The biggest animation festival in the U.S. sets its upcoming slate; Cannes Award winner ‘Dandelion’s Odyssey’ by Momoko Seto to screen opening night; talk with Oscar-winning sound designer Nicolas Becker also revealed; event runs this coming February 3-8 with a focus on Belgian films.
L’Alliance New York has just announced the full program for the 9th Animation First Festival. Created in 2018, Animation First will run February 3-8, 2026. The largest animation festival in the U.S. - and the only francophone animation festival - will focus on Belgian films featuring both classic and new works from all manner of Belgian filmmakers.
Each year, the festival provides an opportunity for all curious moviegoers to discover bold and innovative films and enjoy opportunities to meet filmmakers, artists and other festival-goers throughout the festival’s many screenings, talks and parties.
The 2026 slate boasts an impressive roster of feature films, all of which are North American, US or NY premieres, and several unique shorts programs, along with a series of talks and special events. The Opening Night film is the U.S. Premiere Dandelion’s Odyssey by Momoko Seto, who will appear in person for a Q&A. Dandelion’s Odyssey premiered at the Critic's Week at the 2025 Cannes Film Festival where it was awarded by Prix FIPRESCI. The film’s sound designer, Nicolas Becker, will also appear in person at the festival for a talk along with Seto. Becker is renowned for his work, including the sound design for the recent Arco, as well as The Sound of Metal, for which he won the Oscar.
“With this year’s program we are delighted to once again spotlight animation at its best, as an art form that engages, delights and surprises,” said Delphine Selles-Alvarez, who co-curated along with colleague Chloe Dheu. “From paper cut-outs and clay puppets to hand-drawn and CG animation, this year’s filmmakers mine the potential of animation to tell stories of deep contemporary social and political resonance, as well as engage in lighter subjects of friendship, story-telling and epic adventures. Children and adults alike are in for unique discoveries at Animation First 2026.”
Other highlights include the Centerpiece Presentation, the NY Premiere of Tales from the Magic Garden (Les Contes du pommier) by David Súkup, Jean-Claude Rozec, Patrik Pašš, Leon Vidmar, a co-production of Czech Republic, Slovakia, Slovenia, and France. This whimsical film is crafted with stunning puppetry and stop-motion, a homespun rarity in a world flooded with CGI. The festival’s grand finale is the Closing Night film, Death Does Not Exist (La mort n'existe pas) by Félix Dufour-Laperrière, making its U.S. Premiere.
The festival also features many unique short film programs, notably the Best of Annecy 2025 and The Magician of Ostend: The Films of Raoul Servais, one of Belgium’s most celebrated animation artists. In addition, there are talks with high profile figures in the animation industry, notably Nicolas Becker (Gravity, Sound of Metal, Dandelion’s Odyssey, Arco), who will discuss his journey from foley artist to sound designer. There will also be a conversation with the Oscar-nominated Chris Lavis and Maciek Szczerbowski for Madame Tulti-Pulti, the co-founders of Montréal stop-motion studio Clyde Henry Productions.
Rounding out the shorts are the three wildly different New Francophone Shorts programs, featuring the best of new animated shorts from emerging and established filmmakers - all films are either U.S. or N.Y. premieres. Shorts were selected from lauded festivals including the Annecy International Animation Film Festival, Cannes Films Festival, Berlin International Film Festival and Anima (The Brussels Animation Film Festival). These films will be in competition, with winners decided by a jury of artists and filmmakers: Emily Hubley, Leah Shore, and Kat Mukai.
The festival’s Supporting Sponsors are the Québec Government Office in New York, the School of Visual Arts, Unifrance, and Villa Albertine.
The full 2026 Animation First Festival slate is now available.
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.
