MoPA in New York: 5 Short Films at the Animation First Festival

From January 21 to 26, 4th-year students from MoPA had the honor of participating in the Animation First Festival, the largest event dedicated to French-speaking animation in the United States. Organized by the French Institute Alliance Française (FIAF) in New York, this festival highlights each year the richness of animated creations from France, Switzerland, Quebec, and Belgium.

For its 8th edition, the festival placed a special focus on Swiss animation. It was within this context that MoPA students were invited to take on an ambitious challenge: to produce 45-second “bumper films” that would be screened before the festival’s feature and short films.

This task was anything but ordinary. These mini-films had to highlight the connection between Switzerland and New York, embody the uniqueness of French animation, and fit the short format requirements. Divided into five groups, the students had seven weeks to design, produce, and finalize these 3D animated films, which were shown to an audience of professionals and enthusiasts.

The project was carried out like a true professional commission, with artistic, technical, and time constraints. A collaboration with MAAAV (Master of Applied Music for Visual Arts) students enriched each film with a custom soundscape.

Through this project, students not only honed their artistic skills but also learned to work as a team, follow a brief, and produce under time pressure—just like in a real-world production.

Each film was screened several times as part of the official Animation First Festival program, right before each session. A valuable spotlight—and for many of these young talents, a first experience presenting their work internationally.

Discover the five films created by our students:

 

Louis BOUET, Ariane COMBALUZIER, Marine MONBOISSET, Samantha NEMETH, Noémie PETTE, Sharon RECCHIA, Léa RENARD, Julien ROGAR, Jeanne-Rose GOMBERT-PFISTER

Music by Théophile YVERT

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Sydney ANDJEL, Louis LEPESANT, Melina LIN, Charlotte MUS, David Ezéchias OPOH, Ludmila FLACHAIRE, Arthur PIRO, Justine TERRASSE

Music by Eloïse GERMAIN and sound design by Manda RAZAKAMANANTSOA

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Réalisateurs : Arwen BOISLARD, Anaëlle BOYER, Julie DUMOLLARD, Romain MAYRAND, Pauline PETIT, Mélissa PARLATO, Bluenn ROUZIC, Kimthu SICART, Zhen LI

Music by Foucaulf DESROUSSEAUX, Sound design by Mélissa PARLATO

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Alyssa IBANEZ, Quentin PISAPIA, Hugo LAIZET, David SOBOL, Zoé POSNIC AUBRY, Florence SIMON, Tanguy DRAPIER, Corto CARRIERE, Ruoqi KANG

Music by Fabien REVIRE

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Samuel BRAULT, Claire CAPARROS, Tiphaine CHABANNE, Lucas COSTA, Erwan DROUOT, Mathis LOUDJANI, Georges MATROT, Gabriel PIERRE-JEAN, Deborah SANS

Music by Théophile YVERT