For the fifth consecutive year, Nigerian studios are returning to Annecy with the most outstanding creative animation projects, along with an animation short selected in official competition.

This year, over 15 Nigerian animation studios will take part in the 2026 edition of the Annecy International Animation Film Market (MIFA), where they will present and pitch their projects to international industry professionals.

This year, the short stop animation movie The Travails of Ajadi is selected in official competition. Directed by Adeoye Adetunji, this story is about a frustrated fisherman, who, after surviving a violent storm at sea, confronts a divine voice to demand answers for his life of hardship, only to discover that his suffering was a divine preparation for his true purpose.

Widely regarded as the world’s leading event dedicated to animation, the Annecy International Animation Film Festival is held each year in the picturesque French Alps and brings together over 17,000 professionals from across the global animation industry.

For the 2026 edition, MIFA has once again chosen to shine a spotlight on Nigeria, reaffirming its commitmentto supporting emerging talent from the country.

This official selection is a recognition that reflects the growing importance of Nigeria’s animation sector, which is increasingly contributing to both employment creation and economic growth.

Over the years, MIFA has closely followed the development of animation across Africa, with Nigeria consistently standing out for the vitality of its creative ecosystem and the quality of its talent.

Since 2022, the French Embassy in Nigeria and Animation Nigeria have actively supported the sector and helped highlight the remarkable potential of Nigerian creators.

These engagements have also demonstrated the importance of sustained capacity-building initiatives to ensure that local professionals are equipped to compete successfully in an increasingly demanding international marketplace.

For the fifth consecutive year, the French Embassy in Nigeria will host a dedicated Nigerian pavilion at MIFA. Organised in partnership with Animation Nigeria, the pavilion will showcase over fifty Nigerian studios and provide them with a unique platform to present their projects and engage with French and international producers, broadcasters, distributors and investors.

Through this initiative, the French Embassy continues to support the growth of Nigeria’s animation industry by encouraging artistic excellence, strengthening storytelling capabilities and facilitating international exposure.

The objective is to help Nigerian creators and studios further develop their projects while enhancingtheir competitiveness on the global stage.

According to Christophe Pécot, Regional Audiovisual Attaché at the French Embassy in Nigeria; “For the fifth consecutive year, we are proud to support the Nigerian animation industry through dedicated funding mechanisms. In 2026, the Création Africa programme once again enables us foster entrepreneurship within the cultural and creative industries.

Funded by the French Ministry for Europe and Foreign Affairs, the programme focuses on professional capacity building and skills development across the sector. Since 2022, four Franco-Nigerian animation co-productions have been signed, demonstrating the growing strength of collaboration between our two countries. We hope that this year’s participation at Annecy will lead to new partnerships and further opportunities for Nigerian talent to reach international audiences.”

Mbuotidem Johnson, representative of Animation Nigeria, expressed his appreciation:
”As a network of skilled professionals, Animation Nigeria is deeply grateful for our ongoing partnership with the French government, which has played a vital role in nurturing the local animation industry and creating significant opportunities for our members. This collaboration has allowed us showcase our work on the global stage and positioned Nigerian animation prominently on the world map. It has also facilitated training in critical skills and enhanced collaboration within the industry. Through these efforts, the perception of Nigerian animation is changing and the world is taking notice. Our inclusion in the Annecy focus on Nigeria is a testament to that progress. As the African proverb goes, ‘It takes a village to raise a child.’ We recognise that you have been a major part of our village, and for that, we are truly grateful.”