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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.

PRESS RELEASE
28/05/2025

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 lève) 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 Guèvremont, 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 soirée will underscore the presence of Canadian animation at Annecy and provide opportunities to develop new partnerships. With Suzanne Guèvremont, 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 Guèvremont 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 (À 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.

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French version here | Version française ici.

Media Relations

  • About the NFB

    For more than 80 years, the National Film Board of Canada (NFB) has produced, distributed and preserved those stories, which now form a vast audiovisual collection—an important part of our cultural heritage that represents all Canadians.

    To tell these stories, the NFB works with filmmakers of all ages and backgrounds, from across the country. It harnesses their creativity to produce relevant and groundbreaking content for curious, engaged and diverse audiences. The NFB also collaborates with industry experts to foster innovation in every aspect of storytelling, from formats to distribution models.

    Every year, another 50 or so powerful new animated and documentary films are added to the NFB’s extensive collection of more than 14,000 titles, half of which are available to watch for free on nfb.ca.

    Through its mandate, its stature and its productions, the NFB contributes to Canada’s cultural identity and is helping to build the Canada of tomorrow.