What’s Playing At The 2021 Animation Is Film Festival
The good thing about living in the Los Angeles area is being a stone’s throw from some of the best cinematic experiences and exclusive movie festivals in the world. The bad thing is everything else about LA. But if you live in or around LA, you might want to think about sneaking outside, dodging those gang bullets and braving a trip to the Animation Is Film Festival taking place at the TCL Chinese 6 Theatre next month. The festival screens animated features from all over the world, some of which are making their US debuts for the first time.
FRIDAY, OCTOBER 22
- The Summit Of The Gods — France
- Pompo the Cinephile — Japan
The Summit Of The Gods is based on the manga by Jirô Taniguchi and Baku Yumemakura, which is about a Japanese reporter obsessed with proving the authenticity of an old camera reportedly used by George Mallory and Andrew Irvine as they scaled Mt. Everest. He’s obsessed enough to climb the mountain himself to prove it. Pompo is a Hollywood satire about an enthusiastic movie producer.
SATURDAY, OCTOBER 23
- The Making Of Walt Disney Animation’s Encanto
- Nahuel and the Magic Book — Brazil
- Where Is Anne Frank — a production of multiple countries
- Vivo — USA
- Poupelle of Chimney Town — Japan
- The Mitchells Vs. The Machines — USA
- Belle — Japan
- The Crossing — France
- Josep — France
A lot of good stuff here, including what may be your only chance to see The Mitchells Vs The Machines and Vivo on a movie screen (both are Netflix exclusives). It’s worth noting that some of these screenings will happen simultaneously, so you may have to choose between them.
SUNDAY, OCTOBER 24
- I Am What I Am — China
- My Hero Academia: World Heroes Mission — Japan
- Luca — USA
- Best of Annecy: Spotlight on Women Directors — multiple countries
- The Deer King — Japan
- Fortune Favors Lady Nikuko — Japan
- Flee — Denmark
- Raya and the Last Dragon — USA
The festival’s final day includes the US debut of the third My Hero Academia movie, plus what may be the only theatrical screening of Pixar’s Luca (we hope not).
The 2021 Animation Is Film Festival runs through the weekend of October 22-24 and tickets are on sale now. Check this website for specific times and dates.