From 8 to 14 June 2025, South Africa’s animation industry professionals are in attendance at the 2025 Annecy International Animation Film Festival and Market (MIFA) in France—the world’s most prestigious gathering dedicated to animated film.
South African professionals included Tshegofatso Tracy Pitseng and Daniela Del Castello, both currently honing their craft in the renowned Gobelins Master’s programme in Paris, and Lauren Fletcher, Audiovisual Project Manager at the French Institute of South Africa (IFAS).
Also joining the delegation were Anelissa Nkanyuza and Yetunde Ogundipe, two emerging talents from the Road to Annecy Animation Incubation Programme, a three-month online incubation initiative under Tshimologong’s Digital Lab Africa (DLA). This programme supports up-and-coming South African animators and connects them with global industry leaders through MIFA’s dynamic marketplace and networking platforms.
Bringing bold new stories to the international stage, Tshepo Moche and Renee van Reenen pitched their animated horror anthology Nerve during the Stories by Women session—a platform supported by Walt Disney and UNESCO—championing women-led animation projects worldwide.
The delegation had the opportunity to make meaningful connections with studios, producers, and collaborators from around the world, spotlighting both their individual artistry and the growing global impact of South Africa’s creative industry. They could also actively engage at MIFA’s Africa Pavilion, the central hub for business development and networking in the continent’s animation and film sector.
Read more about the South African-produced films featured in Annecy here.
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