Energy, joy and a luminous horizon for the 2021 poster!

The Annecy Festival really wanted to call upon Jean-Charles Mbotti Malolo again to do the 2021 poster.

After a completely online 2020 edition, the tribute to animation from the African continent and the Festival’s 60th anniversary were rescheduled for this year, we wanted this explosion of colours and energy again that brought the lakeside to life in our poster last year. Let’s hope they can once again vibrate throughout the city this June!

“Annecy loves supporting creators. It’s an integral part of our DNA. Jean-Charles Mbotti Malolo is a regular at Annecy and his latest film Make It Soul, presented at the 2018 Festival, summarised the festive and energetic spirit of the event. We will remember when Jean-Charles and his friends invaded the stage to dance joyously as the credits finished rolling out, carrying the spectators along for the ride. This poster is also a reminder of this magical moment that only Annecy holds the secret.”

Marcel Jean, Artistic Director

Illustration: Jean-Charles Mbotti Malolo

“I am immensely honoured to work on the poster again for the 2021 edition.

I would really have loved to collaborate a second time with Simon Roussin, like last year, but he was already committed to a personal project.

I felt the need to do this poster on paper, maybe to push myself to return to a more traditional art form on a daily basis, but also because screens have taken up even more place in our lives since the current health crisis began.

The theme is similar to 2020, so I kept to our guideline, the pantsula, a traditional South African dance that symbolises the modern view I have of Africa.

I wanted to link this with a unique character: an older woman, independent, free and joyous, who is enjoying the sun’s rays reflecting on the lake.

Last year’s Festival was online, let’s hope we can all join the pantsula dancers on the Annecy pontoons this June 2021!”

Source: Annecy Animation Festival