The 2025 Annecy International Animation Film Festival shines a spotlight on the vitality of Belgian animation cinema, with a strong presence of productions supported by screen.brussels and talents from the Brussels Animation Valley.
Three Belgian works in official selection
Three productions supported by screen.brussels are standing out this year in the official selection of the Annecy Festival, confirming international recognition of Belgium's animation expertise. La Rivière à l’envers has been selected in the "TV Films" category, while Marcel et Monsieur Pagnol and Olivia et le tremblement de terre invisible are both included in the prestigious "Feature Films Official" selection. This presence across several key sections of the festival highlights not only the diversity of formats represented, but also the ability of Brussels studios to excel across the entire competitive spectrum—from family films to auteur storytelling.
Brussels Animation Valley in the spotlight at Mifa
The Annecy 2025 Mifa (International Animation Film Market) will showcase the talents of the Brussels Animation Valley through several pitching sessions:
- Effacé.es by Vladimir Mavounia-Kouka, produced by Talweg, Artichoke and Squarefish
- Dreamwalker by Rudy Mertens, produced by Vivi Films
- Kigali Night by Samuel Lajus and Xavier Coster, produced by Parmi Les Lucioles and Eklektik Productions
These projects reflect the diversity and creativity of animation studios in Brussels.
Upside Down River
Upside Down River is the story of two intersecting quests. Hannah is searching for the source of the Qjar River to save her bird and honour her father, while Tomek longs for adventure and has questions about his origins. Over the course of the story, these two quests merge to become one.
Marcel et Monsieur Pagnol
At the height of his fame, Marcel Pagnol receives a commission from the editor-in-chief of a prominent women's magazine ELLE to write a literary serial, in which he can recount his childhood, his beloved Provence, and his early loves.
As he composes the initial pages, the child he once was—little Marcel—suddenly appears before him. Thus, his memories resurface with each word: the advent of talking pictures, the first major film studio, his deep affection for his actors, and the experience of writing.
The greatest storyteller of all time then becomes the hero of his own narrative.
Olivia et le tremblement de terre invisible
Olivia, a 12-year-old teenager, lives in a rich neighbourhood in Barcelona with her younger brother Tim and their mother, Ingrid, a depressed actor. One day, their electricity and gas is cut off. Olivia realises that something is wrong. Ingrid no longer works and is unable to cope with their unstable situation. They are evicted from their home and end up in a squat in a poor suburb. Overnight, Olivia and her family find themselves with a new life, far from the comforts they used to enjoy. Faced with this situation of extreme poverty, Olivia begins to experience it like a personal and internal earthquake. To shield Tim from the harsh reality, she pretends that they are living and acting in a film in which they are the main characters.
