Marcel Jean to Step Down as Artistic Director of Annecy International Animation Film Festival after 2027 Edition

Fifteen-Year Legacy: Marcel Jean to Step Down as Artistic Director of Annecy International Animation Film Festival after 2027 Edition

The Annecy International Animation Film Festival, the world’s oldest and largest dedicated animation event, has announced major leadership transition. Marcel Jean will step down from the post of Artistic Director upon completion of the 2027 festival, marking the end of his transformative 15-year tenure. Organiser CITIA has opened a global recruitment for his successor for the 20282030 editions. The new director will take office in July 2027, with application deadline set for October 15.

Profile of Marcel Jean: Versatile Veteran of Animation Art

Marcel Jean is a Canadian-born producer, director, author and film historian. Before joining Annecy, he built rich experience across creation, curation and academia. He supervised Frenchlanguage animation productions for the National Film Board of Canada, taught film history and aesthetics at Université de Montréal, and worked as invited curator for multiple international film festivals. Appointed in June 2012, he succeeded Serge Bromberg and delivered his first full festival programme in 2013.

Key Achievements & Legacy at Annecy

Under Marcel Jean’s leadership, Annecy evolved from a leading European gathering into a true global hub for animation industry and art. The 2026 edition hit an alltime record of 19,100 accredited professional participants representing 118 countries across the globe, demonstrating vastly expanded international reach.

He brought landmark structural innovations to the festival programming portfolio. He launched OffLimits to celebrate narrative and visual experimentation; created Perspectives, a strand highlighting diverse worldviews from global creators; introduced short-film competition for youngaudience works. In 2019, he set up Contrechamp, the second competitive featurefilm section for bold, unconventional animated features, and added VR works to official competition categories, embracing emerging animation mediums.

Jean advanced geographical diversity, opening more slots for creators from emerging animation territories and independent experimental filmmakers from beyond Western contexts. During his mandate, Annecy balanced blockbuster studio premieres, European auteur animation, independent short works and student projects, forming an inclusive curatorial framework covering commercial, artistic and experimental expressions. He consistently advocated gender equity, supported emerginggeneration talents and fostered cross-cultural dialogue, cementing Annecy’s triple role for artistic showcase, industry matchmaking and talent discovery.

The incoming Artistic Director will collaborate with CITIA CEO Mickaël Marin. Core responsibilities include preserving Annecy’s 65-plus-year-old identity while developing forward-looking artistic visions, building internationaloriented programmes, spotting new talents worldwide and representing Annecy within global animation communities. Ideal candidates are expected to possess profound knowledge of animation and cinema, distinct artistic insight and solid international vision.

Marcel Jean will fully oversee and deliver the 2027 Annecy Festival to conclude his 15year chapter, as the iconic animation festival embarks on its new era.