ANNECY 2026: PIANO SANO’S HIGHLIGHTS
Piano Sano at Annecy 2026 : milestones to remember
From June 22 to 25, the Piano Sano team was in Annecy for the International Animation Film Festival and its professional market, MIFA. An intense, inspiring week — full of encounters, and punctuated by several defining moments around our animated series Sam & Watson.
The MIFA Pitch
This year, MIFA received over eight hundred project submissions for its Pitches selection. Of those, only forty-eight were given the opportunity to present in front of industry professionals. Being among them is, in itself, a meaningful achievement, and one we didn’t take lightly.
Sam & Watson was selected in the TV Series & Specials category, alongside projects from around the world. But MIFA is so much more than a competition: it’s a space for dialogue. We had the chance to connect with fellow selected projects across all categories — documentary, feature film, short film, immersive works, and graduation films — and those conversations, often spontaneous, are part of what makes this market so singular.
At the end of the pitches, we were thrilled to learn that Sam & Watson had received the Titra Film Prize. A heartfelt thank you to the entire Titra Film team for this recognition — your enthusiasm for the project means the world to us, and reminds us that Sam & Watson has a story worth telling.
The France Télévisions Press Conference
Annecy also brought a very special moment: the France Télévisions press conference, during which the broadcaster presented their upcoming animation projects. Seeing Sam & Watson introduced in that setting, alongside France Télévisions’ broader editorial vision for the years ahead, was both moving and energising. A huge thank you to France Télévisions for their support and the trust they have placed in this project from the very beginning.
Thank you
A week like this one doesn’t happen alone. Thank you to our team on the ground ; Mor Israeli, Ciaran Murtagh, Andrew Barnett-Jones, and many more — for their commitment and energy throughout the week. Thank you to the Annecy Festival and the MIFA team for their invitation, their professionalism, and the exceptional conditions they created for every project in the selection. And thank you to everyone we had the chance to cross paths with, meet, and listen to this week. These exchanges fuel the work, and leave us more excited than ever about upcoming films and series.
See you next year, Annecy !