Annecy Animation Festival 2026 Opens with Minions & Monsters Premiere

The 2026 Annecy International Animation Film Festival opened on June 21 in the lakeside town of Annecy, France, and will run until June 27. The opening ceremony featured the world premiere of Illumination’s *Minions & Monsters*, with studio founder Chris Meledandri and director Pierre Coffin on stage. Surprise guests included filmmaker Guillermo del Toro, and mayor Antoine Armand paid tribute to the late Marjane Satrapi, citing her book *Woman, Life, Freedom* as a reminder of artistic freedom.

Temperatures reached 36 °C, prompting festival‑goers to seek relief by the lake and in air‑conditioned venues. New facilities at the Cité d’Animation were highlighted, including hand‑print plaques for Meledandri that will become part of the venue’s hall of fame. Festival artistic director Marcel Jean and CITIA president Dominique Puthod stressed the importance of artistic freedom, diversity, and the role of older techniques such as stop‑motion alongside computer‑generated animation. Discussions also covered the impact of AI on the industry.

The festival expects around 18,400 attendees and 10,000 professionals, showcasing works from 118 countries and emphasizing a wide range of genres and subjects—from political thrillers to intimate personal dramas. It marks a shift toward broader genre inclusion, renewed support for culture funding, and a continued position as a global hub for animation creators.