2026 Animation First Festival announces full programming slate

The largest animation festival in the U.S., Animation First Festival, has announced the full slate of its 2026 programming. Next year’s festival will run from February 3-8 in New York and focus on Belgian films, featuring new and classic works from a bevy of Belgian filmmakers.

Next year’s festival is co-curated by Delphine Selles-Alvarez and Chloe Dheu, who chose short films from high-profile film festivals and who chose feature films that are all North American, U.S., or New York premieres. In addition to the films themselves, Animation First 2026 will also host talks and special events, including Q&As with various filmmakers.

“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,” says Selles-Alvarez. “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, storytelling and epic adventures. Children and adults alike are in for unique discoveries at Animation First 2026.”

Read on for the full programming slate.

Feature Films

Dandelion’s Odyssey (Planètes), dir. Momoko Seto

Dandelion’s Odyssey (Planètes) — US Premiere, Opening Night Film
Dir. Momoko Seto, 2025, France, Belgium, 76min, DCP 
No dialogue
Tuesday, February 3 at 7 p.m. 

In this stunning film, four dandelion seeds journey through the cosmos, on an unforgettable adventure to find a new home.  Screening followed by a Q&A with director Momoko Seto and a reception.

Tales from the Magic Garden (Les Contes du pommier) — NY Premiere, Centerpiece Film
Dir. David Súkup, Jean-Claude Rozec, Patrik Pašš, Leon Vidmar, 2025, Czech Republic, Slovakia, Slovenia, France, 75min, DCP 
In French with English subtitles   
Friday, February 6 at 7 p.m. 

Three kids discover the power of imagination when they retell the stories once shared by their late grandmother, in this whimsical film crafted with stunning puppetry and stop motion. Followed by a reception.

Allah Is Not Obliged (Allah n’est pas obligé) — US Premiere 
Dir. Zaven Najjar, 2025, France, Luxembourg, Belgique, Canada, Arabie Saoudite (Saudi Arabia), 77min, DCP 
In French with English subtitles 
Saturday, February 7 at 7 p.m. 

Birahima, a 10-year-old Guinean orphan, shares his experience as a child soldier in this bittersweet elegy to a childhood shattered by war. Adapted from Ahmadou Kourouma’s celebrated novel and presented as a First Look at Animation First 2024. Followed by a toast.

Heart of Darkness — North American Premiere 
Dir. Rogerio Nunes, 2025, France, Brazil, 77min, DCP 
In Portuguese with English subtitles  
Saturday, February 7 at 9:30 p.m.  

In a near-future Rio de Janeiro, soldier Marlon navigates the polluted waters and favelas of Guanabara Bay in search of Kurtz, former commander turned cult leader. Marlon’s journey plunges him into a dystopian world where faith, power, and chaos collide. Preceded by a toast.

The Songbirds’ Secret (Le Secret des mésanges) — NY Premiere 
Dir. Antoine Lanciaux, 2025, France, 77min, DCP 
In French with English subtitles  
Sunday, February 8 at 2 p.m.

9-year-old Lucie, guided by a pair of birds, uncovers her family history in this little miracle of a film, created with paper cutouts and over 2,000 puppets.  

Death Does Not Exist (La mort n’existe pas) — US Premiere, Closing Night Film
Dir. Félix Dufour-Laperrière, 2025, Canada, France, 72min, DCP 
In French with English subtitles  
Sunday, February 8 at 8:15 p.m.  

Hélène flees into the forest after a failed armed attack on wealthy landowners, where she is haunted by her friend and accomplice, forcing her to reckon with her convictions and choices. Preceded by a Closing Night Party.

Short Films

All shorts screenings at the Florence Gould Theater will be preceded by a 25-second bumper film by Ecole MoPA students.

New Francophone Shorts programs unite the best new animated shorts from both established and up-and-coming filmmakers. The following were selected from festivals including Anima: The Brussels Animation Film Festival, Annecy International Animation Film Festival, Berlin International Film Festival, and Cannes Films Festival.

Filmmaker Michael Enright co-curated alongside festival co-curators Dheu and Selles-Alvarez. New Francophone Shorts may include horror, cruelty, and dark social commentary.

New Francophone Shorts 1
Wednesday, February 4, 6:45 p.m. 
Total running time: 73min 
Florence Gould Theater

New Francophone Shorts 2 — Dark After Dark 
Wednesday, February 4, 8:30 p.m. 
Total running time: 78min 
Florence Gould Theater

New Francophone Shorts 3
Sunday, February 8, 12 p.m.
Total running time: 66min 
Florence Gould Theater

Best of Annecy 2025 
Friday, February 6 at 9:30 p.m. 
Total running time: 76min 
Florence Gould Theater

First Snow (Premières Neiges) 
Saturday, February 7 at 10:30 a.m. — FREE
Dir. Marion Auvin, Pascale Hecquet, Cecilia Marreiros Marum, Juliette Baily, 2025, 37min, France, DCP 
In French with no English subtitles 

The following seven, family-friendly fiction and documentary shorts are focused on snow and winter. They are presented as part of Animation First 2026’s spotlight on Belgian animation. 

Strawberries, Snails and Slugs: the Films of Sylwia Szkiłądź
Saturday, February 7 at 1:45 p.m.
Total running time: 75min 

Discover the work of Belgium-based filmmaker Sylwia Szkiłądź and how she mines the potential of animation to activate the imagination of adults and children. This program includes Autokar, Strawberry Soup (La Soupe aux fraises), The Tiny Fox (Le Renard minuscule) and The Slug & The Snails (rdsLimaçon & carioles). Followed by Q&A with filmmaker Sylwia Szkiłądź.

The Magician of Ostend: The Films of Raoul Servais 
Saturday, February 7 at 5:15 p.m. 
Total running time: 83min 
Florence Gould Theater

Raoul Servais (1928-2023), one of Belgium’s most celebrated animation artists, experimented with graphic style and animation techniques throughout his career. He left behind a body of work of great artistry and contributed to film making with the invention of Servaisgraphy, a pre-CGI process to blend live-action and animated shots. He used this technique in his award-winning Harpya (1979).

With a mix of biting dark humor and lyricism, Servais was also deeply committed to exposing tyranny and war in his films such as Chromophobia (1966), Sirene (1968), and Operation X-70 (1971). This program surveys most of Servais’ short films, all restored by the Belgium Cinematek. Followed by a conversation with Vito Adriaensens, filmmaker and scholar.

Magnificent Puppets: The Films of De Swaef and James Roels 
Sunday, February 8 at 1:45 p.m. — FREE
Total running time: 61 min 
Skyroom 

This program spotlights the work of leading Belgian directing duo Emma and Marc with two shorts featuring their delicately-crafted felt puppets: Oh Willy… and This Magnificent Cake!

Animation First’s Student Short competition returns for its sixth year in 2026 to highlight emerging creators from some of the most renowned animation schools in the U.S. and France. Prizes will be awarded for the Best American Student Short and the Best French Student Short.   

Talks and Other Events

Animation Speak/Easy 
Thursday February 5 at 7 p.m. — FREE
Tinker Auditorium

Join us for a one-of-a-kind evening of animated inspiration, discussion and drinks. Created by NYC-based animation filmmakers, Animation Speak/Easy is an interactive event where three guest artists are invited to share an animated short that inspires them, followed by a lively audience discussion. 

First Look: Sidi Kaba and the Gateway Home 
Saturday, February 7 at 2 p.m. — FREE
Running time: 75min 
Le Skyroom

Producer Sébastien Onomo gives a behind-the-scenes look into the process of making Special Touch Studios’ first feature from Rony Hotin, an epic adventure told through African myths and storytelling. 

The Sound of Animation: Nicolas Becker and Momoko Seto in Discussion  
Saturday, February 7 at 4 p.m. – FREE
Running time: 75min
Le Skyroom

Along with Dandelion’s Odyssey’s Momoko Seto, the Oscar-winning sound designer Nicolas Becker (Gravity, Sound of Metal, Dandelion’s Odyssey, Arco) discusses his journey from foley artist to sound designer, his inspirations and the art of crafting the sound into a living character. 

Making of The Songbirds’ Secret 
Sunday February 8 at 3:45 p.m. – FREE
Running time 75min
Le Skyroom

Samuel Ribeyron, set designer of The Songbirds’ Secret, will delve into the process of making the film, his craft and techniques and the choices that the artistic team made to create this ambitious film with paper cut-outs and stop-motion. Preceded by the screening of the film at 2 p.m.

Animating the Surreal: A Conversation with Lavis and Szczerbowski  
Sunday, February 8 at 5:15 p.m. 
90min, including 17min screening of The Girl Who Cried Pearls  
Florence Gould Theater

Oscar nominated directors Chris Lavis and Maciek Szczerbowski—co-founders of Montréal stop-motion studio Clyde Henry Productions—examine the evolution of cinematic puppetry as it relates to their newest film, The Girl Who Cried Pearls.  

VR Programs

Thursday February 5: 5-7 p.m.
Friday February 6: 5-7 p.m.
Saturday February 7: 11 a.m.-7 p.m. 
Sunday February 8: 11 a.m.-6:30 p.m.

Gymnesia  
Dir. Chris Lavis, Maciek Szczerbowski, 2019, 6min

Gymnasia is an exploration of memory and the impossibility of returning to one’s past except through dreams. In a decayed and abandoned school gymnasium—haunted by the ghosts of its history— are stirring memories of a lost childhood.

Through virtual reality stop motion animation, puppets, and miniatures, Gymnasia envelops you in an eerily familiar waking dream. It will lead you back into a secret space in your memory, back to your childhood gymnasium. 

Marco & Polo Go Round 
Dir. Benjamin Steiger Levine, 2021,12min

Marco & Polo Go Round is a love story with a surreal twist. As Marco and Polo face difficulties in their relationship, gravity reverses and their whole world literally collapses around them. 

The Great Escape 
Dir. Joren Vandenbroucke, 2025, 25min

Three moody geraniums take control over their fate and plan their escape from the windowsill they spent their entire boring life on. 

For more information and buy tickets, visit the Animation First Festival website.