The International Animation Film Market (MIFA) opens in Annecy, France on June 15, with around 2,700 industry pros expected to pass through its doors. This year’s event continues to expand that market’s global scope, with delegations from New Zealand, Paraguay, Peru, Ecuador and Turkey set to attend for the first time.
In addition to the highly anticipated MIFA Pitches (35 international projects whittled down from over 400 submissions), which will take place June 15 & 16, the Imperial Palace has plenty to offer producers and prospective partners. Pitch project leaders will get to meet with regional and national funding organizations, while everyone is welcome to Meet the Festival Programmers on June 14 in the Tent and learn about distribution options. Local producers shouldn’t miss Europe Creative’s “Europe’s Animation Industry: How Do We Build Scale?” June 15 at 2:30 p.m. and CNC’s “What Opportunities Are There for French Programs Abroad?” at 4 p.m.
Important information and new connections can be made at the four Territory Focus sessions on France (June 15, 11 a.m.), Tokyo (June 15, 2 p.m.), Canada (June 16, 2:30 p.m.) and Flanders (June 17, 10 a.m.), Studio Focus talks (June 13-17) and the “Share With” sessions, which allow producers the chance to meet short film and TV series buyers and feature film distributors (June 15-17).
MIFA also offers unique recruiting opportunities for talent and space for national clusters and networks (like Pole image Magelis for Angouleme and Point Est for Alsace) to showcase their local animation employers. Recruiters will be present from studios all over the world, including Disney Channel, Laika, Illumination Mac Guff, Cartoon Network, Pixar, Ubisoft, Xilam and newcomers Flying Bark (Australia), Cirkus (New Zealand) and Heuvocartoon (Mexico).
Even more programming info awaits you at annecy.org!
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