Following the success of its inaugural event in 2024, the Wellington Animation Film Festival will return this month to celebrate the animation world and the craftsmanship behind the artform! The festival will be held in the heart of Wellywood at Roxy Cinemas from 21-23 March (2025)!
WIFT member, Marie Tricart, is one of the founders of the festival, along with a passionate group of screen professionals CAFE (Creative Aotearoa French Exchange). Their aim is to further strengthen the relationship between French and New Zealand animation communities, creating a lasting space for sharing, collaboration, and discussion about the future of animation in this part of the world.
1) Congrats on building on last year’s success and bringing back WAFF. What can audiences expect this year?
At this year's Wellington Animation Film Festival (WAFF), audiences can expect a diverse and exciting range of films celebrating animation from all over the world and in many different forms. Highlights include five New Zealand premieres of international features, containing the 2024 Contre Champs Award-winning film : Living Large, and exclusive short film collections from Annecy that showcase both kids’ and adult animation. The festival will also feature family-friendly films, including the beloved Kiwi classic Footrot Flats followed by a discussion with Tom Scott ( screenwriter ) and John Barnett ( Producer) around the making of the first animated feature ever made in New Zealand!
For the first time also and in celebration of the 80 years anniversary of diplomatic relations between New Zealand and France we'll be showcasing the best of the student graduation films from 2024 from the universities in Aotearoa and France! This will be followed by a Q&A, to offer a glimpse into the creative processes of up-and-coming professionals in the field.
In partnership with Annecy International Film Festival, the festival will also host six industry talks where creators will share their insights, and audiences will have the chance to engage directly with the filmmakers and the key creatives being the content showcased at the WAFF. With screenings in multiple languages and from multiple countries such as Japan, China, South Korea, Spain, France ect... and a variety of genres; WAFF promises to be a celebration of animation that appeals to all ages and interests!
2) What are your top three picks for the programme this year?
This year, we’ve curated such a diverse and exciting program. Personally, I am looking forward to watching Living Large, as it was the recipient of the Contre Champs awards at Annecy last year and I am loving its stop motion style. But I am also really looking forward to Maureen Fan's Keynote on Saturday. We are very lucky to have her participating in the WAFF and coming all the way to New Zealand. My third pick would be.... The Storm. I tried to watch it last year while in Annecy but couldn't make it to the screening so I am really happy that we managed to get one screening of the film here in Wellington!
Congratulations Marie, and your entire team for bringing this festival back for a second time around. There is so much on offer! We can't wait!
Tickets are on-sale now from www.wellingtonanimationfilmfestival.com
Watch the Wellington Animation Film Festival Trailer