In June 2025, Hungarian animation will take centre stage at the Annecy International Animation Film Festival. The festival will mark the 110th anniversary of Hungarian animation by spotlighting the country’s most prominent filmmakers, studios, pioneering producers, and emerging talents. The event will offer a comprehensive look at Hungarian animation, showcasing its rich history, development, industry, education, and the work of contemporary artists, as revealed at the close of last year’s festival. 

Founded in 1960 and held annually in June in the city of Annecy, the Annecy festival is the premier event in the animation world, and a must-attend for industry professionals. This year, it will take place from 9 to 14 June, and MOME Anim will once again feature diploma films. For the past five years, the university has also had a booth at the festival, further strengthening its international presence in the animation industry. 

The French students hosted by MOME will create the curtain films for the global festival, designing the introductory spots for each screening block, drawing inspiration and material from their time in Budapest. The cultural programme, organised by MOME and the National Film Institute (NFI), gave the students the chance to explore Budapest’s vibrant cultural scene, including the MOME Campus, the House of Music Hungary, studio visits, the Museum of Ethnography, Budapest’s thermal baths, a concert at A38, ruin pubs, and city walks. The experience left the participants with lasting memories, which they shared with us.  

“I wasn’t expecting such a diverse range of architectural styles – everywhere I look, I see something new and exciting,” said one of the students. “Although my project focuses more on the countryside, experiencing the city’s daily rhythm and its people was useful as it will help me understand the rural environment better. It was particularly fascinating to recognise patterns and objects in the streets or in windows that we had already encountered during our research, such as embroidered curtains, which we’ll also feature in our film.” Another student added that Budapest was a completely new experience for him. 

“Our film is about ruin pubs, so it was especially fascinating to see how our subject matter comes to life in real life and how it’s structured. I found inspiration in the city’s unique mix of architectural styles – classical and neoclassical buildings alongside remnants of the socialist era, all blending together in remarkable harmony. Not to mention the electric wires and trams, which are key components of the city’s landscape.” 

MOME also hosted a course focused on preparing the festival’s merchandising products. Students created graphic design elements that reflect the spirit of MOME Anim and will be featured on the festival’s souvenirs.