As the animation world prepares for Annecy 2025, Luxembourg emerges with a strong showing of three co-productions, including a biopic of Marcel Pagnol and a graduate's debut film.

The Annecy International Animation Film Festival has unveiled its official selection for the 2025 edition (9-15 June), featuring multiple Luxembourgish co-productions across competition categories.

In official competition

  • Marcel et Monsieur Pagnol (Sylvain Chomet)

This France-Belgium-Luxembourg co-production (Bidibul Productions) chronicles the life of Marcel Pagnol, an iconic figure in French literature and cinema, from his Provençal childhood to founding his own film studios.

Luxembourg's Doghouse Studio handled the 2D animation, sets, and layout, with Philophon Studios completing sound post-production. The film will preview during the Special Screenings at the 2025 Cannes Film Festival ahead of its Luxembourg theatrical release this autumn.

  • Allah n'est pas obligé (Zaven Najjar)

Adapted from Ahmadou Kourouma's novel, this debut feature is a Franco-Luxembourg-Belgian-Canadian co-production.

Luxembourg’s Paul Thiltges Distributions led the local contribution, with Differdange's La Fabrique d'Images managing animation and VFX. Philophon again handled sound post-production.

  • A Walk into the Afterlife (Jiyun Jeong)

Selected in the Young Audiences category, this poetic short marks the international breakthrough for Jeong, a young South Korean and New Zealand filmmaker who graduated from the University of Luxembourg with a Bachelor's Degree in Animation Design. The film was funded through Film Fund Luxembourg's Carte Blanche programme. Jeong works as a 3D animator in Luxembourg.

More Luxembourg co-productions in the spotlight

Beyond the official competition, three additional Luxembourg-backed films will screen in Annecy Presents – the festival's global non-competitive section launched in 2024.

Featured co-productions

  • Spiked (Caroline Origer)

A Belgium-France-Luxembourg-UK co-production with Luxembourg's La Fabrique d’Images contributing.

  • Stitch Head (Steve Hudson)

A German-Luxembourg collaboration, again involving La Fabrique d'Images.

  • Thelma's Perfect Birthday (Reinis Kalnaellis)

A Latvian-Luxembourg partnership produced through Paul Thiltges Distributions.

The National Support Fund for Audiovisual Production highlighted in a statement: "Luxembourg's prominent selection at Annecy 2025 underscores the sustained international impact of its animation industry."