by popular demand, Animation Speak/Easy returns for the second year in a row, as well as the juried competition of the new Francophone shorts programs. The festival will also feature virtual reality experiences, the annual Student Short Film Competition, and even an interactive make-your-own stop-motion experience for guests in the Tinker Lounge.
Check out the trailer for the festival now:
Source: L’Alliance New York
Journalist, antique shop owner, aspiring gemologist—L'Wren brings a diverse perspective to animation, where every frame reflects her varied passions.
