Highlights
- The Annecy-backed AniMela 2026 returns to Mumbai this February to position India as a global AVGC-XR hub.
- Focusing on original IP creation, the Annecy-backed AniMela 2026 features new transmedia, gaming, and mentorship programs.
- Supported by global industry leaders, the Annecy-backed AniMela 2026 aims to integrate Indian talent.
The Annecy-backed AniMela 2026, India’s premier international festival dedicated to the Animation, Visual Effects, Gaming, Comics, and Extended Reality (AVGC-XR) sectors, is set to return to Mumbai next month. Scheduled to run from Feb 20 to 22, 2026, the event will be hosted at the National Film Development Corporation (NFDC) Films Division premises. Organized by the Aniverse and Visual Arts Foundation (AVAF), the festival continues its strategic partnership with France's Annecy International Animation Film Festival to position India as a central hub in the global storytelling network.
A major focus of the Annecy-backed AniMela 2026 edition is shifting the Indian industry from a service-based backend model to a hub for original Intellectual Property (IP) creation. This segment is designed to bridge local creators with the global market, showcasing eight Indian creators and six contemporary stories that blend traditional narratives with modern sensibilities. The initiative is part of a wider collaboration with Annecy’s marketplace, MIFA, offering local talent access to international mentorship and distribution networks.
Transmedia, Gaming, and Global Expertise
The festival’s programming is vast, featuring film screenings, premieres, artist talks, and behind-the-scenes sessions on major animation and VFX productions. A new addition this year is the Transmedia Stage, which will host discussions on world-building across diverse formats like film, video games, sound, and interactive media. Attendees can also explore a dedicated gaming arena, a comics program, and an international VR showcase. Among the anticipated previews is "Jharokha One: The Dancing Forest," a location-based VR experience inspired by an Adivasi song from Telangana and developed using the Gond visual tradition.
Guiding the festival is a high-profile international advisory board featuring industry heavyweights. The board includes Mickael Marin, director of the Annecy Festival; Indian leaders like Munjal Shroff of Graphiti Studio and Arjun Madhavan of Assemblage; executive producer Ashima Avasthi Chaudhuri; Aneta Ozorek of the Kaboom Film Festival; and filmmaker Kiran Rao, as reported by Variety.
Their collective expertise underscores the mission to professionalize the sector and integrate it into the global supply chain. Munjal Shroff stated that this year, they are opening their doors wider to celebrate the fans whose imagination keeps these universes alive.
The event comes at a pivotal time for the industry. Festival Director Nina Sabnani emphasized that India’s creative landscape is evolving rapidly with new talent and innovative thinking. Filmmaker Kiran Rao, who recently joined the advisory board, echoed this sentiment, stating that it is an honor to support a platform that champions a future where Indian creators stand shoulder-to-shoulder with the world.
Strategic partnerships remain a cornerstone of AniMela’s growth. The festival has established two-year alliances with the French Institute in India, NFDC, and the Indian Institute of Creative Technology to foster education and industry dialogue. Mathieu Béjot of the French Institute in India highlighted their new "Desibel – Indian Talents, French Vibes" project, which aims to support the emergence of original Indian IPs.
Prakash Magdum, managing director of NFDC, described AniMela as a natural partner in bringing storytelling and technology together on a global stage. The festival is open to creators, students, professionals, and the general public.
