Back for a 23rd edition, the Sommets du cinéma d'animation will be held this year from May 26 to 31 at the Cinémathèque québécoise. This year's festival promises once again to be a lavish celebration of animation in all its forms, with a rich program: over 110 films, including more than thirty premieres, dozens of filmmakers in attendance, not to mention the unmissable pitch session, four professional gatherings and a ton of free activities, including outdoor screenings every night. Often festive, always inclusive, the Sommets invite industry professionals, artists, students and the general public to explore the many faces of animation cinema.

COMPETITION AND COMPETITIONS The Sommets du cinéma d'animation will present a total of 55 films in official competition. This year's awards jury is made up of:
● Olivier Bertrand, general and artistic director, La Chapelle scènes contemporaines;
● Thomas Corriveau, animation filmmaker and visual artist;
● John Harbour, historian and animation filmmaker;
● Brigitte Henry, photographer, art director and multidisciplinary artist;
● Monique Simard, producer and cultural manager.

On Thursday, May 29 at 11 a.m., the popular Pitch Session will be judged by: Dominique Dussault, producer at Némésis Films, Jean-Christophe J. Lamontagne, co-president at h264, and filmmaker and teacher Marie-Josée Saint-Pierre.

New this year, a youth jury made up of four young cinephiles will award two prizes as part of the new Best of Annecy Kids 2024 program, presented on Saturday May 31 at 10 am.
The winners will be announced at the closing ceremony on Saturday May 31 at 6 pm.
The classic WIP section returns this year with a highly anticipated project: À parts égales by Lisa Delhom and Teddy Jacquier Stehly, produced by Anne Pagès of IKIGAÏ FILMS. The presentation will take place on Wednesday, May 28, at 1 p.m., in the presence of the artists and the producer. Not to be missed!

SPECIAL SCREENINGS
In addition to the Canadian Competition, Grand Angle (dedicated to discovery, exploration and boldness), and the renowned Best of Annecy 2024 programs, the Sommets du cinéma d'animation are offering special screenings, two of which are free.

On the occasion of its 50th anniversary, the Sommets are paying tribute to the powerful film L'affaire Bronswik, directed by Robert Awad and André Leduc, with a unique big-screen presentation on Wednesday May 28 at 5 p.m., in the presence of the filmmakers and Vincent Zikkar, grandson of Antonius Zikkar, victim of the Bronswik affair. An opportunity to rediscover the ever-present impact of this cult film. Free admission.

On Thursday, May 29 at 9 p.m., the feature film Endless Cookie, by half-brothers Peter and Seth Scriver, will be offered to Sommets audiences. Presented in its Canadian premiere in the presence of Seth Scriver and Kristen Heather Scriver, Cookie's protagonist, Endless Cookie tells the story of the complicated relationship between two half-brothers, one Aboriginal and the other white. A wacky odyssey, half-fiction, half-documentary, from their isolated home in Shamattawa, Manitoba, to the vibrant urban Toronto of the 1980s.

As part of a partnership with Mediafilm, Les aventures du prince Ahmed by director Lotte Reiniger, will be presented accompanied on piano by Roman Zavada, on Friday May 30 at 6 pm. Directed by a pioneer of animated cinema, this film, which is the oldest animated feature still in existence, may well be one of the animated works to receive a rating revision from Mediafilm!

Friday, May 30 at 8 p.m. sees the premiere of Picha, envers et contre tous by Belgian filmmaker Luc Jabon. This documentary takes a contemporary look at the Belgian multidisciplinary artist Picha, whose real name was Jean-Paul Walravens, who left his mark on the animation world of the 70s and 80s with his irreverent style and saucy themes (Tarzoon, la honte de la jungle, Le chaînon manquant).

On Saturday, May 31 at 1 p.m., Les Sommets offers a relaxed screening of Katak, the brave beluga, adapted to children, neuroatypical people and families with young children. Dimmed lights, moderate volume, freedom of movement: a safe and inclusive environment. Admission is free, but places are limited.

Filmed partly in Montreal, the animated documentary ***Pourquoi l'écran d'épingles? ***by Brice Vincent, closing the festival on Saturday May 31 at 7:30 p.m., pays tribute to this fascinating and poetic technique through the eyes of contemporary artists. In addition, a selection of films made with the pin screen will be shown on Tuesday May 27 at 8:15 p.m., and then again on Thursday at 8 p.m.

CINÉMA À LA BELLE ÉTOILE OPEN TO EVERYBODY ON THE TERRACE Starting Tuesday May 27, every evening at 9:30 pm, the Cinémathèque's Café-Bar terrace will come alive, offering the chance to watch films for free, while discovering the Sommets' new official beer, brewed by Boswell. On the first evening, Bruno Bozzetto's Allegro Non Troppo, a parody of Disney's Fantasia, will be screened, followed the next day by Adam Elliot's terrific Memoirs of a Snail. On Thursday, May 29, audiences are invited to bring their canine companions to the screening of Gints Zilbalodis's Oscar-winning Flow, for the 3rd edition of the Bring Your Dog! screening, presented in collaboration with Passion for Paws. A selection of short films from the official selection will be presented on Friday, while the final evening sees the return of the festive Karaoké des Sommets, hosted by Jad Orphée Chami!

INSPIRING MEETINGS
Throughout the festival, free enriching meetings will take place to honor the transmission and reflection of several artists and animation professionals.
● Ted Ty, veteran animator (DNEG Animation, DreamWorks, Disney), will offer an exclusive master class on acting in animation (Tuesday, May 27 at 9:30 am).
● Nancy Florence Savard, a producer specializing in youth animation, will lead a discussion on the contemporary challenges of creating for young audiences (Wednesday, May 28, at 3 p.m.). This event is presented in collaboration with the Département de cinéma d'animation du Cégep du Vieux Montréal.
● Izabela Plucińska, a leading figure in clay animation, will be in residence to present a retrospective of her work (Friday May 30, 2 p.m.). In partnership with the Goethe-Institut.
● Éloi Champagne, Technical Director at the NFB, will offer a film lesson based on films from the National Film Board of Canada that have benefited from his expertise (Saturday, May 31, at 1:30 p.m.).

PASSEPORT 2025
THE best way to get the most out of the 23rd Sommets du cinéma d'animation is to buy the Sommets passport!
Available at the Cinémathèque québécoise box office for as low as $65.