The Saudi Arabian animation industry is set to “benefit massively” from a partnership between the Red Sea International Film Festival and Cité de l’Image en Mouvement et des Industries Créatives, the organisers of the Annecy International Animation Film Festival, the world’s largest annual animation festival.
The three-year strategic partnership, underpinned by an MoU signed in Jeddah on 9 December by RSIFF CEO Faisal Baltyuor and Mickaël Marin, CEO CITIA, Annecy International Animation Film Festival & MIFA, aims to “strengthen collaboration in the global animation industry, support talent development, foster animation excellence, build the Saudi industry and expand cultural exchange between the Kingdom, France and the international animation ecosystem”, a press release said.
It also opens up opportunities for Saudi animators to participate in Marché International du Film d’Animation, a major industry market held alongside the Annecy Festival, for networking and business.
The partnership will also see an annual ‘Best of Annecy’ animation festival held at Culture Square, with open-air screenings, children’s workshops and family-friendly programming.
In addition, it opens up opportunities for animated Saudi short and feature films to be showcased at Annecy and begins an exploration of a dedicated animation programming section within RSIFF.
From 2026, an animation-focused industry panel will form part of the Red Sea Souk and a collaboration between Red Sea Labs and CITIA’s professional development ecosystem will establish workshops, masterclasses, mentorship programmes and student and emerging-talent exchange programmes.
RSIFF and Annecy teams will also explore opportunities for talent development, co-production opportunities and open up international market access. A RSIFF delegation will participate at Annecy, in partnership with the Saudi Film Commission, too.
“The mix of programming exchange, education, market initiatives and public engagement activities which this partnership brings to both festivals is an incredible opportunity for not just the Saudi, but the global, animation industry,” said RSIFF CEO Baltyuor.
“The agreement positions Jeddah and Annecy as two global hubs working together to empower global creatives in the animation sector.”
The multi-year, renewable partnership offers an “amazing opportunity to foster long-term cooperation in the animation sector, support talent development and professional training and deliver unprecedented opportunities in the global animation space”, RSIFF concluded.
