The 18th ReA (ReAnimania International Animation Film and Comics Art) Festival will take place in Yerevan from November 7 to 14, 2026.
Audiences can once again look forward to a week packed with animated film screenings, internationally recognized professionals, exhibitions, meetings with leading figures in the industry, and many other new and exciting events.
The festival’s official opening ceremony will take place on November 7 at the Cinema House. The opening film will be Viva Carmen!, an animated musical drama directed by French filmmaker Sébastien Laudenbach.
The competition program features some of the world’s best feature-length animated films of 2026, including The Iron Boy by French director Louis Clichy, Looking for Lucy by French director Olivier Clert, The Violinist by directors Erwin Hahn and Raúl García, We are Aliens by Kohei Kadowaki, Tangles by Leah Nelson, The Treasure of Barracuda by Adrià García, Decorado by Alberto Vázquez, and, of course, Viva Carmen! by French director Sébastien Laudenbach.
This year’s official festival poster was created by Zaven Najjar, a renowned French animation director and illustrator of Lebanese descent. The poster draws inspiration from one of the most magical creatures in Armenian mythology: the Aralez, a winged dog. According to Armenian legends, these mythical spirits possessed the power to restore life. They would descend onto battlefields and revive fallen heroes by licking their wounds.
For the first time in Armenia, the ReA Festival has introduced a digital accreditation system, a format widely used at international festivals. The new system offers participants a more convenient way to attend festival events.
ReAComics Exhibition
Beginning on the festival’s opening day, visitors can explore the ReAComics exhibition on the second floor of the Cinema House of Armenia. The exhibition will feature comics and graphic storytelling works by both established artists and emerging creators.
This year’s exhibition will include works submitted to the fourth ReA National Comics Competition, along with several special presentations and events:
* The launch of Jasmine and Bimbim, a book by Sofia Mirzoyan, last year’s competition winner.
* An exhibition of posters from Jordan Mechner’s graphic novel Replay, with the author attending in person and offering a book-signing opportunity.
* The launch of Wrinkles by Paco Roca.
* An exhibition of posters from Art Spiegelman’s graphic novel Maus.
* About Each Other, an exhibition featuring final projects by students of the Academy of Fine Arts’ comics and graphic storytelling course.
MarAni: Market of Animation
One of the festival’s key components is MarAni (Market of Animation), a professional forum for industry representatives. It is the region’s largest professional market and event dedicated to animation, comics, gaming, and visual arts.
MarAni will take place from November 9 to 11 at the Armenian General Benevolent Union (AGBU).
This year’s CoReAct co-production platform will feature 12 projects by Armenian animators. Participants will present their projects to an international jury and take part in professional discussions and creative exchanges.
ReA Academy Lab
For the first time, the ReA Festival, with the support of the H. Hovnanian Family Foundation, is organizing ReA Academy Lab, a program designed for producers, screenwriters, and visual artists.
The program targets mid-career professionals seeking to develop their skills to an international standard.
The lab aims to strengthen professional expertise, introduce participants to international production and co-production practices, and build connections between Armenia’s creative community and the global animation industry.
ReA Academy Lab is also supported by the Office of the High Commissioner for Diaspora Affairs of the Republic of Armenia. Its involvement aims to engage Armenian diaspora professionals, facilitate the transfer of their knowledge and experience to specialists in Armenia, and encourage professional collaboration.
Another supporter is hosq, a Yerevan-based international cultural foundation that promotes the development of creative industries by bringing together artists and creative talent through laboratories, educational programs, and professional networks.
Serge Avedikian Film Retrospective
The festival’s special events do not end there.
As part of the ReA International Animation Film and Comics Art Festival, the Cinema Foundation of Armenia will present a retrospective of films by renowned French-Armenian director and actor Serge Avedikian.
The program’s official opening ceremony will take place on November 9 at 17:00 at Nairi Cinema.
Serge Avedikian will attend the opening ceremony in person.
Arcane: League of Legends Exhibition
From November 8 to 28, the ReA Festival, in collaboration with Rambalkoshe, will present the Arcane: League of Legends exhibition in Armenia for the first time.
Visitors will have an opportunity to immerse themselves in the distinctive creative world of the internationally acclaimed animated series.
Jazz for Kids Concert
This year, the festival has also prepared a special event for music lovers.
On November 14, the Cinema House will host the JAZZ for KIDS concert, organized by the ReA Festival and ReAct Production under the patronage of Yerevan Municipality and with the support of the Ministry of Education, Science, Culture and Sports.
The concert will combine live musical performances with animated films projected onto a large screen.
The project, which has already become popular among young audiences, was created by jazz musician Karen Grigoryan.
Workshops and Masterclasses
The festival will once again offer a wide range of workshops and professional learning opportunities.
Illustrator, character concept artist, and art director Igor Heras Fernández will share his professional experience, alongside Jordan Mechner, graphic novelist, illustrator, screenwriter, and creator of the legendary Prince of Persia video game series, and animation artist Armin Taghdisirad.
Animator Dan Franke will deliver a lecture, while artist Diana Yeghikyan will lead a masterclass.
Festival Sponsors and Partners
The 18th ReA (ReAnimania International Animation Film and Comics Art) Festival is held under the main patronage of Yerevan Municipality and with the support of the Ministry of Education, Science, Culture and Sports of the Republic of Armenia.
The festival is also supported by the Office of the High Commissioner for Diaspora Affairs of the Republic of Armenia, the Embassy of France in Armenia, the French Institute in Armenia, the Council of Europe’s Eurimages Fund, the Goethe-Institut in Yerevan, the H. Hovnanian Family Foundation, the Office of the Kingdom of Spain in Armenia, and Acción Cultural Española (AC/E).
The Team of the 18th ReA (ReAnimania International Animation Film and Comics Art) Festival
