Photo : VILLE ANNECY/Q. Trillot
In just six months' time, the Cité internationale du cinéma d'animation will open its doors in Annecy, giving the world a brand-new venue dedicated to animated filmmaking.
As part of this ambition, CITIA has announced the creation of an endowment fund to enable the Cité to operate, share knowledge and inspire.
Designed to highlight French and international excellence in animation film, the Cité will welcome diverse audiences and ensure that this art form remains firmly rooted in our living heritage.
With its annual exhibitions, animation film museum, cinema, artists residency programmes and moving images education facilities, the Cité aspires to become a leading cultural venue, reflecting the dynamism and creativity of the animation industry.
Establishing an endowment fund for the Cité internationale du cinéma d'animation is intended to cultivate a network of dedicated patrons invested in CITIA. The goal is to support a cultural initiative centred on knowledge transfer, accessibility and fostering emerging creative work.
Most importantly, this endowment fund will finance exhibitions, moving images education initiatives and the running of the Cité's various artists residency programmes.
Through their donations, patrons will contribute to founding a venue that is set to become a benchmark in the world of animation. As it prepares to open its doors, the Cité is entering a decisive phase where each of these commitments matters.
The first patrons have joined the adventure
The first two patrons have already decided to support this initiative and contribute to the Cité's opening.
By becoming a patron of the Cité, the Banque Populaire Auvergne Rhône Alpes, a long-standing partner of the Annecy Festival, is stepping up its support and renewing its loyal commitment to CITIA.
Ankama, a prominent French animation and video game company, has become a founding patron, demonstrating its profound commitment to the advancement and future of animated production.
Promoting the Cité worldwide
To develop the Cité's international reach, the Endowment Fund is now listed on the "Friends of Fondation de France" portal, giving American donors the opportunity to support this ambitious French cultural project.
With the support of the Fondation de France, CITIA is also working to set up similar schemes in other parts of the world.
Discussions are currently in progress with leading international animation studios, eager to contribute to the development of a site destined to make its mark on the history of global animation.
A call to commit
Supporting the Cité means helping to write a new chapter in the history of animated film. You will be giving young people, artists and audiences a space that reflects their aspirations.
Through this endowment fund, CITIA is calling on companies, foundations and individuals who wish to get involved and play a part in creating a landmark cultural venue.
Start today and join those who will make the Cité internationale du cinéma d'animation a vibrant, collaborative and exemplary site.
"In six months, the Cité internationale du cinéma d'animation will open its doors. The project is ambitious, but more importantly, it represents a historic opportunity. Our generation has the responsibility and honour of inaugurating a site that exemplifies French cultural excellence in its most vibrant, rigorous and progressive form.
The Cité will be a hub for both present and future generations. A place for young people, for those who are learning, dreaming, inventing and creating. We hold the responsibility to offer them a space that meets the calibre of their ambitions.
In this final year before the opening, CITIA will rely on everyone's support more than ever. By supporting the Cité, you are contributing to a unique project that will be a source of pride for our region and for France as a whole."
Mickaël Marin, CEO of CITIA
"In its role as the regional bank invested in cinema, supporting the creation of the Cité internationale du cinéma d'animation in Annecy was a logical step for BPAURA and its Foundation, for whom culture is one of the main priorities. Having been involved in the image and creative industries sector for over 20 years, a hallmark of the region's cultural and economic influence, we are delighted and proud to be writing this new chapter with CITIA by participating in the creation of a major heritage, cultural and regional landmark in line with our values as a cooperative bank."
Sandrine Richard, Director of Internal and Institutional Communication Banque Populaire Auvergne Rhône Alpes
"CITIA has always supported creators and promoted animation on a global scale. For Ankama, it feels entirely fitting to support the launch of the Cité internationale du cinéma d'animation: it's also a way of saying thank you to an organisation that has greatly contributed to the growth of our industry.
We envision this Cité as a vibrant place that encourages creativity, learning, and dreaming. It will be a remarkable environment where new careers can begin, creative worlds will take shape, and imaginations will freely flourish.
We are immensely proud to contribute to this new chapter in the history of animation."
Anthony Roux, CEO and Co-Founder of Ankama
About CITIA
Since 1960, the Annecy International Animation Film Festival celebrates the richness and diversity of global animation in all its many forms. Organised by CITIA, it is the first animation film festival in the world.
In 2026, this international reach will take on a whole new dimension with an extraordinary year-round venue: the Cité internationale du cinéma d'animation. The grand opening will take place in June, during the next Festival.
