FestivalSchedule
Whistling Woods International, Mumbai
Friday 20 Feb
AniMela – IMC Pitch 2026 Link
Place: 5TH VEDA AUDITORIUM
Time: 5:00 PM–6:30 PM
In collaboration with Annecy International Film Market, AniMela is proud to present International MIFA Campus (IMC), a dedicated platform to discover and nurture the next generation of Indian animation talent. Five projects are co-selected and mentored by the International MIFA team, following which they present their work to an audience of fellow filmmakers, industry professionals, studios, producers, distributors and investors at AniMela, Mumbai.
The five pitches are judged by an esteemed jury who award the “Best Pitch” Award to the most outstanding project.
Selected talents also present and promote their projects at the Namaste MIFA: India Pitch Session in Annecy, France. The programme is designed to support Indian animators in accessing mentorship, networking, and funding opportunities in both domestic and global markets.
The programme is made possible through the support of the French Institut in India, French Embassy and Desibel.
Error#404 Directed by Farha Khatun/ Creative Director- Govind Sao
The Myth of Data Directed by Dhruva Rao
Shaitaan Directed by Spriha Das
TINNY MINNY Directed by Shaaz Ahmed
Getting Ready Directed by Somnath Pal
The five pitches are judged by an esteemed jury who award the “Best Pitch” Award to the most outstanding project.
Selected talents also present and promote their projects at the Namaste MIFA: India Pitch Session in Annecy, France. The programme is designed to support Indian animators in accessing mentorship, networking, and funding opportunities in both domestic and global markets.
The programme is made possible through the support of the French Institut in India, French Embassy and Desibel.
Error#404 Directed by Farha Khatun/ Creative Director- Govind Sao
The Myth of Data Directed by Dhruva Rao
Shaitaan Directed by Spriha Das
TINNY MINNY Directed by Shaaz Ahmed
Getting Ready Directed by Somnath Pal
Forms in Flux: Experimental Shorts
Place: 5TH VEDA AUDITORIUM
Time: 3:30 PM–4:30 PM
First Night by Nandhini Sree
The Girl with the Pot by Valentina Homem and Tati Bond
The Last Bamboo by Meera Krishnamurthy
Moha by Nikita Patwardhan
Ms. Understoned by Yuki Buma
Please Don't Touch by Capucine Gougelet
The Porous Body by Sofia El Khyari
Unpack by Lisa Nazareth
Veins of Grace by Lavanya Lodhi
Wedelia by Vyshnav M
The Girl with the Pot by Valentina Homem and Tati Bond
The Last Bamboo by Meera Krishnamurthy
Moha by Nikita Patwardhan
Ms. Understoned by Yuki Buma
Please Don't Touch by Capucine Gougelet
The Porous Body by Sofia El Khyari
Unpack by Lisa Nazareth
Veins of Grace by Lavanya Lodhi
Wedelia by Vyshnav M
Olivia and the Clouds
Place: 5TH VEDA AUDITORIUM
Time: 7:00 PM–8:30 PM
Tomás Pichardo Espaillat
South Asia Shorts
Place: 5TH VEDA AUDITORIUM
Time: 2:00 PM–3:00 PM
AI Can by Allen Shaw
Armstrong from Angaalaman Temple Street by Bunz
Come Home by Shenuka Corea
Names by Mehak Jain
Not Okay by Mohammed Shariq Puthen Peediakkal
Poem of the Enslaved by Rahul Riji Nair
Song of Whales by Afroza Hossain Sara
Still Life by Lara Jaydha
Armstrong from Angaalaman Temple Street by Bunz
Come Home by Shenuka Corea
Names by Mehak Jain
Not Okay by Mohammed Shariq Puthen Peediakkal
Poem of the Enslaved by Rahul Riji Nair
Song of Whales by Afroza Hossain Sara
Still Life by Lara Jaydha
South Asia Student Shorts 1
Place: 5TH VEDA AUDITORIUM
Time: 11:00 AM–12:00 PM
Ajja Ajji Pickle Directed by Bhaashya
Beacon of Light Directed by Jayshree Verma, Sanket Nikam, Sneh Jaiswal, Mayuresh More, Anindita Naskar and Roshni Tigga
Chuzhi Directed by Megha Arun
First Night Directed by Nandhini Sree
Kasang Alun Directed by Krishnabh Thengal
Manakotta Directed by Ben Thomas Varghese
Nanu! Directed by Ansh Sirohi
Neelakurunji Directed by Karthik Biju
Veins of Grace Directed by Lavanya Lodhi
Beacon of Light Directed by Jayshree Verma, Sanket Nikam, Sneh Jaiswal, Mayuresh More, Anindita Naskar and Roshni Tigga
Chuzhi Directed by Megha Arun
First Night Directed by Nandhini Sree
Kasang Alun Directed by Krishnabh Thengal
Manakotta Directed by Ben Thomas Varghese
Nanu! Directed by Ansh Sirohi
Neelakurunji Directed by Karthik Biju
Veins of Grace Directed by Lavanya Lodhi
South Asia Student Shorts 2
Place: 5TH VEDA AUDITORIUM
Time: 12:30 PM–1:30 PM
Boradi by Alan Jomon
Overmorrow by Siddharth Madhavan
Superlover by Kushagra Kishore, Nivea Choudhary and Ryan Hmar
Ladybugs Still Fly by Tanvi Malkarnekar
Foolish Fire/ignis fatuus by Shannayaa Nayak
I am Tejimola by Aditav Dowerah
Mai Mard Hoon by Krish Shah
Dear Fate by Ananya Dutta, Dev Bhanderi and Krish Vasavada
Do Time Ghaas by Aditya Pandey and Ishpreet Singh Kalsi
Overmorrow by Siddharth Madhavan
Superlover by Kushagra Kishore, Nivea Choudhary and Ryan Hmar
Ladybugs Still Fly by Tanvi Malkarnekar
Foolish Fire/ignis fatuus by Shannayaa Nayak
I am Tejimola by Aditav Dowerah
Mai Mard Hoon by Krish Shah
Dear Fate by Ananya Dutta, Dev Bhanderi and Krish Vasavada
Do Time Ghaas by Aditya Pandey and Ishpreet Singh Kalsi
AI for Media & Entertainment
Place: ANIMELA ADDA
Time: 10:30 AM–11:30 AM
Chaitanya Chinchlikar
This session will explore how AI can streamline workflows, inspire innovation and enhance collaboration between artists and technologists — empowering filmmakers, animators, game developers, music producers and the like, with AI-driven workflows that free creatives from tedious tasks while maintaining creative robustness. It'll spotlight how creatives can partner with AI for creative content development and reimagine workflows to equip themselves with crucial technical skills and ethical perspectives.
Animation, AI and Immersive Media
Place: ANIMELA ADDA
Time: 2:00 PM–3:00 PM
Ulysse Lefort
In this masterclass, Ulysse Lefort will share insights into his creative workflow across various projects, offering a behind-the-scenes look at how ideas move from concept to completion. He will reflect on his professional journey, working methods, and collaborative processes, while discussing his philosophy around the use of AI in creative practice. The session is designed for filmmakers, animators, and digital artists interested in understanding how innovation, craft, and critical thinking intersect in contemporary visual storytelling.
Best of Annecy Shorts
Place: ANIMELA ADDA
Time: 6:30 PM–7:30 PM
At Night by Pooya Afzali
Between the Gaps by Martin Bonnin
The Girl Who Cried Pearls by Chris Lavis & Maciek Szczerbowski
Les Bêtes by Michael Granberry
Murmuration by Janneke Swinkels and Tim Frijsinger
Naive New Beaters, Star Feminine Band by Lola Lefèvre
Night Boots by Pierre-Luc Granjon
Sappho by Rosana Urbes
Between the Gaps by Martin Bonnin
The Girl Who Cried Pearls by Chris Lavis & Maciek Szczerbowski
Les Bêtes by Michael Granberry
Murmuration by Janneke Swinkels and Tim Frijsinger
Naive New Beaters, Star Feminine Band by Lola Lefèvre
Night Boots by Pierre-Luc Granjon
Sappho by Rosana Urbes
The World of Animated Music Videos
Place: ANIMELA ADDA
Time: 3:30 PM–4:30 PM
Debjyoti Saha, Prateek Sethi
A catch-up with Debjyoti Saha and Prateek Sethi on the exciting work emerging from India’s independent animation scene, and how music videos have become a powerful space for creative freedom. The session includes screenings of select music videos, including Bekhauf and Divine, two of Debjyoti’s major projects, followed by a keynote on his creative process and artistic journey.
This session is curated by Animators Guild India.
This session is curated by Animators Guild India.
Transmedia Narrative Universe: Maya
Place: ANIMELA ADDA
Time: 12:00 PM–1:30 PM
Anand Gandhi
MAYA is an expansive narrative universe created by Anand Gandhi and Zain Memon, unfolding across films, games, graphic novels, novels, toys, and immersive experiences.
In the world of MAYA, immortality is a commodity and every life a data point in someone else’s design. It is a story of chaos and control, agency and prediction, the powerful and the expendable. It explores how minds are shaped, choices are nudged, and futures are manufactured - systemically, and invisibly. Each MAYA experience stands alone, yet connects. As characters cross mediums, their roles and meanings shift. A villain in a graphic novel may be the hero of a game. Taken together, they reveal a deeper structure, one that reflects the systems we live within now. Equal parts science-fiction, philosophy, and fantasy, MAYA is a new mythology for the 21st century - not of gods and monsters, but of us.
In the world of MAYA, immortality is a commodity and every life a data point in someone else’s design. It is a story of chaos and control, agency and prediction, the powerful and the expendable. It explores how minds are shaped, choices are nudged, and futures are manufactured - systemically, and invisibly. Each MAYA experience stands alone, yet connects. As characters cross mediums, their roles and meanings shift. A villain in a graphic novel may be the hero of a game. Taken together, they reveal a deeper structure, one that reflects the systems we live within now. Equal parts science-fiction, philosophy, and fantasy, MAYA is a new mythology for the 21st century - not of gods and monsters, but of us.
Window to the World: International Shorts
Place: ANIMELA ADDA
Time: 5:00 PM–6:00 PM
Éiru by Giovanna Ferrari
Hurikán by Jan Saska
My Wonderful Life by Calleen Koh
Playing God by Matteo Burani
Retirement Plan by John Kelly
Hurikán by Jan Saska
My Wonderful Life by Calleen Koh
Playing God by Matteo Burani
Retirement Plan by John Kelly
VR Zone
Place: CLASSROOM 118 AND 119
Time: 10:30 AM–8:00 PM
This VR section brings together recent works from the Institut Français’ Catalogue XR alongside immersive projects by Indian creators. From intimate, sensory experiences to bold experiments with form and space, these works invite viewers to move through, respond to, and shape their own experience of the narrative.
Institut Francais : Catalogue XR
1. Impulse: Playing With Reality
2. Emperor
3. ito-meikyu
4. Monsieur Vincent
5. Insider-Outsider
6. Outrenoir
India: Catalogue XR
1. UNvisible
2. ide to the Station
3. Home Street Home
4. Peck & Shoot
Institut Francais : Catalogue XR
1. Impulse: Playing With Reality
2. Emperor
3. ito-meikyu
4. Monsieur Vincent
5. Insider-Outsider
6. Outrenoir
India: Catalogue XR
1. UNvisible
2. ide to the Station
3. Home Street Home
4. Peck & Shoot
Gaming Zone
Place: E BLOCK - M104 AND M105
Time: 10:30 AM–8:00 PM
This section invites audiences to play a selection of Rich-Narrative Games from independent studios and creators. Through hands-on experience, visitors can explore new worlds, stories, and interactive possibilities, and engage directly with the craft of contemporary game design.
List of Studios:
Carmond Infinity
Frostwood Interactive
Koolgen
Mellow Fox Studio
Monotusk Studio
Redimension
Rudrac
Shivaansh ArtVision
List of Studios:
Carmond Infinity
Frostwood Interactive
Koolgen
Mellow Fox Studio
Monotusk Studio
Redimension
Rudrac
Shivaansh ArtVision
Location-Based Virtual Reality (LBVR) Showcase
Place: E BLOCK LOBBY
Time: 11:00 AM–6:00 PM
Marking their India premiere, the highly anticipated and critically acclaimed Location-Based VR experiences Titanic and Colosseum arrive at AniMela! This section features these two IPs by Small Creative, the Paris-based studio acclaimed for its large-scale, free-roaming VR experiences and Eclipso, an international company at the forefront of presenting cultural adventure and educational LBVR experiences to global audiences. Together, they represent some of the most influential voices shaping the LBVR landscape today.
- Colosseum: The Legendary Arena
Meet gods, senators, and citizens while witnessing Rome's legendary spectacles up close. From the stands of the arena, feel the intensity of the fights of Flamma and the power of the Empire's greatest spectacles. Discover the secrets of Rome, experience the tension of its battles, and immerse yourself in a virtual reality adventure that is as fascinating as it is impressive. Perfect for history buffs and virtual reality enthusiasts alike: Rome as you've never experienced it before.
- Titanic: Echoes from the Past
Deep dive 3,800 meters underwater to the seabed of the Atlantic ocean on a unique quest on board the legendary Ship. With the aid of revolutionary technology, you'll journey back in time to board the Titanic during its maiden voyage. Are you ready to explore today’s shipwreck and uncover the stories and secrets of the past through the candid lens of Titanic's official filmmaker William Harbeck? You will follow him on a breathtaking and informative journey before you meet the iceberg that sealed the ships fate that starry night.
- Colosseum: The Legendary Arena
Meet gods, senators, and citizens while witnessing Rome's legendary spectacles up close. From the stands of the arena, feel the intensity of the fights of Flamma and the power of the Empire's greatest spectacles. Discover the secrets of Rome, experience the tension of its battles, and immerse yourself in a virtual reality adventure that is as fascinating as it is impressive. Perfect for history buffs and virtual reality enthusiasts alike: Rome as you've never experienced it before.
- Titanic: Echoes from the Past
Deep dive 3,800 meters underwater to the seabed of the Atlantic ocean on a unique quest on board the legendary Ship. With the aid of revolutionary technology, you'll journey back in time to board the Titanic during its maiden voyage. Are you ready to explore today’s shipwreck and uncover the stories and secrets of the past through the candid lens of Titanic's official filmmaker William Harbeck? You will follow him on a breathtaking and informative journey before you meet the iceberg that sealed the ships fate that starry night.
Jharokha Showcase
Place: E Block Studio
Time: 11:00 AM–6:00 PM
JHAROKHA (window or balcony) is an immersive virtual reality experience produced by AniMela, with support from Bha Future Co, that invites audiences into India’s folk art traditions through embodied digital storytelling. Conceived as a threshold, the project uses immersive technology to connect folk knowledge systems with contemporary ecological concerns.
KTB by Graphiti Multimedia Pvt. Ltd.
Place: E Block Studio
Time: 11:00 AM–6:00 PM
KTB Kinekomix offers a unique transmedia journey into the world of Indian folk stories, art, and music through an innovative blend of comics and animation. Using a patented interactive format, the experience places storytelling directly in the hands of the viewer. By clicking on illustrated panels, visitors can unlock cinematic sequences, watch static art come alive, and explore the richness of folklore at their own pace.
The experience is based on Krish, Trish and Baltiboy – The Marvelous Minstrel Trio, following three whimsical guides who lead audiences through Indian regional folk tales, traditional art styles, and musical traditions with wit, warmth, and charm.
The experience is based on Krish, Trish and Baltiboy – The Marvelous Minstrel Trio, following three whimsical guides who lead audiences through Indian regional folk tales, traditional art styles, and musical traditions with wit, warmth, and charm.
Nina Sabnani’s Films
Place: E Block Studio
Time: 11:00 AM–6:00 PM
Nina Sabnani
- Hum Chitra Banate Hain (We make images) 2017 | 8:51 mins | India
Narrated by a rooster, the story follows the journey of the Bhil people in India to find a shaman who can bring relief from a devastating drought. After seeing the shaman, he inspires them to paint their homes, leading to rain, bountiful crops, and peace and prosperity.
“Hum Chitra Banate Hain” is an animated interpretation of an origin myth from the Bhil community in Madhya Pradesh, India. For the Bhil community painting is like offering a prayer and the film reveals why. The film is a collaboration between the indigenous artist Sher Singh from the Bhil community and film maker Nina Sabnani where they explore ways of telling together.
The film won the National Award Rajat Kamal for the best animation film for 2016.
- Tanko Bole Chhe (The Stitches Speak) 2009 | 8min | India
An animated documentary which celebrates the art and passion of the Kutch artisans associated with Kala Raksha. The film traces multiple journeys made by the participants towards defining their identities and towards forming the Kala Raksha Trust and the School for Design. The film uses their narrative art of appliqué and embroideries through which they articulate their responses to life, and events as traumatic as the earthquake and as joyful as flying a kite. Through conversations and memories four voices share their involvement in the evolution of a craft tradition.
Narrated by a rooster, the story follows the journey of the Bhil people in India to find a shaman who can bring relief from a devastating drought. After seeing the shaman, he inspires them to paint their homes, leading to rain, bountiful crops, and peace and prosperity.
“Hum Chitra Banate Hain” is an animated interpretation of an origin myth from the Bhil community in Madhya Pradesh, India. For the Bhil community painting is like offering a prayer and the film reveals why. The film is a collaboration between the indigenous artist Sher Singh from the Bhil community and film maker Nina Sabnani where they explore ways of telling together.
The film won the National Award Rajat Kamal for the best animation film for 2016.
- Tanko Bole Chhe (The Stitches Speak) 2009 | 8min | India
An animated documentary which celebrates the art and passion of the Kutch artisans associated with Kala Raksha. The film traces multiple journeys made by the participants towards defining their identities and towards forming the Kala Raksha Trust and the School for Design. The film uses their narrative art of appliqué and embroideries through which they articulate their responses to life, and events as traumatic as the earthquake and as joyful as flying a kite. Through conversations and memories four voices share their involvement in the evolution of a craft tradition.
Building Worlds Across Formats: A Transmedia Jam
Place: FOUNDATION HALL 2
Time: 3:00 PM–4:00 PM
Celine Loop, Tarana Reddy
This interactive session will explore how transmedia narratives are built through participation. The workshop demonstrates how a single narrative universe can open multiple audience entry points across formats and perspectives, potentially using a choose-your-own-adventure structure. Participants then move into a gamified role-play, stepping into characters within the world and collaboratively working toward a shared goal, highlighting the participatory nature of transmedia storytelling.
The session concludes with a reflection on transmedia as practice: showing how one world can generate limitless narratives across platforms.
→On-Spot registration is required. 20-25 participants max. First come-first served.
The session concludes with a reflection on transmedia as practice: showing how one world can generate limitless narratives across platforms.
→On-Spot registration is required. 20-25 participants max. First come-first served.
KhariGhar: A Transmedia Program of Co-creation
Place: FOUNDATION HALL 2
Time: 4:30 PM–5:00 PM
Upasana Nattoji Roy, Switch & Roy Studio
This session delves into Kharighar, a platform for collaboration between traditional and digital artists. It is a space for dialogue that leads to projects aimed at protecting, preserving, and rejuvenating tactile and traditional forms of artistic expression in this rapidly transforming, digitised world.
Animation 2079: Speculative Futures
Place: STILT AREA
Time: 8:00 PM–9:00 PM
Animation 2079: Speculative Futures
Live Documentary Performance | ‘Elsewhere in India’ by Avinash Kumar
Animation 2079: Speculative Futures is a live documentary performance by ‘Elsewhere in India’. It is set in 2079 AD, where cultural cyborg Meenakshi and her sidekicks fight to preserve disappearing heritage of Indian media with its history of animation and video games.
Drawing from archives of Indian animation, public domain material and contributions from animators, the show combines electronic music, motion-captured dance, AI art and 3D game worlds to create a poignant statement on animation's future.
A speculative journey that asks: in an age of algorithmic content, why must we fight hard to preserve the soul of animation and the stories it holds?
Live Documentary Performance | ‘Elsewhere in India’ by Avinash Kumar
Animation 2079: Speculative Futures is a live documentary performance by ‘Elsewhere in India’. It is set in 2079 AD, where cultural cyborg Meenakshi and her sidekicks fight to preserve disappearing heritage of Indian media with its history of animation and video games.
Drawing from archives of Indian animation, public domain material and contributions from animators, the show combines electronic music, motion-captured dance, AI art and 3D game worlds to create a poignant statement on animation's future.
A speculative journey that asks: in an age of algorithmic content, why must we fight hard to preserve the soul of animation and the stories it holds?
Annecy WTF Shorts
Place: STILT AREA
Time: 6:30 PM–7:30 PM
The Adventures of Murder Man by Will Carsola
Bear Hunt by Chris Duffy
Desk Bugs by Hakhyun Kim
I Beg Your Pardon by John W. Lustig
Kasey Cartoon by Veronica Kedar
Mamiko’s Poop by Yasuteru Ohno
Nostril by Michael Augustine Dondero and Shengnan Dong
Peter Hair by Arthur Studholme and Cosmo Wellings
Rabbits Have Red Eyes by Yoonsun Lee and Jiwon Choi
Skroll by Marten Visser
A Taste of Beer by Xie Li
Vinegar Mother by Fiona Longobardi
Bear Hunt by Chris Duffy
Desk Bugs by Hakhyun Kim
I Beg Your Pardon by John W. Lustig
Kasey Cartoon by Veronica Kedar
Mamiko’s Poop by Yasuteru Ohno
Nostril by Michael Augustine Dondero and Shengnan Dong
Peter Hair by Arthur Studholme and Cosmo Wellings
Rabbits Have Red Eyes by Yoonsun Lee and Jiwon Choi
Skroll by Marten Visser
A Taste of Beer by Xie Li
Vinegar Mother by Fiona Longobardi
Artists’ Showcase
Place: STILT AREA
Time: 11:00 AM–8:00 PM
The Comics and Art section returns to AniMela with a vibrant mix of independent creators and fresh voices. Meet comic artists showcasing and selling their self-published books, discover original illustrations and graphic narratives, and explore tables filled with art prints, illustrated journals, collectible merchandise, stickers, and exclusive artist-led T-shirts.
This is a space that celebrates small-press publishing and DIY culture. Spend time with the artists, hear the stories behind their work, and support independent creators who are building their own worlds.
This is a space that celebrates small-press publishing and DIY culture. Spend time with the artists, hear the stories behind their work, and support independent creators who are building their own worlds.
Enter Void
Place: STILT AREA
Time: 11:00 AM–8:00 PM
By KC, Pixadoo Visuals Pvt. Ltd.
A monolith of living light. A portal that rewires perception. An immersive encounter designed to spark awe, disorientation, and addictive curiosity.
A monolith of living light. A portal that rewires perception. An immersive encounter designed to spark awe, disorientation, and addictive curiosity.
Saturday 21 Feb
Another World
Place: 5TH VEDA AUDITORIUM
Time: 10:30 AM–12:30 PM
Tommy Ng Kai-chung
Arco
Place: 5TH VEDA AUDITORIUM
Time: 1:00 PM–2:30 PM
Ugo Bienvenu
Decorado
Place: 5TH VEDA AUDITORIUM
Time: 5:00 PM–6:30 PM
Alberto Vázquez
Lesbian Space Princess
Place: 5TH VEDA AUDITORIUM
Time: 7:00 PM–8:30 PM
Leela Varghese and Emma Hough Hobbs
Memoir of a Snail
Place: 5TH VEDA AUDITORIUM
Time: 3:00 PM–4:30 PM
Adam Elliot
Co-Production Down Under
Place: ANIMELA ADDA
Time: 5:00 PM–6:00 PM
Paul Murphy, P. Jayakumar, Silas Hickey, Deepti Chawla
This panel examines how the Australia–India Audiovisual Co-production Agreement is enabling new animation and digital collaborations. Through real-world case studies, the panellists will explore how treaty-backed co-productions reduce risk, unlock incentives and help creators build globally scalable animated content together.
Collaborating Beyond Borders
Place: ANIMELA ADDA
Time: 10:30 AM–11:30 AM
Reza Riahi & Krishna Nair
This session brings together two animation filmmakers from Iran and India who met while studying in France and have continued to collaborate remotely ever since. They will discuss their personal journeys and the projects they have worked on together. The focus is on how creative partnerships evolve and how long-distance filmmaking works in practice, especially when close friends collaborate.
From Storytelling to StoryLIVING
Place: ANIMELA ADDA
Time: 12:00 PM–1:30 PM
Antoine Lieutaud, Voyelle Acker
This session offers an inside look at the groundbreaking world of Location-Based Virtual Reality, spotlighting the co-produced IPs by Small Creative and Eclipso: Titanic and Colosseum. Through this presentation, audiences will discover how the two companies blend storytelling, heritage, and cutting-edge technology to create deeply immersive cultural journeys. The session will unpack their creative and production processes, revealing the vision, innovation, and collaboration behind redefining how audiences engage with history and place through virtual reality.
Heirloom: Building an Animated Feature
Place: ANIMELA ADDA
Time: 3:30 PM–4:30 PM
Upamanyu Bhattacharya, Gaurav Wakankar, Sana Srinivasan, Siddhi Vartak, Shreeya Wagh
In this session, the core creative team behind Heirloom shares their experiences of developing and producing an animated feature film. Through honest reflections and practical examples, they discuss their methods, problem-solving strategies, and the realities of sustaining a project from concept to completion.
Pentacle Picks: International Shorts
Place: ANIMELA ADDA
Time: 6:30 PM–7:30 PM
Balconada by Iva Tokmakchieva
The Garden by Carolina Charadan and Miguel Machado
Longue Distance by Iulia Voitova
Sulaimani by Vinnie Ann Bose
Ziki by Roberta Palmieri and Olga Sargenti
The Garden by Carolina Charadan and Miguel Machado
Longue Distance by Iulia Voitova
Sulaimani by Vinnie Ann Bose
Ziki by Roberta Palmieri and Olga Sargenti
The Festival Makers
Place: ANIMELA ADDA
Time: 2:00 PM–3:00 PM
Mickaël Marin, Anne Doshi, Monica Wahi, Shrobontika Dasgupta
This panel brings together the Festival Director of Annecy and Artistic Director of AniMela, a legacy festival and the "new kid on the block" as they enter into their third year of partnership to amplify distinctive Indian animation talent in the global market. Along with a young indie animator, the panel examines what it takes to sustain a “temporary community” in a rapidly changing landscape, how to bridge the gap between artistic vision and industry realities, and how to navigate emerging technology. The conversation examines local support vis-à-vis international collaboration, long-term sustainability, and the considered philosophical choices that shape these spaces and keep them meaningful.
VR Zone
Place: CLASSROOM 118 AND 119
Time: 10:30 AM–8:00 PM
This VR section brings together recent works from the Institut Français’ Catalogue XR alongside immersive projects by Indian creators. From intimate, sensory experiences to bold experiments with form and space, these works invite viewers to move through, respond to, and shape their own experience of the narrative.
Institut Francais : Catalogue XR
1. Impulse: Playing With Reality
2. Emperor
3. ito-meikyu
4. Monsieur Vincent
5. Insider-Outsider
6. Outrenoir
India: Catalogue XR
1. UNvisible
2. ide to the Station
3. Home Street Home
4. Peck & Shoot
Institut Francais : Catalogue XR
1. Impulse: Playing With Reality
2. Emperor
3. ito-meikyu
4. Monsieur Vincent
5. Insider-Outsider
6. Outrenoir
India: Catalogue XR
1. UNvisible
2. ide to the Station
3. Home Street Home
4. Peck & Shoot
Gaming Zone
Place: E BLOCK - M104 AND M105
Time: 10:30 AM–8:00 PM
This section invites audiences to play a selection of Rich-Narrative Games from independent studios and creators. Through hands-on experience, visitors can explore new worlds, stories, and interactive possibilities, and engage directly with the craft of contemporary game design.
List of Studios:
Carmond Infinity
Frostwood Interactive
Koolgen
Mellow Fox Studio
Monotusk Studio
Redimension
Rudrac
Shivaansh ArtVision
List of Studios:
Carmond Infinity
Frostwood Interactive
Koolgen
Mellow Fox Studio
Monotusk Studio
Redimension
Rudrac
Shivaansh ArtVision
Game Studio Live Demos
Place: E BLOCK - M106
Time: 1:00 PM–6:00 PM
In these special sessions, audiences can watch a game studio founder play and present their work on the big screen. Part live gameplay, part conversation, it offers an inside look into the creative choices made and the stories of the games.
Location-Based Virtual Reality (LBVR) Showcase
Place: E BLOCK LOBBY
Time: 11:00 AM–8:00 PM
Marking their India premiere, the highly anticipated and critically acclaimed Location-Based VR experiences Titanic and Colosseum arrive at AniMela! This section features these two IPs by Small Creative, the Paris-based studio acclaimed for its large-scale, free-roaming VR experiences and Eclipso, an international company at the forefront of presenting cultural adventure and educational LBVR experiences to global audiences. Together, they represent some of the most influential voices shaping the LBVR landscape today.
- Colosseum: The Legendary Arena
Meet gods, senators, and citizens while witnessing Rome's legendary spectacles up close. From the stands of the arena, feel the intensity of the fights of Flamma and the power of the Empire's greatest spectacles. Discover the secrets of Rome, experience the tension of its battles, and immerse yourself in a virtual reality adventure that is as fascinating as it is impressive. Perfect for history buffs and virtual reality enthusiasts alike: Rome as you've never experienced it before.
- Titanic: Echoes from the Past
Deep dive 3,800 meters underwater to the seabed of the Atlantic ocean on a unique quest on board the legendary Ship. With the aid of revolutionary technology, you'll journey back in time to board the Titanic during its maiden voyage. Are you ready to explore today’s shipwreck and uncover the stories and secrets of the past through the candid lens of Titanic's official filmmaker William Harbeck? You will follow him on a breathtaking and informative journey before you meet the iceberg that sealed the ships fate that starry night.
- Colosseum: The Legendary Arena
Meet gods, senators, and citizens while witnessing Rome's legendary spectacles up close. From the stands of the arena, feel the intensity of the fights of Flamma and the power of the Empire's greatest spectacles. Discover the secrets of Rome, experience the tension of its battles, and immerse yourself in a virtual reality adventure that is as fascinating as it is impressive. Perfect for history buffs and virtual reality enthusiasts alike: Rome as you've never experienced it before.
- Titanic: Echoes from the Past
Deep dive 3,800 meters underwater to the seabed of the Atlantic ocean on a unique quest on board the legendary Ship. With the aid of revolutionary technology, you'll journey back in time to board the Titanic during its maiden voyage. Are you ready to explore today’s shipwreck and uncover the stories and secrets of the past through the candid lens of Titanic's official filmmaker William Harbeck? You will follow him on a breathtaking and informative journey before you meet the iceberg that sealed the ships fate that starry night.
Jharokha Showcase
Place: E Block Studio
Time: 11:00 AM–8:00 PM
JHAROKHA (window or balcony) is an immersive virtual reality experience produced by AniMela, with support from Bha Future Co, that invites audiences into India’s folk art traditions through embodied digital storytelling. Conceived as a threshold, the project uses immersive technology to connect folk knowledge systems with contemporary ecological concerns.
KTB by Graphiti Multimedia Pvt. Ltd.
Place: E Block Studio
Time: 11:00 AM–8:00 PM
KTB Kinekomix offers a unique transmedia journey into the world of Indian folk stories, art, and music through an innovative blend of comics and animation. Using a patented interactive format, the experience places storytelling directly in the hands of the viewer. By clicking on illustrated panels, visitors can unlock cinematic sequences, watch static art come alive, and explore the richness of folklore at their own pace.
The experience is based on Krish, Trish and Baltiboy – The Marvelous Minstrel Trio, following three whimsical guides who lead audiences through Indian regional folk tales, traditional art styles, and musical traditions with wit, warmth, and charm.
The experience is based on Krish, Trish and Baltiboy – The Marvelous Minstrel Trio, following three whimsical guides who lead audiences through Indian regional folk tales, traditional art styles, and musical traditions with wit, warmth, and charm.
Nina Sabnani’s Films
Place: E Block Studio
Time: 11:00 AM–8:00 PM
Nina Sabnani
- Hum Chitra Banate Hain (We make images) 2017 | 8:51 mins | India
Narrated by a rooster, the story follows the journey of the Bhil people in India to find a shaman who can bring relief from a devastating drought. After seeing the shaman, he inspires them to paint their homes, leading to rain, bountiful crops, and peace and prosperity.
“Hum Chitra Banate Hain” is an animated interpretation of an origin myth from the Bhil community in Madhya Pradesh, India. For the Bhil community painting is like offering a prayer and the film reveals why. The film is a collaboration between the indigenous artist Sher Singh from the Bhil community and film maker Nina Sabnani where they explore ways of telling together.
The film won the National Award Rajat Kamal for the best animation film for 2016.
- Tanko Bole Chhe (The Stitches Speak) 2009 | 8min | India
An animated documentary which celebrates the art and passion of the Kutch artisans associated with Kala Raksha. The film traces multiple journeys made by the participants towards defining their identities and towards forming the Kala Raksha Trust and the School for Design. The film uses their narrative art of appliqué and embroideries through which they articulate their responses to life, and events as traumatic as the earthquake and as joyful as flying a kite. Through conversations and memories four voices share their involvement in the evolution of a craft tradition.
Narrated by a rooster, the story follows the journey of the Bhil people in India to find a shaman who can bring relief from a devastating drought. After seeing the shaman, he inspires them to paint their homes, leading to rain, bountiful crops, and peace and prosperity.
“Hum Chitra Banate Hain” is an animated interpretation of an origin myth from the Bhil community in Madhya Pradesh, India. For the Bhil community painting is like offering a prayer and the film reveals why. The film is a collaboration between the indigenous artist Sher Singh from the Bhil community and film maker Nina Sabnani where they explore ways of telling together.
The film won the National Award Rajat Kamal for the best animation film for 2016.
- Tanko Bole Chhe (The Stitches Speak) 2009 | 8min | India
An animated documentary which celebrates the art and passion of the Kutch artisans associated with Kala Raksha. The film traces multiple journeys made by the participants towards defining their identities and towards forming the Kala Raksha Trust and the School for Design. The film uses their narrative art of appliqué and embroideries through which they articulate their responses to life, and events as traumatic as the earthquake and as joyful as flying a kite. Through conversations and memories four voices share their involvement in the evolution of a craft tradition.
Drawing from the Self
Place: FOUNDATION HALL 1
Time: 3:30 PM–4:30 PM
Vishwajyoti Ghosh, Aniceto Pereira, Shikhant Sablania
What does it mean to turn your life into a page — and who gets to tell that story? Drawing From the Self pushes beyond the idea of autobiography, on how personal histories, everyday observations, and internal landscapes can become compelling visual narratives.
The panel will delve into visual storytelling devices and strategies that can unpack memory, identity, body, place, and silence entering the comic frame — and what it means to draw experiences that are messy, unresolved, or deeply personal. This is not about neat origin stories. It is about discomfort, truth-telling, humour, survival, and the radical act of placing one’s own life at the centre of narrative. Using comics as witness, literature, testimony, and resistance — this conversation is about drawing from the self.
The panel will delve into visual storytelling devices and strategies that can unpack memory, identity, body, place, and silence entering the comic frame — and what it means to draw experiences that are messy, unresolved, or deeply personal. This is not about neat origin stories. It is about discomfort, truth-telling, humour, survival, and the radical act of placing one’s own life at the centre of narrative. Using comics as witness, literature, testimony, and resistance — this conversation is about drawing from the self.
Drawing Life
Place: FOUNDATION HALL 1
Time: 5:00 PM–6:00 PM
Anand Sai
This hands-on session focuses on drawing from a live model to understand real-time anatomy, balance, and motion. Participants will learn how professional animators and 3D artists approach gesture and figure drawing to create dynamic, believable characters for animation, games, and visual storytelling.
→ On-Spot registration is required. 20-25 participants max. First come-first served.
→ On-Spot registration is required. 20-25 participants max. First come-first served.
The Art of Caricature Creation
Place: FOUNDATION HALL 1
Time: 2:00 PM–3:00 PM
Nikhil Khadpe
Nikhil Kharpe is a pre-production specialist with over 14 years of experience in storyboarding, concept art, and matte painting for Hollywood and Bollywood films. He began his career as an Assistant Director with studios such as Sony, DNEG, and MPC, gaining strong foundations in filmmaking and visual storytelling. This background enables him to approach projects with a director’s perspective. Currently, he mentors students at Frameboxx, training them in industry-ready skills for film, OTT, and advertising production pipelines.
→ On-Spot registration is required. 20-25 participants max. First come-first served.
→ On-Spot registration is required. 20-25 participants max. First come-first served.
The Journey of a Story Shaman
Place: FOUNDATION HALL 1
Time: 10:30 AM–11:30 AM
Siddharth Maskari
This session traces the real-life journey of a Mumbai-based creator who evolved from a science student into an animator, storyteller, educator, and nomadic artist. Through personal anecdotes, visuals, and participatory exercises, participants explore storytelling as a playful and reflective process rooted in empathy and lived experience. From studios to remote villages, the session highlights how stories connect imagination with humanity. Open to students and professionals of all backgrounds, it invites participants to reconnect with creativity, emotional truth, and our shared human spirit.
→ On-Spot registration is required. 20-25 participants max. First come-first served.
→ On-Spot registration is required. 20-25 participants max. First come-first served.
Writing Comedy Series for Kids
Place: FOUNDATION HALL 1
Time: 12:00 PM–1:00 PM
Johanna Goldschmidt
In this session, participants will learn, at a broad level, how to build a compelling hero, define a clear goal and theme, design a strong concept, and structure a typical episode. Through the analysis of a complete 11-minute episode, the session explores, step by step, how a strong concept, memorable characters, and solid story structures create effective comedy.
By moving from theory to practice, this masterclass offers concrete tools used by professional writers, helping participants understand how animated comedy works and how to make kids laugh, episode after episode.
By moving from theory to practice, this masterclass offers concrete tools used by professional writers, helping participants understand how animated comedy works and how to make kids laugh, episode after episode.
Aptech Student Programme
Place: FOUNDATION HALL 2
Time: 4:00 PM–5:00 PM
These programmes have been curated by leading Indian design and animation schools from across the country and feature a selection of student animated films from diverse regions and practices. Together, they offer a considered glimpse into emerging voices, varied aesthetics, and the pedagogical approaches shaping animation education in India today.
IIAD Student Programme
Place: FOUNDATION HALL 2
Time: 5:30 PM–6:30 PM
These programmes have been curated by leading Indian design and animation schools from across the country and feature a selection of student animated films from diverse regions and practices. Together, they offer a considered glimpse into emerging voices, varied aesthetics, and the pedagogical approaches shaping animation education in India today.
Look, Peep, Draw
Place: FOUNDATION HALL 2
Time: 6:30 PM–7:30 PM
Vishwajyoti Ghosh
What if our everyday life could become a living archive of stories — drawn, written, and felt in real time? The powerful practice of observing the real world and translating it into visual narratives is an exciting and challenging exercise.
Look, Peep, Draw is a workshop on observational visual journaling that invites you to slow down, notice deeply, and translate the ordinary into powerful visual narratives. Join us to document people, places, moods, and moments from AniMela with your sketches, doodles, words, rants, gossip and visual symbols to tell some awesome stories! No artistic perfection required, only curiosity.
→ On-Spot registration is required. 20-25 participants max. First come-first served.
Look, Peep, Draw is a workshop on observational visual journaling that invites you to slow down, notice deeply, and translate the ordinary into powerful visual narratives. Join us to document people, places, moods, and moments from AniMela with your sketches, doodles, words, rants, gossip and visual symbols to tell some awesome stories! No artistic perfection required, only curiosity.
→ On-Spot registration is required. 20-25 participants max. First come-first served.
Women in Annecy Shorts
Place: FOUNDATION HALL 2
Time: 1:00 PM–2:00 PM
Afterglow by Gobelins Paris
Hairy Legs by Andrea Dorfman
Murmuration by Janneke Swinkels and Tim Frijsinger
Ovary-Acting by Ida Melum
Sappho by Rosana Urbes
Sulaimani by Vinnie Ann Bose
Hairy Legs by Andrea Dorfman
Murmuration by Janneke Swinkels and Tim Frijsinger
Ovary-Acting by Ida Melum
Sappho by Rosana Urbes
Sulaimani by Vinnie Ann Bose
Koolgen: Narrative Design Framework
Place: FOUNDATION HALL 3
Time: 2:00 PM–3:00 PM
Raunak Bagga
This session introduces Koolgen, a storytelling framework and practical tool developed by Raunak Bagga to help creators build compelling narratives for comic books and games. Designed to support world-building, character arcs, and interactive storytelling structures, the framework offers a clear, adaptable approach to shaping engaging story universes.
Mukti: Game Presentation
Place: FOUNDATION HALL 3
Time: 4:00 PM–5:00 PM
Underdogs Studio
Through Game Presentations, studio founders will open up their creative worlds to the audience. From the first spark of an idea to building rich story universes, these sessions offer a rare look into how games are imagined, developed, and brought to life: including what’s next, across platforms and transmedia storytelling.
Transmedia Storyworld: Mallu and Pi
Place: FOUNDATION HALL 3
Time: 3:00 PM–4:00 PM
Neeru Nanda
Step into an adventure that weaves through time and space. Mallu and Pi follows two children and their non-human companions as they embark on a quest to find the Needle of Light — a mysterious force said to hold the key to a balanced life. This presentation unveils the expansive storyworld behind the project, exploring its characters, mythic landscapes, and narrative arcs, while offering insight into the creative vision shaping this universe.
Artists’ Showcase
Place: STILT AREA
Time: 11:00 AM–8:00 PM
The Comics and Art section returns to AniMela with a vibrant mix of independent creators and fresh voices. Meet comic artists showcasing and selling their self-published books, discover original illustrations and graphic narratives, and explore tables filled with art prints, illustrated journals, collectible merchandise, stickers, and exclusive artist-led T-shirts.
This is a space that celebrates small-press publishing and DIY culture. Spend time with the artists, hear the stories behind their work, and support independent creators who are building their own worlds.
This is a space that celebrates small-press publishing and DIY culture. Spend time with the artists, hear the stories behind their work, and support independent creators who are building their own worlds.
Enter Void
Place: STILT AREA
Time: 11:00 AM–8:00 PM
By KC, Pixadoo Visuals Pvt. Ltd.
A monolith of living light. A portal that rewires perception. An immersive encounter designed to spark awe, disorientation, and addictive curiosity.
A monolith of living light. A portal that rewires perception. An immersive encounter designed to spark awe, disorientation, and addictive curiosity.
Sunday 22 Feb
A Story About Fire
Place: 5TH VEDA AUDITORIUM
Time: 3:00 PM–4:30 PM
Wenyu Li
Closing Ceremony
Place: 5TH VEDA AUDITORIUM
Time: 7:00 PM–8:00 PM
Dandelion’s Odyssey
Place: 5TH VEDA AUDITORIUM
Time: 1:00 PM–2:30 PM
Momoko Seto
Little Amélie or the Character of Rain
Place: 5TH VEDA AUDITORIUM
Time: 5:00 PM–6:30 PM
Maïlys Vallade and Liane-Cho Han
The Last Blossom
Place: 5TH VEDA AUDITORIUM
Time: 11:00 AM–12:30 PM
Kinoshita Baku
Distributing Shorts
Place: ANIMELA ADDA
Time: 12:30 PM–1:30 PM
Gaëtan Trigot
This session offers practical insights into the distribution of animated short films, led by Gaëtan Trigot, founder of Pentacle Productions. Drawing from recent films handled by his company, Trigot will unpack effective festival strategies, international circulation pathways, and alternative distribution opportunities. Through real-world examples, participants will gain a clearer understanding of how to position their work, reach wider audiences, and navigate the evolving landscape of short film distribution.
Inspiring Innovators: Industry Meets Education
Place: ANIMELA ADDA
Time: 3:30 PM–4:30 PM
Nina Sabnani, Munjal Shroff, Sneha Das, Monica Wahi
How did a studio, a platform, several film institutes, and community projects come together to create a series on government-supported start-ups? This panel unpacks the unique collaboration behind Inspiring Innovators, a series produced by Graphiti Studio in partnership with Netflix, the Principal Scientific Adviser to the Government of India, and the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting that showcased eight remarkable Indian start-ups.
Lokah and the Journey Beyond
Place: ANIMELA ADDA
Time: 2:00 PM–3:00 PM
Azeem Kattali, Balaram J
This session offers an inside look into the creative journey of Eunoians, exploring our work across different genres and formats. We will take the audience through the making of Lokah, sharing insights into the creative, technical, and collaborative processes behind the film. The session will also feature an exclusive behind-the-scenes teaser from an upcoming animation movie currently in production, followed by an interactive Q&A with the team.
Mic Check: Acting for Animation
Place: ANIMELA ADDA
Time: 5:00 PM–6:00 PM
Mona Shetty, Somnath Pal, Ninad Kamat
Animation creates the body, but the actor provides the heartbeat. This panel explores how characterization can be created effectively through Voices.
This panel is for dreamers and fans exploring the psychology of sound. Join two industry titans shaping Indian cinema to witness the craft that turns drawings into legends. Only at AniMela 2026.
This panel is for dreamers and fans exploring the psychology of sound. Join two industry titans shaping Indian cinema to witness the craft that turns drawings into legends. Only at AniMela 2026.
Savages
Place: ANIMELA ADDA
Time: 6:30 PM–7:30 PM
Claude Barras
World of Live Events
Place: ANIMELA ADDA
Time: 10:30 AM–11:30 AM
VJ Kaycee
The virtual world is no longer confined to screens — it now merges with architecture, light, sound, and scale.
Across concerts, festivals, award shows, and immersive installations, digital creation has moved into physical space. Stages become a living environment. Buildings transform through projection mapping. Lasers draw graphics in the air. Drones animate the sky. Media servers synchronise visuals with audio, lighting, special effects, and execute real-world physics with the virtual world.
In these environments, there is no room for error and no second take. Perspective shifts with position, and the audience becomes part of the experience.
This session explores how creativity, with the help of technology, converges to design experiences that people step into.
Across concerts, festivals, award shows, and immersive installations, digital creation has moved into physical space. Stages become a living environment. Buildings transform through projection mapping. Lasers draw graphics in the air. Drones animate the sky. Media servers synchronise visuals with audio, lighting, special effects, and execute real-world physics with the virtual world.
In these environments, there is no room for error and no second take. Perspective shifts with position, and the audience becomes part of the experience.
This session explores how creativity, with the help of technology, converges to design experiences that people step into.
VR Zone
Place: CLASSROOM 118 AND 119
Time: 10:30 AM–8:00 PM
This VR section brings together recent works from the Institut Français’ Catalogue XR alongside immersive projects by Indian creators. From intimate, sensory experiences to bold experiments with form and space, these works invite viewers to move through, respond to, and shape their own experience of the narrative.
Institut Francais : Catalogue XR
1. Impulse: Playing With Reality
2. Emperor
3. ito-meikyu
4. Monsieur Vincent
5. Insider-Outsider
6. Outrenoir
India: Catalogue XR
1. UNvisible
2. ide to the Station
3. Home Street Home
4. Peck & Shoot
Institut Francais : Catalogue XR
1. Impulse: Playing With Reality
2. Emperor
3. ito-meikyu
4. Monsieur Vincent
5. Insider-Outsider
6. Outrenoir
India: Catalogue XR
1. UNvisible
2. ide to the Station
3. Home Street Home
4. Peck & Shoot
Gaming Zone
Place: E BLOCK - M104 AND M105
Time: 10:30 AM–8:00 PM
This section invites audiences to play a selection of Rich-Narrative Games from independent studios and creators. Through hands-on experience, visitors can explore new worlds, stories, and interactive possibilities, and engage directly with the craft of contemporary game design.
List of Studios:
Carmond Infinity
Frostwood Interactive
Koolgen
Mellow Fox Studio
Monotusk Studio
Redimension
Rudrac
Shivaansh ArtVision
List of Studios:
Carmond Infinity
Frostwood Interactive
Koolgen
Mellow Fox Studio
Monotusk Studio
Redimension
Rudrac
Shivaansh ArtVision
Game Studio Live Demos
Place: E BLOCK - M106
Time: 1:00 PM–6:00 PM
In these special sessions, audiences can watch a game studio founder play and present their work on the big screen. Part live gameplay, part conversation, it offers an inside look into the creative choices made and the stories of the games.
Location-Based Virtual Reality (LBVR) Showcase
Place: E BLOCK LOBBY
Time: 11:00 AM–8:00 PM
Marking their India premiere, the highly anticipated and critically acclaimed Location-Based VR experiences Titanic and Colosseum arrive at AniMela! This section features these two IPs by Small Creative, the Paris-based studio acclaimed for its large-scale, free-roaming VR experiences and Eclipso, an international company at the forefront of presenting cultural adventure and educational LBVR experiences to global audiences. Together, they represent some of the most influential voices shaping the LBVR landscape today.
- Colosseum: The Legendary Arena
Meet gods, senators, and citizens while witnessing Rome's legendary spectacles up close. From the stands of the arena, feel the intensity of the fights of Flamma and the power of the Empire's greatest spectacles. Discover the secrets of Rome, experience the tension of its battles, and immerse yourself in a virtual reality adventure that is as fascinating as it is impressive. Perfect for history buffs and virtual reality enthusiasts alike: Rome as you've never experienced it before.
- Titanic: Echoes from the Past
Deep dive 3,800 meters underwater to the seabed of the Atlantic ocean on a unique quest on board the legendary Ship. With the aid of revolutionary technology, you'll journey back in time to board the Titanic during its maiden voyage. Are you ready to explore today’s shipwreck and uncover the stories and secrets of the past through the candid lens of Titanic's official filmmaker William Harbeck? You will follow him on a breathtaking and informative journey before you meet the iceberg that sealed the ships fate that starry night.
- Colosseum: The Legendary Arena
Meet gods, senators, and citizens while witnessing Rome's legendary spectacles up close. From the stands of the arena, feel the intensity of the fights of Flamma and the power of the Empire's greatest spectacles. Discover the secrets of Rome, experience the tension of its battles, and immerse yourself in a virtual reality adventure that is as fascinating as it is impressive. Perfect for history buffs and virtual reality enthusiasts alike: Rome as you've never experienced it before.
- Titanic: Echoes from the Past
Deep dive 3,800 meters underwater to the seabed of the Atlantic ocean on a unique quest on board the legendary Ship. With the aid of revolutionary technology, you'll journey back in time to board the Titanic during its maiden voyage. Are you ready to explore today’s shipwreck and uncover the stories and secrets of the past through the candid lens of Titanic's official filmmaker William Harbeck? You will follow him on a breathtaking and informative journey before you meet the iceberg that sealed the ships fate that starry night.
Jharokha Showcase
Place: E Block Studio
Time: 11:00 AM–8:00 PM
JHAROKHA (window or balcony) is an immersive virtual reality experience produced by AniMela, with support from Bha Future Co, that invites audiences into India’s folk art traditions through embodied digital storytelling. Conceived as a threshold, the project uses immersive technology to connect folk knowledge systems with contemporary ecological concerns.
KTB by Graphiti Multimedia Pvt. Ltd.
Place: E Block Studio
Time: 11:00 AM–8:00 PM
KTB Kinekomix offers a unique transmedia journey into the world of Indian folk stories, art, and music through an innovative blend of comics and animation. Using a patented interactive format, the experience places storytelling directly in the hands of the viewer. By clicking on illustrated panels, visitors can unlock cinematic sequences, watch static art come alive, and explore the richness of folklore at their own pace.
The experience is based on Krish, Trish and Baltiboy – The Marvelous Minstrel Trio, following three whimsical guides who lead audiences through Indian regional folk tales, traditional art styles, and musical traditions with wit, warmth, and charm.
The experience is based on Krish, Trish and Baltiboy – The Marvelous Minstrel Trio, following three whimsical guides who lead audiences through Indian regional folk tales, traditional art styles, and musical traditions with wit, warmth, and charm.
Nina Sabnani’s Films
Place: E Block Studio
Time: 11:00 AM–8:00 PM
Nina Sabnani
- Hum Chitra Banate Hain (We make images) 2017 | 8:51 mins | India
Narrated by a rooster, the story follows the journey of the Bhil people in India to find a shaman who can bring relief from a devastating drought. After seeing the shaman, he inspires them to paint their homes, leading to rain, bountiful crops, and peace and prosperity.
“Hum Chitra Banate Hain” is an animated interpretation of an origin myth from the Bhil community in Madhya Pradesh, India. For the Bhil community painting is like offering a prayer and the film reveals why. The film is a collaboration between the indigenous artist Sher Singh from the Bhil community and film maker Nina Sabnani where they explore ways of telling together.
The film won the National Award Rajat Kamal for the best animation film for 2016.
- Tanko Bole Chhe (The Stitches Speak) 2009 | 8min | India
An animated documentary which celebrates the art and passion of the Kutch artisans associated with Kala Raksha. The film traces multiple journeys made by the participants towards defining their identities and towards forming the Kala Raksha Trust and the School for Design. The film uses their narrative art of appliqué and embroideries through which they articulate their responses to life, and events as traumatic as the earthquake and as joyful as flying a kite. Through conversations and memories four voices share their involvement in the evolution of a craft tradition.
Narrated by a rooster, the story follows the journey of the Bhil people in India to find a shaman who can bring relief from a devastating drought. After seeing the shaman, he inspires them to paint their homes, leading to rain, bountiful crops, and peace and prosperity.
“Hum Chitra Banate Hain” is an animated interpretation of an origin myth from the Bhil community in Madhya Pradesh, India. For the Bhil community painting is like offering a prayer and the film reveals why. The film is a collaboration between the indigenous artist Sher Singh from the Bhil community and film maker Nina Sabnani where they explore ways of telling together.
The film won the National Award Rajat Kamal for the best animation film for 2016.
- Tanko Bole Chhe (The Stitches Speak) 2009 | 8min | India
An animated documentary which celebrates the art and passion of the Kutch artisans associated with Kala Raksha. The film traces multiple journeys made by the participants towards defining their identities and towards forming the Kala Raksha Trust and the School for Design. The film uses their narrative art of appliqué and embroideries through which they articulate their responses to life, and events as traumatic as the earthquake and as joyful as flying a kite. Through conversations and memories four voices share their involvement in the evolution of a craft tradition.
Behind the Scenes with Midnight Kettle
Place: FOUNDATION HALL 1
Time: 4:30 PM–5:30 PM
Ketan Pal
Ketan Pal, also known as Midnight Kettle, is an independent animation filmmaker who blends humour and personal storytelling through hand-drawn 2D animation. From viral YouTube shorts to heartfelt independent films, his work shows how animated stories can connect with millions online.
At AniMela, he shares his journey of building animation for the internet — the struggles, small wins, and creative breakthroughs along the way. Through behind-the-scene stories from his latest short film Ghughuti Ki Maala and audience-favourite projects like the Super Sidhu series, he talks about finding your voice, reaching beyond your niche, and creating honest work in a trend-driven world.
At AniMela, he shares his journey of building animation for the internet — the struggles, small wins, and creative breakthroughs along the way. Through behind-the-scene stories from his latest short film Ghughuti Ki Maala and audience-favourite projects like the Super Sidhu series, he talks about finding your voice, reaching beyond your niche, and creating honest work in a trend-driven world.
Global Cities and Animation
Place: FOUNDATION HALL 1
Time: 10:30 AM–11:30 AM
Lotte Marie Allen, Shaaz Ahmed, Vivek Nag
A conversation and visual dialogue exploring the parallels and contrasts between global cities, especially New York City and Mumbai. A visual celebration of parallel cities' culture and histories — through projections, animations, and storytelling.
Lotte Marie Allen and Shaaz Ahmed share some of their students’ and their own work through projections and their own creative lens to explore the poetics of Mumbai and New York City!
Lotte Marie Allen and Shaaz Ahmed share some of their students’ and their own work through projections and their own creative lens to explore the poetics of Mumbai and New York City!
Some Oddities of ‘Time’ in Everything
Place: FOUNDATION HALL 1
Time: 12:00 PM–1:00 PM
Prakash Moorthy
We require an unimaginable span of time to explain the origin and existence of our cosmos. Billions of years. And yet, in the strange realm of spooky entanglements, time hardly appears to matter.
Curiously, this resembles what we call ‘suspension of disbelief’… the quiet agreement we make at the beginning of an animated world. We accept that time may stretch, fold, vanish, or make mistakes like in a dream.
When the forest dwelling original people of the Western Ghats were asked how elephants die, they answered: “Elephants don’t die. They lie on their sides at night and explode into butterflies.”
The slow decay, the stillness, the waiting, the scavengers… all that heavy, unpleasant time for maggots to grow wings…removed. In its place is only chrysalis. Wings in the dark. What magic it makes! Death becomes a poem!
Like wood is to the carpenter, surely time is to the maker of tales.
Curiously, this resembles what we call ‘suspension of disbelief’… the quiet agreement we make at the beginning of an animated world. We accept that time may stretch, fold, vanish, or make mistakes like in a dream.
When the forest dwelling original people of the Western Ghats were asked how elephants die, they answered: “Elephants don’t die. They lie on their sides at night and explode into butterflies.”
The slow decay, the stillness, the waiting, the scavengers… all that heavy, unpleasant time for maggots to grow wings…removed. In its place is only chrysalis. Wings in the dark. What magic it makes! Death becomes a poem!
Like wood is to the carpenter, surely time is to the maker of tales.
The Creative Mind Under Pressure
Place: FOUNDATION HALL 1
Time: 3:00 PM–4:00 PM
Dr. Anuradha Kavuri
Creative careers are fueled by passion but often shaped by pressure, deadlines, and self-doubt. In this session, Dr. Anu Radha, a counselling psychologist and psychotherapist with over 18 years of experience, explores how emotional challenges affect creativity, confidence, and well-being in animation, VFX, gaming, and design. Through practical insights and relatable examples, she shares strategies to manage stress, build resilience, and navigate anxiety without suppressing creative expression. Designed for young professionals, this talk offers tools to stay emotionally balanced, mentally strong, and creatively inspired in a high-pressure industry.
Annecy Kids Shorts
Place: FOUNDATION HALL 2
Time: 4:30 PM–5:30 PM
Big Lizard: The Sea Meteorite by Amaël Isnard and Jeanne Meister
Cardboard by Jean-Philippe Vine
Fall Is Again by Gobelins Paris
Forevergreen by Nathan Engelhardt and Jeremy Spears
The Great Annual Party of the Creatures of the Moon by Francis Desharnais
Lena’s Farm by Elena Walf
The Night Boots by Pierre-Luc Granjon
The Night Tunnel by Annechien Strouven
Tsuru by Pedro Anias
A Walk into the Afterlife by Jiyun Jeong
Cardboard by Jean-Philippe Vine
Fall Is Again by Gobelins Paris
Forevergreen by Nathan Engelhardt and Jeremy Spears
The Great Annual Party of the Creatures of the Moon by Francis Desharnais
Lena’s Farm by Elena Walf
The Night Boots by Pierre-Luc Granjon
The Night Tunnel by Annechien Strouven
Tsuru by Pedro Anias
A Walk into the Afterlife by Jiyun Jeong
IDC School of Design Student Programme
Place: FOUNDATION HALL 2
Time: 3:00 PM–4:00 PM
These programmes have been curated by leading Indian design and animation schools from across the country and feature a selection of student animated films from diverse regions and practices. Together, they offer a considered glimpse into emerging voices, varied aesthetics, and the pedagogical approaches shaping animation education in India today.
School of Visual Arts Student Programme
Place: FOUNDATION HALL 2
Time: 1:30 PM–2:30 PM
These programmes have been curated by leading Indian design and animation schools from across the country and feature a selection of student animated films from diverse regions and practices. Together, they offer a considered glimpse into emerging voices, varied aesthetics, and the pedagogical approaches shaping animation education in India today.
SRFTI Student Programme
Place: FOUNDATION HALL 2
Time: 12:00 PM–1:00 PM
These programmes have been curated by leading Indian design and animation schools from across the country and feature a selection of student animated films from diverse regions and practices. Together, they offer a considered glimpse into emerging voices, varied aesthetics, and the pedagogical approaches shaping animation education in India today.
Whistling Woods Student Programme
Place: FOUNDATION HALL 2
Time: 10:30 AM–11:30 AM
These programmes have been curated by leading Indian design and animation schools from across the country and feature a selection of student animated films from diverse regions and practices. Together, they offer a considered glimpse into emerging voices, varied aesthetics, and the pedagogical approaches shaping animation education in India today.
Captain Raaj: Game Presentation
Place: FOUNDATION HALL 3
Time: 3:00 PM–4:00 PM
Studio Carmond Infinity
Through Game Presentations, studio founders will open up their creative worlds to the audience. From the first spark of an idea to building rich story universes, these sessions offer a rare look into how games are imagined, developed, and brought to life: including what’s next, across platforms and transmedia storytelling.
Durga: Game Presentation
Place: FOUNDATION HALL 3
Time: 2:00 PM–3:00 PM
Studio Shivaansh Art Vision
Through Game Presentations, studio founders will open up their creative worlds to the audience. From the first spark of an idea to building rich story universes, these sessions offer a rare look into how games are imagined, developed, and brought to life: including what’s next, across platforms and transmedia storytelling.
Twin Flames: Game Presentation
Place: FOUNDATION HALL 3
Time: 4:00 PM–5:00 PM
Rudrac Studio
Through Game Presentations, studio founders will open up their creative worlds to the audience. From the first spark of an idea to building rich story universes, these sessions offer a rare look into how games are imagined, developed, and brought to life: including what’s next, across platforms and transmedia storytelling.
Artists’ Showcase
Place: STILT AREA
Time: 11:00 AM–8:00 PM
The Comics and Art section returns to AniMela with a vibrant mix of independent creators and fresh voices. Meet comic artists showcasing and selling their self-published books, discover original illustrations and graphic narratives, and explore tables filled with art prints, illustrated journals, collectible merchandise, stickers, and exclusive artist-led T-shirts.
This is a space that celebrates small-press publishing and DIY culture. Spend time with the artists, hear the stories behind their work, and support independent creators who are building their own worlds.
This is a space that celebrates small-press publishing and DIY culture. Spend time with the artists, hear the stories behind their work, and support independent creators who are building their own worlds.
Enter Void
Place: STILT AREA
Time: 11:00 AM–8:00 PM
By KC, Pixadoo Visuals Pvt. Ltd.
A monolith of living light. A portal that rewires perception. An immersive encounter designed to spark awe, disorientation, and addictive curiosity.
A monolith of living light. A portal that rewires perception. An immersive encounter designed to spark awe, disorientation, and addictive curiosity.