As part of the 110th anniversary celebrations of Hungarian animation, Hungary will take center stage at the Annecy Festival, set to take place from June 8, 2025. This year, the festival will shine a spotlight on Hungary’s vibrant animation industry, its rich history, renowned creators, studios, and producers while also emphasizing the presentation of emerging talent.

The newly unveiled visual identity masterfully blends Annecy’s globally recognized iconic rabbit symbol with key elements of Hungarian visual culture, while also embodying a fresh and contemporary approach.

“The Annecy Festival is known worldwide, so it was a great honor to take part in this project. Beyond the excitement of the theme, the real challenge was to create a visual concept that simultaneously reflects the uniqueness of the festival and the distinctive qualities of Hungarian animation,” said Levente Szabó, illustrator and creator of the official identity.

Levente Szabó, the designer behind the new identity, is an internationally recognized freelance graphic designer and illustrator who graduated from MOME’s graphic design program. Since 2006, he has worked on numerous high-profile projects, including designing the BAFTA Awards posters in 2016.

“While Levente Szabó has dressed the iconic Annecy rabbit in Hungary’s national colors, the festival’s official poster will also be unveiled in the coming days! By honoring Hungarian animation, we celebrate a rich cultural tradition that continues to evolve from generation to generation,” stated Marcel Jean, Artistic Director of the Annecy Festival.

“The introduction of the official Hungarian visual identity marks the beginning of an exciting and eventful period, setting the stage for the festival preparations. Throughout this journey, Hungary’s entire animation sector – its esteemed legacy and promising future will take the spotlight.” – noted Csaba Káel Government Commissioner for the Development of the Hungarian Film Industry.

As part of the lead-up to the festival, Friss Hús, with the support of the National Film Institute, is organizing a pitch forum to select young Hungarian talents who will present their projects in Annecy. A pre-selection jury has already chosen 12 projects, which were showcased at the first-ever Hungarian Animation Pitch Forum on March 28, 2025, at Budapest’s Toldi Cinema.

Additionally, the festival organizers have recently announced their short film selection for the world’s leading animation festival. Among the invited films are KUTYAFÜL by Péter Vácz, supported by the National Film Institute, CAPRICCIO by Gábor Ulrich, and THE LAST THROW, a MOME graduation film by Anna Tőkés.

Hungary’s distinguished presence at the Annecy International Animation Film Festival was initiated by the National Film Institute to commemorate the 110th anniversary of Hungarian animation.