It has been announced that the second edition of the international animation film festival "Aichi-Nagoya International Animation Film Festival (ANIAFF)" will be held in Nagoya from November 13th to 18th.
The film festival was established in Nagoya in December 2025. The first edition featured a special screening of 11 films, including rare early works by director Mamoru Hosoda, an all-night screening with director Goro Taniguchi, who hails from Aichi Prefecture, and a New Wave section featuring films such as "Mobile Police Patlabor Early Days" and "BLAME!", which generated considerable buzz.
The second edition will once again bring together cutting-edge animation works from around the world and from various regions. Many works will be screened at Midland Square Cinema, Midland Square Cinema 2, and other venues in Nagoya City, in various formats including the International Feature Film Competition, Director Focus, Special Screenings, All-Night Screenings, Invited Films, and Event Screenings. The Aichi-Nagoya Animation Conference 2026 will also feature talks and symposiums with a variety of guests. Submissions for the International Feature Film Competition have now opened.
◇Comment from General Producer Taro Maki
The inaugural ANIAFF, with its diverse guest appearances from both Japan and abroad, allowed us to reaffirm the diversity and international nature of animation. We hope you will share our desire to further strengthen animation's position within the content business. We ask for your support in helping ANIAFF become a world-renowned international animation film festival.
◇Comment from Festival Director Shinichiro Inoue
The first ANIAFF was filled with numerous encounters. I had the opportunity to speak with Aubrey Mintz, Executive Director of the International Animated Film Association "ASIFA-Hollywood," who came to Japan as one of the judges, and we held a keynote talk session together. We were able to confirm common challenges and different issues in the animation industries of Japan and the United States. At the talk session following the screening of "Summer Wars," in which director Mamoru Hosoda appeared as part of the Directors' Focus, we were able to invite actor Ryunosuke Kamiki, who voiced the lead character in the film, as a surprise guest. During the film festival, I was fortunate to have the opportunity to speak with guests from Japan and abroad in various places, and I had fulfilling days. The greatest reward was that the festival was able to function not only as a screening of films, but also as a place for interaction with people involved in the animation industry.
◇Comment from Artistic Director Naoshi Sudo
The first ANIAFF film festival was a great success, thanks to the many films, guests, and participants. We will build on this success for the second festival and further explore the possibilities of animation. We aim to provide a comprehensive overview of the current state of animation by transcending all boundaries of "borders," "genres," and "expressive techniques." We strive for "anything goes"! That is ANIAFF. We look forward to seeing you at the second festival in November 2026.
