Animation First Festival to Screen French Oscar Nominees

Here is the press release from L’Alliance New York. Take a look:

L’Alliance New York announces an exciting addendum to their 2026 Animation First festival: a rare opportunity to see this year’s Oscar-nominated French films on the big screen. On February 5, L’Alliance will screen Ugo Bienvenu’s celebrated ARCO (nominated for Best Animated Feature), preceded by Florence Miailhe’s BUTTERFLY (nominated for Best Animated Short Film). Both Bienvenu and Miailhe will appear at the event in-person for a Q&A.

As previously announced, another Best Animated Short Film, Chris Lavis’ stopmotion wonder THE GIRL WHO CRIED PEARLS, will screen at the festival on the following day as part of the “Best of Annecy” program.

Now in its ninth year, Animation First is the largest animation festival in the U.S. (and the only francophone animation festival). Running February 3-8, 2026, this year’s festival will focus on Belgian films, featuring both classic and new worksfrom all manner of Belgian filmmakers. Animation First is an opportunity for all filmgoers to discover bold and innovative films and enjoy opportunities to meet filmmakers, artists and other festival-goers throughout the festival’s many screenings, talks and parties.

Lauded by The New York TImes as “one of the best animated films of the year,” ARCO follows Iris, a young girl in the year 2075 who sees a mysterious boy in a rainbow suit fall from the sky (the titular Arco). Iris will take him in and help him by any means possible to get home. The film is now gaining momentum with critics and audiences alike, freshly  in theaters via Neon. Natalie Portman is one of the film’s producers and championing it in the press. In addition to Bienvenu, the film’s Sound Designer, Nicolas Becker (Oscar winner, THE SOUND OF METAL), will appear at the festival in-person in support of his work on the Opening Night Film, DANDELION’S ODYSSEY.

BUTTERFLY is a lyrical, dialogue-free meditation on a man’s lifelong memories – some are happy, some glorious, some traumatic. The short gained many festival and awards accolades, including the 2024 Berlin International Film Festival (winner, Cristal Bear for Best Short), 2025 César Awards (nominee, Best Animated Short Film) and 2025 Annecy International Animation Festival (nominee, Best Short).