The 44th edition of the Brussels International Animation Film Festival Anima will showcase 293 films of all formats from 28 February to 9 March.
The 2025 edition will open with Memoir of a Snail by Australian director Adam Elliot. This tragicomedy about grief and self-discovery has been described as "a festival must-see" by the organisers.
The programme will feature both short and feature-length films, including 17 major works for teenagers and adults. Anima promises a variety of genres, from science fiction such as Adult Swim: Lazarus Sneak Peek by Shinichiro Watanabe, to documentaries like Pelikan Blue by Hungarian filmmaker Laszlo Csaki.
This year’s theme is dreams, with a special focus on Austria’s experimental animation cinema.
The festival will also premiere Mononoke The Movie: Chapter II – The ashes of rage by Japanese director Kenji Nakamura, following the success of the first instalment on Netflix.
Children will have plenty to enjoy as the festival aligns with the school holiday week for French-speaking and Dutch-speaking pupils. The digital playground has doubled in size, and various shows and workshops are dedicated to the youngest visitors.
After the awards ceremony for both national and international competitions, the festival will conclude with Ordures by French director Benjamin Nuel. Last year, Anima attracted 43,448 attendees to its screenings.
