The Skwigly Annecy Survival Guide
Skwigly
Annecy Festival is the world’s largest animation event, a treat for all animation fans whether you’re interested in seeing the latest indie shorts on the big screen, ready to buy the TV series of tomorrow at MIFA or if you want to hear about the upcoming blockbuster animation from big studios before anyone else on stage, Annecy has it all.
Situated within an idyllic, lakeside, medieval French town with a castle on one side and a palace on the other, its easy to see why the event has been attracting animation fans of all persuasions for over 60 years.
Annecy gets bigger every year, with new venues popping up to host the huge programme of events and screenings. If it’s your first time or even if you’ve been before it can be a daunting experience, with lots of weird customs and unexpected things to deal with – but fear not for your old pals at Skwigly are here to give you a guide to Annecy whatever year you are planning on attending!
- Book accommodation early! Keep a good relationship with the person you book with so you can get the same place next year if you like it.
- Wear sensible shoes – there is a lot of walking from place to place so a good pair of trainers with memory foam will keep you floating from event to event.
- Wearing insane shoes that only an idiot would wear? There are regular coaches up to MIFA from the Bonlieu, save your feet!
- The MIFA marketplace is a rush of postcards, leaflets, information and freebies. Head up there and indulge in demonstrations, meetings and presentations.
- Bring an umbrella and sunglasses, the weather can be unpredictable. You’re likely to find yourself using both at the same time.
- Book tickets for events online AS SOON AS POSSIBLE and book your favourite things first. Don’t go in order, these tickets go quicker than Glastonbury so if you want to make the big Pixar screening book it the second it becomes available.
- See the student films in competition screenings as late as you can, they’re usually filled with the filmmakers and their cheering cohorts. The energy in the room is amazing!
- Don’t forget the parties! There are plenty of free meet ups such as FSTVS. Every country hosts their own party so you won’t be far from a small bar chock full of people spilling into the streets. They are a great way to meet peoples so try to get invites to as many as you can.
- A ticket does not guarantee entry to an event, be sure to get to your event early and join the ‘I have a ticket’ queue. They start letting people without tickets into events with 5 minutes to spare.
- Likewise if you don’t have a ticket for an event it can be worth joining the ‘I don’t have a ticket’ queue, though the more popular the event the less likely you are to get in. Annecy have a guide here.
- Don’t be alarmed by the weird popping and farm animal noises people make before the screenings start, or the tendency to scream LAPIN! when people see a rabbit on screen. This is all part of the Annecy experience.
- You WILL get hit by a paper aeroplane. Sorry about that.
- Save room in your suitcase for whatever goodies you buy from BDfugue comic book shop in the Bonlieu.
- Saturday there is a picnic, pedalo race and rounders game by the lake. Bring your own food and booze and a musical instrument if you have one for an informal, entertaining and laid back end to the Festival.
- Throughout the week there are late night open air screenings that take place next to the lake and on the Monday after the festival those still in the town are treated to a screening of all of the winning films on the same screen.
- Eat Raclette at least once whilst you’re there. They literally scrape melted cheese onto your plate, but it’s okay because you’re on holiday.
Above all else try and have fun! The experience flies by and you’ll be back at the airport before you know it ready to head home, so make the most of every moment and ‘bon festival!’
Annecy International Animation Film Festival returns 9-15 June 2024 Keepo your eyes peeled on Skwigly for coverage of the event!