In Annecy, the traditional Animated Film Festival begins on Sunday, after the knife attack perpetrated last Thursday. Professionals and locals want to show that they are “not afraid”.
Article written by
Published
Reading time : 1 min.
/2023/06/10/6484910713430_20230610-122831.jpg)
In the streets of Annecy, the terraces are full and the hotels have been full for months for the International Animation Film Festival. Despite the knife attack perpetrated on Thursday June 8, which left six injured, including four young children, “no cancellations and no changes” confirms a manager who mainly receives teams from Walt Disney. “Sometimes Americans are quite fearful when there are particular events, but there has been no change,” he explains.
No change either for Christelle and Christophe, residents of Annecy who will participate in the outdoor sessions on the Pâquier, where the attack took place, as every year for “show them, anyone, that they won’t be right and won’t take over.” For them, it was important to maintain the festival because“life must go on”.
“We need moments like a festival”
Maintaining the event is the “symbol of our collective strength, to show that we are not afraid”, according to Mickael Marin, director of Citia, which organizes the Annecy International Animation Film Market Festival. “We need moments like a festival, which creates a bond”, he says. This year, outdoor screenings on the Pâquier will start on Monday June 12, rather than Sunday as traditionally because the town hall has announced a “fellowship time” That day. More than 13,000 people from all over the world took part in the festival last year and the organization hopes to exceed this figure for this 42nd edition.