Honorary Guests 2026

Mike Judge

Prolific Producer, Writer, and Animator Mike Judge, co-creator of King of the Hill and creator of Beavis and Butt-Head, will give an exclusive Masterclass along with a sneak preview of the hit series' Season 15. To mark this occasion, he will receive an Honorary Cristal in recognition of his illustrious career spanning more than three decades and for his outstanding contributions to the art of animation. 

According to Marcel Jean, the Annecy Festival's Artistic Director, "Mike Judge is a cultural icon who has created legendary characters, pioneered new formats, and seamlessly transitioned from animation to live action. His visit is a momentous occasion that reflects our determination to highlight the dynamism, social relevance and rebellious audacity of American animation series for adults. Mike Judge's influence on two generations of creators is undeniable: he has taken social satire to new heights, and we wanted to celebrate his work and him."

Brothers Quay  

This June, the Annecy Festival will have the great privilege of hosting the Brothers Quay as its honorary guests. They will use the opportunity to deliver an exclusive masterclass and will each be awarded an Honorary Cristal.  

These legendary filmmakers, revered by the likes of Peter Greenaway and Christopher Nolan, remain major influences for Chris Lavis and Maciek Szczerbowski, as well as numerous other stop-motion filmmakers. Among the Brothers Quay's notable collaborations is their work with Peter Gabriel.   

"For Annecy, honouring the Brothers Quay is a way of preserving the balance between the major studios, industry giants and die-hard independent filmmakers. This is a highly symbolic gesture. The day Annecy stops celebrating this type of artist, we will have lost touch with our origins, with those who created the Festival, and this bond is what we hold most dear." – Marcel Jean, Annecy Festival's Artistic Director

Catherine Winder, the 2026 Campus Mifa Patron

The Campus Mifa will have the great honour of welcoming CEO of Wind Sun Sky Entertainment Catherine Winder as this year's patron. WSS is a female-led, cutting-edge studio dedicated to creating innovative, multiplatform stories that resonate with audiences around the world, redefining how the new generation connects with their favourite worlds.  

Catherine Winder will be giving a masterclass at the Campus Mifa opening, Tuesday 23^rd  June.

Mifa Animation Industry Award 

At the Guest Cocktail Reception to be held on Monday 22^nd June, we are proud and delighted to present the Mifa Animation Industry Award to the 7 French companies and their producers of Little Amélie or the Character of Rain, Butterfly and Arco.

Nidia Santiago, Edwina Liard – IKKI Films,
Claire Lacombe – Puffin Pictures,
Henri Magalon – Maybe Movies,
for Little Amélie or the Character of Rain

Ron Dyens – Sacrebleu Productions,
Luc Camilli – XBO Films,
for Butterfly

Sophie Mas et Natalie Portman – MountainA,
Felix de Givry et Ugo Bienvenu – Remembers,
for Arco

"Not only did they make it all the way to the Oscars, but they also triumphed at the Golden Globes, the César Awards and, of course, at Annecy   

Producing an animation project is a long -term commitment, regardless of whether it's a short film, a series or a feature film. We fully recognise the dedication and determination it takes to keep believing in a project despite the many difficulties, setbacks or criticism. So, we can just be proud of how far they have come and the success their works have achieved, helping to put animation on the global map", emphasises Véronique Encrenaz, Director of Mifa.