Defiant positivity at Annecy Animation Fest amidst French stabbing tragedy.
The Annecy International Film Festival opened on a positive note just three days after a knife attack near its festival hub. The festival's mayor emphasized the importance of art and culture in celebrating life and making it better. The festival's open-air program was delayed by one day out of respect for the victims and their families. The festival opened with French filmmaker Benoît Chieux’s animated feature Sirocco And The Kingdom Of Air, which is among 11 titles competing for the festival’s Cristal award. The audience was also treated to the world premiere of Dan Abraham and Trent Correy’s new short Once Upon A Studio celebrating Disney’s 100th anniversary.