Animation First Festival Returns in January with Spotlight on Georges Schwizgebel

L’Alliance New York announces the winter program for 2025 including the Animation First Festival, part two of the popular film series, The Ballad of Patrick Dewaere, a gallery exhibition of iconic The New Yorker magazine covers, three staged readings of French classics, and an inaugural graphic novel festival.

From January 21-26, the country’s largest animation film festival, Animation First will hold its 8th edition. The 2025 festival will feature a special focus on Swiss animation, including an artist talk with Swiss filmmaker Georges Schwizgebel, as well as new and classics features and shorts from Switzerland.

Attendees can also connect with fellow animation enthusiasts at Animation Speak/Easy, see a special First–Look of an animated film project in development, and attend a professional panel. Discover the newest animated features and shorts with dozens of N.Y. and U.S. premieres, as well as new virtual reality programs. The official Animation First announcement will arrive in early December.

Concurrent with the festival, on January 21 will open an exhibition of The New Yorker covers, curated by Françoise Mouly, the magazine’s legendary Art Director, as part of its 100th anniversary celebration. The show will be on view through March 31.

From March 28 to March 30, L’Alliance New York will host its inaugural Comic Arts Fest, a vibrant three-day celebration of the finest French, francophone and American graphic novels and comic books.

Francophone bandes dessinées stand out for their exceptional blend of artistry and narrative depth. Pioneering creators such as Hergé, Mœbius and Joann Sfar have significantly influenced the genre with their individual styles and compelling stories. With a legacy of creative innovation, Francophone graphic novels continue to enchant readers around the globe.

L’Alliance New York’s Comic Arts Fest will feature renowned artists and speakers, including Françoise Mouly, Art Director of The New Yorker; Frank Miller, creator of iconic works like Sin City and 300; Elizabeth Colomba, acclaimed painter and comic artist; and French-Canadian cartoonist Delaf, who is rebooting the classic Gaston Lagaffe comics, among others. A full announcement will be released in early 2025.

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