L’Alliance New York has released the official trailer for the eighth edition of Animation First, a festival dedicated to animation that will take place from January 21 to 26, 2025. This year, the event will screen seven feature films and five short film programs, with a special focus on Swiss animation.
Diverse Selection and Highlights
Programmers Delphine Selles-Alvarez and Chloé Dheu have prepared a diverse selection, ranging from family-friendly productions to experimental proposals. The festival's opening will feature a reception and the East Coast premiere of The Most Precious of Cargoes (La Plus Précieuse Des Marchandises), directed by Michel Hazanavicius, known for his work on The Artist. The director will be present for this event.
Screenings and Premieres
- Centerpiece Screening: the US premiere of Savages (Sauvages) by Claude Barras.
- Closing Film: The Time Masters (Les Maîtres du temps) on January 26.
- US Premiere: the short film The Machine-Men (Les Hommes Machines), created by René Laloux, a science fiction animator known for his work on Fantastic Planet.
A Diverse and Unique Experience
Selles-Alvarez and Dheu state that the 2025 edition of Animation First offers a bold mix of feature films, short films, talks, and virtual reality that ranges from the familiar to the experimental and the unusual. Playful, serious, engaging, and at times radical, the festival will take attendees to far-flung and diverse places.
Guests and Activities
The festival will feature 15 international guests who will participate in filmmaker talks, exclusive presentations, and Q&A sessions.
- Animation Speak/Easy returns for its second consecutive year.
- Jury competition for the new French-language short film programs.
- Virtual Reality experiences and the annual Student Short Film Competition.
- Interactive stop-motion experience in the Tinker Lounge.