Schedule
Tuesday, February 3, 2026 – Sunday, February 8, 2026
This February, join us for the ninth edition of Animation First, the biggest animation festival in the United States! This year’s festival will run from Tuesday, February 3 through Sunday, February 8, and will present six feature-length films and eight short film programs, with a special focus on Belgian animation, including classics and new films. Curators Delphine Selles-Alvarez and Chloé Dheu explain, “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. 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.”
This year, the festival presents one North American, three U.S and two New York Premieres of feature films. Over a dozen international filmmakers and professionals join us for captivating talks, a First Look presentation, and Q&A discussions. Back by popular demand, Animation Speak/Easy joins us for the third year in a row, as does our juried competition for new Francophone shorts. The festival will also feature virtual reality experiences, an interactive stop-motion experience in the Tinker Lounge and hands-on workshops with leading animation artists.
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