Secrets of the Festival’s Artistic Director!

Annecy Festival’s artistic director Marcel Jean has been curating exquisite collections of animated fare from all over the world for the past 10 years. We caught up with the Canadian producer, director and writer to find out more about this year’s program and how he juggles the many different demands of the job.

Congrats on putting together another edition of the festival! How long did you work on the selection and organization this year?

Marcel Jean: The selection is a long-term job that is built throughout the year, even from one year to the next. This is particularly the case for the Mexican programming that we have been thinking about since we had in mind to put this animation in the spotlight this year.

What is the number of festival staff and volunteers this year?

More than 125 people are mobilized to organize the festival and the MIFA, to which are added around 500 volunteers.

What are some of the highlights that we cannot miss this year?

You ask me to pick my favorite among my children! It’s Sophie’s Choice! It depends on every festivalgoer. However, I would say that the real “can’t misses” are in the Screening Events or in the WIP category, simply because it’s exclusive content. I mean, it will be possible to see the films in selection after the festival. You can’t say that about a WIP session or a Making of session, or a Masterclass. Personally, I would not miss Barry Purves’ and Eric Goldberg’s masterclasses, or the WIP session with Chris Lavis and Maciek Szczerbowski about their short film The Girl Who Cried Pearls. I have already mentioned the Mexican selection, but I encourage all festivalgoers to discover, through five dedicated programs in particular, these singular works that are still too little known. Also recommended, a healthy ascent after the fondues to go to the Museum-Château to discover the exhibition devoted to the talented director of Blind Vaysha and The Physics of Sorrow, Theodore Ushev.

Which restaurants or bars are absolute musts for first-time visitors in Annecy?

A visit to Chez Ingalls for lunch or dinner in the interior garden, in the Cour du Pré Carré after the last screening, at Los Primos to find Mexican artists, or Café des Arts, where you will find many students. In the morning, I take my coffee at Regann or La Belle Époque.

What gives you the biggest headaches?

My main problem is a first-world problem: the quantity and the quality of the feature films received, which forced us to make a drastic selection. Given the richness in all the categories presented, we have also taken the decision to extend the festival by one day.

What is your take on the state of animation in 2023?

The industry is still in development. Every year we receive films from more and more countries. This diversity is remarkable. Five or six years ago, it was possible to notice this diversity in the short films submissions. Now, you can see good features from a lot of different countries. For example, this year we have a Jordanian feature, Saleem, and one from Cameroon, The Sacred Cave. Adult entertainment is also gaining ground, which is excellent news.

What kind of advice do you give young animators who dream of making something to be spotlighted at the festival?

Do not restrict the field of their inspirations,

THIS YEAR’S COLLECTION: Among the 2023 edition’s highlights (clockwise from top left): A masterclass taught by stop-motion legend Barry Purves, an exhibit devoted to the works of Theodore Ushev (pictured: Blind Vaysha), a Disney spotlight featuring the new movie Wish, John Musker’s new short I’m Hip and a WIP session on Chris Lavis and Maciek Szczerbowski’s The Girl Who Cried Pearls do not hesitate to approach all topics and play with techniques to put them at the service of their stories. And while waiting to be ready, take advantage of the numerous and fantastic sources of inspiration available to them in Annecy, among others by participating in the MIFA Campus, dedicated to young talents. Attend film lessons, go see films in theaters!

Do you ever miss the smaller, quieter editions of the festival?

I don’t really have this nostalgia … The main difference between then and now is that in the past there was only one way to pass through the festival and, now, you have to find your own trail. You can come with a friend and the two of you will live a completely different experience. It says the variety and the complexity of our community now.

What is Annecy’s best-kept secret?

La Turbine and Le Mikado! These two facilities are not so far from the center and sometimes it’s much easier to have a ticket to a film that is sold out at Bonlieu or at the Pathé. It’s easy to go there by bus, or even to walk.

What will you do when the festival is over?

Two weeks ago I bought a house in the countryside in Canada, a few minutes from the Vermont border … You will find me there this summer! ◆

For more info about the Annecy Festival (June 11-17) and MIFA market (June 13-16), visit annecyfestival.com.