The NFB at the 2025 Annecy International Animation Film Festival. An opening-night film, three shorts in official competition, activities at the film market and more.
May 28, 2025 - Montreal - National Film Board of Canada (NFB)
The National Film Board of Canada (NFB) is back at the Annecy International Animation Film Festival (June 8-14), with a strong presence throughout the event. Three NFB short films have been selected for the official competition, including the eagerly awaited The Girl Who Cried Pearls ( La jeune fille qui pleurait des perles ) by the Oscar-nominated duo of Chris Lavis and Maciek Szczerbowski ( Madame Tutli-Putli ). It will screen as a world premiere on the festival's opening night.
The NFB will also be taking part in the Annecy International Animation Film Market (MIFA).
The NFB at the 2025 Annecy festival
The Girl Who Cried Pearls ( La jeune fille qui pleurait des perles ) by Chris Lavis and Maciek Szczerbowski (opening-night film, official competition, world premiere)
Two other films in official competition: Bread Will Walk ( Le pain se lve ) by Alex Boya and Hairy Legs ( Poil aux jambes ) by Andrea Dorfman
MIFA: Telefilm Canada / NFB networking event and panel on Canadian animation, with Suzanne Guvremont, Government Film Commissioner and Chairperson of the NFB, in attendance
SHORT FILMS - OFFICIAL COMPETITION
The Girl Who Cried Pearls (La jeune fille qui pleurait des perles) by Chris Lavis and Maciek Szczerbowski (NFB, 16 min) - OPENING-NIGHT FILM AND WORLD PREMIERE
Press kit: mediaspace.nfb.ca/epk/the-girl-who-cried-pearls
First screening: Sunday, June 8, 8:30 p.m. (Short Films Official 1)
A haunting fable about a girl overwhelmed by sorrow, the boy who loves her, and how greed leads good hearts to wicked deeds. The film was presented at a Work in Progress at Annecy in 2023. With the voice of: Colm Feore. Original Music: Patrick Watson. Sound Designer: Olivier Calvert. Artistic Director: Brigitte Henry.
Bread Will Walk by Alex Boya (NFB, 11 min 18 s)
Press kit: mediaspace.nfb.ca/epk/bread-will-walk
First screening: Friday, June 13, 3:30 p.m. (Short Films Official 6)
A devoted sister flees with her brother, a benevolent, bread-turned zombie. A mob pursues, mouths agape. Streets twist into mazes, reason dissolves, hunger reigns. Can love defy appetite? The film was just featured as part of the Directors' Fortnight in Cannes. Actor Jay Baruchel voices all the characters in the original English version.
Hairy Legs (Poil aux jambes) by Andrea Dorfman (NFB, 17 min)
Press kit: mediaspace.nfb.ca/epk/hairy-legs
First screening: Wednesday, June 11, 3:30 p.m. (Short Films Official 4)
Deciding not to shave her legs at 13 led a young Andrea Dorfman to question and ultimately defy society's expectations. The film received an Honourable Mention for the DGC Award for Best Canadian Animation at the Ottawa International Animation Festival (2024).
MIFA
Telefilm Canada / NFB networking event: Canada, Your Next Animation Partner
Tuesday, June 10, 7 to 9 p.m.
This soiree will underscore the presence of Canadian animation at Annecy and provide opportunities to develop new partnerships. With Suzanne Guvremont, NFB Chairperson, and Julie Roy, Executive Director and CEO of Telefilm Canada, in attendance. By invitation only.
Panel - Investing in the Future: Canadian Animation at the Forefront
Wednesday, June 11, 10:45 to 11:45 a.m.
This panel will bring together leaders from the Canadian animation industry as well as filmmakers presenting their projects. With Suzanne Guvremont of the NFB and filmmakers Chris Lavis and Maciek Szczerbowski, among others, in attendance.
WOMEN AND ANIMATION, 10 YEARS
Thursday, June 12, 5:30 p.m.
Affairs of the Art (L'art dans le sang) by Joanna Quinn (Beryl Productions International Ltd/NFB, 2021, 16 min 23 s)
How to Be at Home ( la maison) by Andrea Dorfman (NFB, 2021, 4 min 51 s)
HONORARY CRISTAL RECIPIENT JOANNA QUINN
The NFB congratulates filmmaker Joanna Quinn, who this year is a recipient of the Annecy Festival's prestigious Honorary Cristal. She will also lead a captivating masterclass during the festival, talking about her passion for drawing and animation, and sharing secrets of how she brings her characters to life.
- 30 -
Stay Connected
Online Screening Room: NFB.ca
NFB Facebook | NFB X | NFB Instagram | NFB Blog | NFB YouTube | NFB Vimeo
Curator's perspective | Director's notes
About the NFB
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Canada Standard
7 days ago
- Canada Standard
The NFB at the 2025 Annecy International Animation Film Festival. An opening-night film, three shorts in official competition, activities at the film market and more.
May 28, 2025 - Montreal - National Film Board of Canada (NFB) The National Film Board of Canada (NFB) is back at the Annecy International Animation Film Festival (June 8-14), with a strong presence throughout the event. Three NFB short films have been selected for the official competition, including the eagerly awaited The Girl Who Cried Pearls ( La jeune fille qui pleurait des perles ) by the Oscar-nominated duo of Chris Lavis and Maciek Szczerbowski ( Madame Tutli-Putli ). It will screen as a world premiere on the festival's opening night. The NFB will also be taking part in the Annecy International Animation Film Market (MIFA). The NFB at the 2025 Annecy festival The Girl Who Cried Pearls ( La jeune fille qui pleurait des perles ) by Chris Lavis and Maciek Szczerbowski (opening-night film, official competition, world premiere) Two other films in official competition: Bread Will Walk ( Le pain se lve ) by Alex Boya and Hairy Legs ( Poil aux jambes ) by Andrea Dorfman MIFA: Telefilm Canada / NFB networking event and panel on Canadian animation, with Suzanne Guvremont, Government Film Commissioner and Chairperson of the NFB, in attendance SHORT FILMS - OFFICIAL COMPETITION The Girl Who Cried Pearls (La jeune fille qui pleurait des perles) by Chris Lavis and Maciek Szczerbowski (NFB, 16 min) - OPENING-NIGHT FILM AND WORLD PREMIERE Press kit: First screening: Sunday, June 8, 8:30 p.m. (Short Films Official 1) A haunting fable about a girl overwhelmed by sorrow, the boy who loves her, and how greed leads good hearts to wicked deeds. The film was presented at a Work in Progress at Annecy in 2023. With the voice of: Colm Feore. Original Music: Patrick Watson. Sound Designer: Olivier Calvert. Artistic Director: Brigitte Henry. Bread Will Walk by Alex Boya (NFB, 11 min 18 s) Press kit: First screening: Friday, June 13, 3:30 p.m. (Short Films Official 6) A devoted sister flees with her brother, a benevolent, bread-turned zombie. A mob pursues, mouths agape. Streets twist into mazes, reason dissolves, hunger reigns. Can love defy appetite? The film was just featured as part of the Directors' Fortnight in Cannes. Actor Jay Baruchel voices all the characters in the original English version. Hairy Legs (Poil aux jambes) by Andrea Dorfman (NFB, 17 min) Press kit: First screening: Wednesday, June 11, 3:30 p.m. (Short Films Official 4) Deciding not to shave her legs at 13 led a young Andrea Dorfman to question and ultimately defy society's expectations. The film received an Honourable Mention for the DGC Award for Best Canadian Animation at the Ottawa International Animation Festival (2024). MIFA Telefilm Canada / NFB networking event: Canada, Your Next Animation Partner Tuesday, June 10, 7 to 9 p.m. This soiree will underscore the presence of Canadian animation at Annecy and provide opportunities to develop new partnerships. With Suzanne Guvremont, NFB Chairperson, and Julie Roy, Executive Director and CEO of Telefilm Canada, in attendance. By invitation only. Panel - Investing in the Future: Canadian Animation at the Forefront Wednesday, June 11, 10:45 to 11:45 a.m. This panel will bring together leaders from the Canadian animation industry as well as filmmakers presenting their projects. With Suzanne Guvremont of the NFB and filmmakers Chris Lavis and Maciek Szczerbowski, among others, in attendance. WOMEN AND ANIMATION, 10 YEARS Thursday, June 12, 5:30 p.m. Affairs of the Art (L'art dans le sang) by Joanna Quinn (Beryl Productions International Ltd/NFB, 2021, 16 min 23 s) How to Be at Home ( la maison) by Andrea Dorfman (NFB, 2021, 4 min 51 s) HONORARY CRISTAL RECIPIENT JOANNA QUINN The NFB congratulates filmmaker Joanna Quinn, who this year is a recipient of the Annecy Festival's prestigious Honorary Cristal. She will also lead a captivating masterclass during the festival, talking about her passion for drawing and animation, and sharing secrets of how she brings her characters to life. - 30 - Stay Connected Online Screening Room: NFB Facebook | NFB X | NFB Instagram | NFB Blog | NFB YouTube | NFB Vimeo Curator's perspective | Director's notes About the NFB
Toronto Star
29-05-2025
- Toronto Star
Oscar-winning Canadian animator Co Hoedeman has died, National Film Board says
MONTREAL - Academy Award-winning Dutch-Canadian animator Co Hoedeman has died, the National Film Board of Canada said Tuesday. The 'master of stop-motion animation' died at age 84 on Monday in Montreal, the NFB said.
Globe and Mail
29-05-2025
- Globe and Mail
The NFB's new strategy: milk the ‘Stream Canadian' moment and reinvest in creativity
The National Film Board has always been ahead of its time. But the federal cultural agency, which has produced thousands of documentaries, animated films and interactive digital works since its inception in 1939 – collecting a dozen Academy Awards along the way – hit a particularly prescient nerve this past March when it launched its 'Stream Canadian' campaign, pointing audiences to the free streaming service. 'It was prepared well before the Canadian election,' and certainly any of Donald Trump's movie-tariff talk, says NFB chair Suzanne Guèvremont. 'It was something that we were reflecting upon, because in our new strategic plan one of our priorities is to elevate the awareness and esteem of the NFB. So when we came into the elections, we just said, 'Oh god, this is so timely.'' The response has been encouraging, with the NFB reporting a 25-per-cent increase in new online Canadian visitors to the site (the world's largest non-commercial streaming platform) compared with the same period last year. Guèvremont is hoping to keep the NFB headline momentum going, too. Last week, she was at Cannes for the premieres of two NFB animated shorts, Martine Frossard's Hypersensitive and Alex Boya's Bread Will Walk, just a few days ahead of the organization's debut of its 2025-2028 strategic plan. The plan (titled 'Sharing Our Past, Shaping Our Future, Stories for Today') prioritizes shaping the NFB for next generations and expanding its audience – not surprising directions given the current and intense war for eyeballs when it comes to the attention economy. But the plan also arrives after a period of years-long tension inside the NFB between its filmmakers and Guèvremont's predecessor, Claude Joli-Coeur, who was alleged to have prioritized administrative salaries over resources for content production. Guèvremont, whose background in the development of Quebec's 3-D animation and video-game industries stands in contrast to Joli-Coeur's history in entertainment law, says that the NFB's current relations with the creative community are strong. 'We're engaging in dialogues with the creators, with the filmmakers – we have scheduled meetings every year, to give them updates on the strategy before it comes out,' says Guèvremont, who was appointed to a five-year term in 2022. 'We're really trying to make sure that when we make a decision, we inform them, we give them the rationale behind it. And we did make a promise to reinvest in production, which was part of the exercises that we did last year.' Guèvremont acknowledges, though, that the NFB isn't exactly in a safe financial situation, noting that it has been in a structural deficit for the past eight years. Last year, the organization underwent a restructuring, eliminating 55 jobs, or roughly 14 per cent of its work force. The cuts have led to resources being reinvested into production, Guèvremont says, as well as lower administrative costs. 'This is a transitional year, so we are adapting our structures, adapting our teams and our boots on the ground,' she adds. 'We hope in the years to come, with the renewal of our funding, that we will actually be able to increase our budgets for production. Reinvestment is absolutely necessary.' Another pillar of the strategic plan is to 'foster a culture of creativity and innovation,' a goal that may initially seem at odds with the NFB's decision last year to close its interactive studios in Montreal and Vancouver. 'We realized that what we needed to do right now was focus on innovation, so we stopped producing installation works, because those are really expensive – it was brick-and-mortar installations,' Guèvremont says. 'We needed to refocus on animation and documentaries and storytelling in innovative ways. We'll continue to foster that creation in all the different fields of the NFB.' Just before Cannes, Guèvremont was in Ottawa to address the Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission, which was holding consultations about the definition of Canadian content as part of its hearings over the Online Streaming Act (Bill C-11), and how much domestic broadcasters should contribute to the production of homegrown documentary programming. 'We're talking about real documentaries – not lifestyle or, you know, reality television," Guèvremont says, referencing the 'factual' programming more often favoured by Canada's big broadcasters. 'These are timely and timeless stories that you can watch and learn from, and they need to be protected.' 'The NFB is the largest producer of documentaries in Canada, but we certainly don't want to be the only.'
