Youth Animation Film Festival of Bourg-en-Bresse
France's first festival dedicated to animated film for young audiences
2026
About Animation Film Festival
Animation Film Festival — edition 2026
The 45th Youth Animation Film Festival takes place from October 17 to 22, 2026, in Bourg-en-Bresse, featuring a poster designed by local illustrator Nina Théveny. The program includes around fifty screenings, previews such as Blaise and Petite Casbah (with producer in attendance), a tribute to Marjane Satrapi with Persepolis, and the cine-theater show L’Aube bleue.
The festival opens on Saturday, October 17, at 8:00 PM at the MCC with the presentation of the Youth Jury, patronized by Joaquim Bourlier-Santos, and concludes on Wednesday, October 21, with a free closing night at the Vox, where the jury reveals its winners and the audience presents its own award. Thursday, October 22, is dedicated to a Festimaj session and a replay of the award-winning films.
Screenings are held at the Vox, Grenette, MJC, and Ainterexpo, as well as in the libraries of Bourg-en-Bresse, Péronnas, and Saint-Étienne-du-Bois, the Jasseron library, and the Château de Salvert in Attignat. As a prelude, Cinémateur and the festival will screen Planètes on Tuesday, October 13, at the Grenette.
Beyond the screenings: the Animated Cabin at the festival chalet, virtual reality sessions, the Star Fruit Academy workshop, Festival Studio films shown before features, and two filmmaking workshops (ages 8-12) from October 26 to 30 and December 28 to 30, 2026.
Highlights Animation Film Festival 2026
- Opening on Saturday, October 17, at 8:00 PM at the MCC, with the Youth Jury and its patron Joaquim Bourlier-Santos
- Preview of Blaise on Sunday, October 18, at 8:00 PM, with the directors in attendance
- Petite Casbah on Monday, October 19, at 2:00 PM, with producer Séverine Lebrun in attendance
- Tribute to Marjane Satrapi with Persepolis on Monday, October 19, at 8:00 PM
- Cine-theater L’Aube bleue on Tuesday, October 20, at 10:00 AM
- Free closing night on Wednesday, October 21, at 8:00 PM: awards and audience prize
Programme Animation Film Festival 2026
Program for the 45th edition as published by the organizers at festivalbourg.com. No reservations for individuals: for inquiries, please email [email protected] or visit us on-site at the Salle du Vox, rue Paul Pioda. The "Short Film Competition" and "Shorts for All" screenings are detailed film-by-film on the official website.
Prelude — Tuesday, October 13, 2026
- 8:00 PM — Planètes by Momoko Seto (1h16, ages 8+), special screening in partnership with Cinémateur · Grenette
Saturday, October 17, 2026
- 10:00 AM–7:00 PM — Music video screenings · Spin the black circle, 6 rue du 4 septembre
- 2:00 PM–6:00 PM — The Animated Cabin: solve a riddle during a short investigative film, win a Festival Pass (ages 4+, free) · Festival Chalet, place de la Comédie
- 8:00 PM — 45th Festival Opening Ceremony: introduction of the Youth Jury and its patron Joaquim Bourlier-Santos, screening of his short film Maman j’ai papier (1min45), screening of Studio films awarded at other festivals, followed by the Grand Festi Quiz (win a Festival Pass) · MCC
Sunday, October 18, 2026
- 2:00 PM — Princesse Dragon by Jean-Jacques Denis and Anthony Roux (1h14, ages 6+), preceded by the Studio short Olympic Chance · Vox
- 2:00 PM — Ozi, la voix de la forêt by Tim Harper (1h27, ages 6+) · Grenette
- 2:00 PM–6:00 PM — The Animated Cabin: introduction to claymation (ages 4+, free) · Festival Chalet, place de la Comédie
- 4:00 PM — Short Film Competition (1h04, ages 5+) · Vox
- 4:00 PM — Marcel & Monsieur Pagnol by Sylvain Chomet (1h30, ages 10+) · Grenette
- 5:30 PM — Short Film Competition (1h20, ages 10+) · Vox
- 6:00 PM — Le Secret des mésanges by Antoine Lanciaux (1h17, ages 6+) · Grenette
- 6:30 PM — Shorts for All #2 (1h06, ages 8+) · Médiathèque de Saint-Étienne-du-Bois
- 8:00 PM — Blaise by Dimitri Planchon and Jean-Paul Guigue (1h22, ages 14+), preview screening with the directors in attendance · Grenette
- 8:00 PM — Shorts for All #4 (1h25, ages 15+) · Médiathèque de Saint-Étienne-du-Bois
Monday, October 19, 2026
- 10:00 AM — Esprit(s) rebelle(s), a program of 6 short films (34 min, ages 3+) · Vox
- 10:00 AM — Amélie et la métaphysique des tubes by Maïlys Vallade and Liane-Cho Han (1h17, ages 7+), preceded by the short film Danse avec les mots (MJC/FFAJ partnership) · MJC
- 2:00 PM — Holà Frida by André Kadi and Karine Vézina (1h22, ages 8+), preceded by the Studio short Stop ! · Vox
- 2:00 PM — Petite Casbah by Antoine Colomb (1h24, ages 6+), national release, with producer Séverine Lebrun in attendance · MJC
- 3:30 PM — Walter Lapin by Caroline Origer (1h22, ages 4+), free admission subject to availability · Médiathèque Aimé Césaire
- 4:00 PM — Grosse colère & fantaisies, a program of short films (45 min, ages 3+) · Vox
- 5:00 PM — Olivia by Irene Iborra Rizo (1h11, ages 10+), preceded by the short film Brazy Jet with the director in attendance · MJC
- 5:00 PM — Short Film Competition (1h04, ages 5+) · Bibliothèque de Jasseron
- 6:00 PM — Shorts for All #3 (1h23, ages 12+) · Vox
- 6:30 PM — Short Film Competition (1h04, ages 5+) · Médiathèque de la Fontaine, Saint-Étienne-du-Bois
- 6:30 PM — Short Film Competition (1h20, ages 10+) · Bibliothèque de Jasseron
- 8:00 PM — Junk World by Takahide Hori (1h45, ages 12+), preceded by the Studio short Des faits et des effets ? Des effets en effet ! · Vox
- 8:00 PM — Persepolis by Marjane Satrapi and Vincent Paronnaud (1h36, ages 10+), tribute to Marjane Satrapi, preceded by Danse avec les mots · MJC
- 8:00 PM — Short Film Competition (1h20, ages 10+) · Médiathèque de la Fontaine, Saint-Étienne-du-Bois
- 10:00 AM–12:00 PM and 1:30 PM–8:00 PM — Virtual Reality (VR) sessions, €2 per 30-min session, free with Festival Pass · MJC
Tuesday, October 20, 2026
- 10:00 AM — L’Aube bleue, cine-theater: three tales accompanied by three animated short films (ages 6+) · Vox
- 2:00 PM — Jack & Nancy by Gerrit Bekers and Massimo Fenati (52 min, ages 5+), preceded by the Studio short Aquaplouf · Vox
- 2:00 PM — Marcel & Monsieur Pagnol by Sylvain Chomet (1h30, ages 10+) · Grenette
- 2:00 PM — Shorts for All #1 (61 min, ages 5+), free with reservation at 04 74 42 47 10 · Médiathèque Vailland
- 2:00 PM–6:00 PM — The Animated Cabin: quizzes, games, and toys to learn about animation (ages 4+, free) · Festival Chalet, place de la Comédie
- 4:00 PM — MacPat le chat chanteur, a program of short films (40 min, ages 3+) · Vox
- 4:00 PM — Ozi, la voix de la forêt by Tim Harper (1h27, ages 6+) · Grenette
- 4:00 PM — Shorts for All #1 (61 min, ages 5+), free with reservation at 04 74 42 47 10 · Médiathèque Vailland
- 5:00 PM — Shorts for All #2 (1h06, ages 8+) · Médiathèque de Péronnas
- 6:00 PM — Shorts for All #2 (1h06, ages 8+) · Vox
- 6:00 PM — La mort n’existe pas (1h12, ages 15+) · Grenette
- 8:00 PM — Arthur et les Minimoys by Luc Besson (1h34, ages 6+), celebrating the film's 20th anniversary · Vox
- 8:00 PM — Jim Queen by Marco Nguyen and Nicolas Athané (1h25, ages 14+) · Grenette
- 10:00 PM — Shorts for All #4 (1h25, ages 15+) · Vox
- 10:00 AM–6:00 PM — Virtual Reality (VR) sessions, €2 per 30-min session, free with Festival Pass · Festival Studio, 13 rue du Stand
Wednesday, October 21, 2026
- 10:00 AM — Rose, petite fée des fleurs by Karla Nor Holmbäck (1h15, ages 6+), preceded by the Studio short Sombre disparition · Vox
- 10:00 AM — Les Bad Guys 2 by Pierre Perifel and Juan Pablo Sans (1h44, ages 9+) · Ainterexpo
- 10:00 AM and 11:00 AM — Jeune pousse, a program of 6 new short films (33 min, ages 3+), free session with reservation at the Camus library at 04 74 42 47 00 · Médiathèque Albert Camus
- From 10:00 AM — Star Fruit Academy Workshop: introduction to animation (45 min, ages 4+), reservation required by email, max 3 participants per team · Spin the black circle, 6 rue du 4 septembre
- 10:00 AM–12:00 PM and 1:00 PM–5:00 PM — Virtual Reality (VR) sessions, €2 per 30-min session, free with Festival Pass · Ainterexpo
- 2:00 PM — Walter Lapin by Caroline Origer (1h22, ages 4+), preceded by the Studio short Miss T.Rieuse · Vox
- 2:00 PM — La Vie de château, mon enfance à Versailles by Clémence Madeleine-Perdrillat and Nathaniel H’Limi (1h21, ages 6+), preceded by the Studio short Bon week-end · Ainterexpo
- 2:30 PM — Shorts for All #1 (61 min, ages 5+) · Médiathèque de Péronnas
- 4:00 PM — La Petite Fanfare de Noël by Meike Fehre (41 min, ages 3+) · Vox
- 4:00 PM — Elio by Madeline Sharafian, Domee Shi and Adrian Molina (1h39, ages 8+), preceded by the Studio short Happy Hour · Ainterexpo
- 4:00 PM — Shorts for All #1 (61 min, ages 5+) · Château de Salvert, Attignat
- 6:30 PM — Shorts for All #3 (1h23, ages 12+) · Château de Salvert, Attignat
- 8:00 PM — Closing Night, free, doors open at 8:00 PM, in partnership with La Truffe et les Oreilles: Youth Jury awards and Audience Award, screening of winning short films, presentation of films from the Star Fruit Academy workshop, followed by "Les troupes refont le doublage" (ages 6+) with theater troupes P’tits Potins, Le Plancher qui grince, la Compagnie des Grandes Personnes, and slam poet Rimé · Vox
Thursday, October 22, 2026
- 10:00 AM — MacPat le chat chanteur, a program of short films (40 min, ages 3+) · Vox
- 2:00 PM — Arco by Ugo Bienvenu (1h28, ages 8+) · Vox
- 4:00 PM — Festimaj session, in association with the international school film festival: the audience rates each film; includes screenings of the 2026 festival award winners · Vox
Prices Animation Film Festival 2026
Practical information — Animation Film Festival
Practical information
Dates
Each year in October, over six days.
Screening venues
- Cinéma La Grenette – 4 Cours de Verdun, 01000 Bourg-en-Bresse
- Cinéma Le Vox
- MCC (Maison de la Culture et de la Communication)
- Médiathèque Aimé Césaire
- Médiathèque Albert Camus
- Halls in Saint-Étienne-du-Bois, Péronnas and Jasseron
Prices
- Single screening: 4€
- Festival pass (unlimited): 12€
- Cine-concert: 5€
- "Chalet s'anime" workshops: free
- Animation internship (8–12): 80€
- Motion capture internship (12–18): free
Getting there
By car: A40 exit Bourg-en-Bresse center, or A39. City center parking.
By train: Bourg-en-Bresse station with TER from Lyon (45 min). Venues walkable from the station.
Contact
Association FFAJ
13 rue du Stand, 01000 Bourg-en-Bresse
Tel: 09 62 08 31 86
Email: [email protected]
Website: www.festivalbourg.com
The Youth Animation Film Festival: over forty years of passion for animation
Since 1982, the Youth Animation Film Festival of Bourg-en-Bresse has worked to promote animated cinema among young audiences. Born from the initiative of the Francas, the leisure center coordination committee and the Federation of Secular Works, this pioneering festival was created to raise awareness about distribution issues for children's films and to showcase animated filmmaking.
A rich history spanning four decades
In 1981, the success of the "L'enfant et l'image" festival in Bourg-en-Bresse inspired local educational and cultural stakeholders to create a permanent event dedicated to youth animation. From its first edition in 1982, the festival has championed lesser-distributed films and cultural accessibility, with free screenings. Over the decades, it has welcomed major figures in world animation, from Charley Bowers to Tim Burton and Hayao Miyazaki.
The OCCE joined the organizing collective in 1996, strengthening the festival's educational dimension. Today, the FFAJ association coordinates this nationally recognized event.
Demanding and accessible programming
Each edition offers nearly fifty screenings over six days in Bourg-en-Bresse cinemas and cultural venues: La Grenette and Le Vox cinemas, the MCC, the Aimé Césaire and Albert Camus media libraries, and halls in Saint-Étienne-du-Bois, Péronnas and Jasseron.
The program blends recent features, previews, competition shorts and heritage films, with screenings adapted for all ages from 18 months. A jury of young middle-schoolers awards the best animated short, directly involving young viewers.
Workshops and encounters for all
Beyond screenings, the festival offers creative workshops: stop motion, optical toys, cinema quizzes — free from age 4 at the "Chalet s'anime." Internships let children and teens create animated films (ages 8–12) or try motion capture (ages 12–18). The cine-concert, a live musical performance accompanying an animated film, is a festival highlight accessible from 18 months.
Meet-the-filmmaker sessions let audiences discover the behind-the-scenes of animated creation.
A festival rooted in its territory
The festival is a major cultural player in Bourg-en-Bresse and the Ain department, collaborating with schools, leisure centers and educational structures, reaching thousands of students each year.
Where does it take place — Animation Film Festival
Animation Film Festival in brief
History of Animation Film Festival
Edition 2025 Oct 2025Other festivals near Bourg-en-Bresse
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Published by Valentin Contard, festival listings writer. Reviewed, corrected and approved by Christophe Contard, editor-in-chief. .
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