'Scarlet' to Open Animation Is Film Festival in October

"The festival will open with "Scarlet," the anime film from Mamoru Hosoda that premiered at the Venice Film Festival this summer, ahead of its theatrical release December 12. The Centerpiece selection for the festival is "Arco," the debut feature of French director Ugo Bienvenu, which premiered at Cannes in May. To close the festival, the AIF will screen "Little Amélie or the Character of Rain," co-directed by Maïlys Vallade and Liane-Cho Han."

"Special screenings taking place include the world premiere of a newly remastered 3D print of Laika stopmotion film "Paranorman" alongside a new short "Paranorman: The Thrifting," a special screening of highly anticipated anime film "Chainsaw Man: The Movie - Reze Arc," a work in progress panel for Disney's upcoming "Zootopia 2," and a filmmaker panel with the directors of "KPOP Demon Hunters.""

""It's with enormous pride that AIF returns in its role as the first opportunity for Los Angeles to experiencethese essential films on their journey to end-of-year awards and Best-of lists," Matt Kaszanek, Director of Animation Is Film, said in a statement. "This carefully curated lineup - featuring new works from animation legends alongside feature film debuts - is a celeb"

Animation Is Film Festival returns to Los Angeles in October for its eighth edition, produced by GKIDS in partnership with the Annecy International Animation Film Festival. The program opens with Mamoru Hosoda's anime Scarlet, centers on Ugo Bienvenu's debut Arco, and closes with Little Amélie or the Character of Rain. Competition selections include All You Need Is Kill, Lesbian Space Princess, I Am Frankelda, and Nobody, the highest-grossing 2D animated film in Chinese history. Special events feature a remastered 3D Paranorman premiere with a new short, a Chainsaw Man: The Movie - Reze Arc screening, a Zootopia 2 work-in-progress panel, and a KPOP Demon Hunters filmmakers panel. The festival serves as an early Los Angeles showcase for films on awards trajectories.

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