The animation community is reeling from the news of the brutal stabbing attack of four toddlers and two adults in a playground in Annecy on Thursday, only a few days before the opening of the world-renowned animation festival in the French Alpine town. The injured were treated in hospitals in Geneva and Grenoble, according to major Francois Astorn, who also noted that the children were in a stable condition.
As the result of this tragic event, the Annecy Animation Festival organizers have canceled the open-air screenings until Monday, June 12th. The festival leadership issued the following statement today:
“The people of Annecy, France, and farther afield, have all been shaken to the core by yesterday’s tragic events. It has now been established that this was an isolated act. In consultation with the authorities and as specified by Mayor Francois Astorg, the Festival will be opening on Sunday, June 11.
“However, as a gesture of support to the families and victims, the Festival management and team have decided to postpone the open-air screenings to Monday, June 12.
“The Festival screenings reflect the values they have always endorsed: sharing, solidarity, and fraternity.”
— ITIA Chairman Dominque Puthod, CEO Mickael Marin, Artistic Director Marcel Jean and the entire International Animaton Festival and Market team.
French president Emmanuel Macron called the attack an “act of absolute cowardice.” He visited the hospital in the nearby city of Grenoble where three of the four injured are being cared for and met their families. A British national and a Dutch national were among the children wounded in the attack. A 24-year-old student and Catholic pilgrim, who bravely blocked the attacker with his backpack, is hailed as a national hero.
Police have arrested a 31-year-old Syrian national who was granted asylum in Sweden 10 years ago, according to Annecy prosecutor Line Bonnet-Mathis. He had entered France legally and had no prior records, but only four days before the attack his demand of asylum in France had been rejected. He was homeless and had been questioned by police on Sunday as he was washing himself in the Annecy lake.
For more information about the festival’s updated programming, visit annecy.org. We will be offering full daily coverge of Annecy’s events and screenings next week.
Sources: Annecy Festival, Reuters, CNN
