Beginners’ Guide to Annecy Animation Festival

Beginners Guide to Annecy

Book accommodation as early as possible – at least 6 months in advance is advisable. And if you suffer in the heat, booking a place with aircon is advisable (many of the old buildings don’t have this).
Study the area – work out how to get from A to B for talks and screenings and everything inbetween, so it feels less intense once you’re there (as it’s pretty chaotic with 15,000+ people walking around a small town)
Hire a bike: It’s a cheap and easy way to get around without squeezing into the shuttle bus, or waiting for a taxi
Book public buses from the airport – they’re a cheaper alternative and just as easy to navigate. There is a bus station near the old town and many recommend the Sibra app.

Collect your pass as early as possible – as the queues can get very long!
Set an alarm for when the programme is released – you’re up against thousands of attendees – especially for those exclusive screenings!
Ask any connections about party and invite-only events months in advance – they plan way ahead, so get in quick!
Follow on social media all the studios with booths at the MIFA market – some host their own events, and will have a much easier invitation process. Go and say hi to them at their booths too – networking is a must!
Organise your own event – especially great for meeting those new to the industry. Venues are booked far in advance but many organise picnics and gatherings in the nearby park – no reservation required!
Didn’t get into your most wanted screening? Don’t give up! You can still book two exclusive screenings/talks an hour or two before they start. Annecy blocks anyone who misses a booking, so you’ll find tickets become available right up to an hour before.
Always remember to cancel any bookings you can no longer attend – it’s polite but also you will be blocked from future bookings.

Find different tribes to hang out with: if you have friends there who have been going for years, they may be lucky enough to be invited to private events, leaving you without plans – so connect with as many people as possible for some inevitable last-minute hang outs.
If in doubt, head to Captains Pub – you’re guaranteed to meet someone you know, or make a new friend there at some point.
And take your own pint glass/cup if you don’t want to pay their 2 euro glass deposit (on busy nights).
Make plans too – get some coffee or lunch meet ups in the diary in your downtime – or take some time out to explore the town – it’s one of the most beautiful places in Europe!
Update your LinkedIn profile headline to show you’ll be going to Annecy soon and then post about it a few weeks before and then again the week of the event.

Go through the MIFA directory (you’ll need a MIFA pass for this) and connect with them via the message function.
The earlier the better as their diaries will be full weeks in advance.
Connect with your target list via LinkedIn – even if you don’t meet at Annecy, when you reach out again later you will already be connected (hopefully).
If they’re speaking at one of the talks, sit in the front row and go say hi after it finishes. However, note that many others will probably do this too!
Host a party or dinner and invite them – they might be keen to skip the usual programme and join you for a relaxed, local dish and chat instead.
Ask them for a coffee – much easier to squeeze this in – especially around breakfast time, before the chaos begins.
Find some energy and explore everywhere – everyone is walking around so you might just meet that person sat on a bench admiring the lake inbetween screenings
If you have a project at Annecy, in the competition or otherwise, it’s still hard to get the opportunity to connect with execs, as Annecy doesn’t appear to facilitate this – so it largely comes down to luck in who you bump into.

Like a swim? Take your swimmers because you’ll want to take at least one dip in the beautiful lake (but it will probably be a little fresh in temperature!)
Explore a bit further out from the central town for cheaper and quieter places to eat and drink – like most towns and cities in peak season, prices go up on demand, but walk 5-10 minutes away and you’ll find some gems.
You’ll certainly get your steps in! Walk around as much as possible (if you have the energy) as you never know who you might meet, including some of the creators and directors.
Be prepared for hot and/or wet weather. It can be unpredictable, so take sunscreen and an umbrella.

Thank you to the contributors of some of the tips in this article: Ros Webb, Shaddy Safadi, Imke Fehrmann, Jonas Kluger, Paula Bird, Michael Lim.