Fifth Annual SCAD AnimationFest Lacoste to Return April 16–18
Signature three-day SCADFILM event boasts largest programming schedule to date, featuring screenings and discussions with industry professionals
LACOSTE, France — April 6, 2026 — SCADFILM and the Savannah College of Art and Design are pleased to announce the fifth annual SCAD AnimationFest Lacoste, which returns to the university's study abroad location in France's majestic Provence region April 16–18, 2026. SCAD AnimationFest Lacoste will welcome industry professionals and honored guests for screenings, presentations, portfolio reviews, and master classes. All festival events will take place at SCAD's historic Maison Basse, with films screened at Théâtre du SCAD to play in their native language with French or English subtitles.
"With walls dating back from the 12th century, La Maison Basse is a beautiful setting for creative professionals to share their work with SCAD students and the community," said Cédric Maros, executive director of SCAD Lacoste. "This year we are thrilled to host our most impressive slate of screenings and panels to date, including award-winning titles F1, Genndy Tartakovsky's Primal, and Arco."
Since its inaugural year in 2021, SCAD AnimationFest Lacoste has featured Academy Award-winning films like Flow, screened top short films from Annecy, and welcomed esteemed guests like Disney Imagineer and SCAD alum Alfred Lee (B.F.A., illustration, 2014) and Illumination Entertainment creative director Richard Adenot.
SCAD AnimationFest Lacoste is presented by SCADFILM, the university's leading programming department of events for students and professionals working in animation, film and television, game development, motion media design, immersive reality, and digital media. Animation is the largest of SCAD's preeminent degree programs and has been named a top program in the U.S. year after year by Animation Career Review.
"AnimationFest Lacoste offers SCAD students rare, close-up access to the artists and storytellers behind the work that has inspired them, creating space for real conversations, and creative exchange you simply can't get anywhere else," said Mollie Brock, director of SCADFILM. "We are celebrating the animated works and innovative creators that shaped our childhoods, while discovering the next generation of favorites together."
For more information on the festival, visit the SCAD AnimationFest Lacoste website. Tickets for each event are free for SCAD Card holders and the general public; a reserved ticket is required for each event. Tickets can be reserved online.
CURRENT SCHEDULE
Thursday, April 16
8 p.m. | Screening and Conversation: Little Amélie or the Character of Rain
The Academy Award-nominated Little Amélie or the Character of Rain is a tender and imaginative story that captures the wonder, curiosity, and quiet resilience of childhood. After a miraculous encounter with chocolate ignites Amélie's wild sense of curiosity, she forms a deep attachment to her family's new housekeeper, Nishio-san, and discovers the wonders of nature as well as the emotional truths hidden beneath the surface of her family's life as foreigners in post-war Japan. Through its whimsical lens and deeply felt perspective, Little Amélie invites us into a richly textured world shaped by memory, emotion, and discovery.
Friday, April 17
3 p.m. | SCAD Student Showcase
At SCAD, animation students train in one of the most dynamic and influential fields in entertainment. This selection of student-produced short films highlights the diverse styles and techniques explored in the program, reflecting the creativity and craft SCAD students bring to careers in film, television, and beyond.
5 p.m. | Screening and Conversation: Genndy Tartakovsky's Primal
The third season of Genndy Tartakovsky's Primal continues the story of prehistoric warrior Spear and his unlikely dinosaur companion Fang as they struggle to survive in a brutal, unforgiving world. In the series' most emotional season yet, Primal's bold storytelling takes a darker turn to reveal new layers in Spear's journey. Known for its striking, dialogue-free approach and visceral emotional impact, the acclaimed series continues to push the boundaries of animation with each season.
Following the screening, Studio La Cachette producer Julien Chheng will offer behind-the-scenes insights on the making of the series.
7:30 p.m. | Screening and Alumni Conversation: F1
Academy Award winner F1 immerses viewers in the world of high-speed Formula One racing, where ambition and precision collide on and off the track. Blending intense competition with character-driven storytelling, F1 follows journeyman Sonny Hayes (Brad Pitt), who is offered the chance to return to the highest level of open-wheel racing to mentor rising rookie driver Joshua Pearce (Damson Idris).
Following the screening, lead animator and SCAD alum Jayant Kumar (B.F.A., animation, 2017) will explore how animation was integrated into the filmmaking process and the role it played in shaping the onscreen world of F1.
Saturday, April 18
11 a.m. | Saturday Morning Cartoons with Jeff Marsh
Wake up with Saturday morning cartoons again at this curated lineup of episodes showcasing the wildly inventive and influential work of animation legend Jeff Marsh. From the offbeat brilliance of Rocko's Modern Life to the inventive, music-filled world of Phineas and Ferb and its revival — not to mention Milo Murphy's Law, Hey AJ, and Pete the Cat — the legendary creator, writer, director, showrunner, songwriter, and voice talent has made an incredible impact on modern animated television, bringing humor, heart, and boundless creativity to generations of cartoon lovers.
Following the screening, Marsh will participate in a lively conversation about his remarkable career, the joy of building unforgettable worlds and characters, and the creative spark behind some of the most beloved and enduring animated series of the last few decades.
5 p.m. | Screening and Conversation: Arco
Full of wonder, emotion, and bold visual storytelling, the Academy Award-nominated Arco is a vibrant cinematic experience that blends sci-fi adventure with deeply human stakes. In 2075, Iris witnesses Arco, a mysterious boy in a rainbow suit, fall from the sky. As Iris discovers Arco is from an idyllic far future where time travel is possible, Arco learns that Iris' time is on the verge of ecological collapse. Iris and Arco soon set off on a heartfelt journey as Iris resolves to do whatever it takes to help Arco return home.
Following the screening, Arco producer Félix De Givry will discuss the film's creative origins, its distinctive visual world, and the collaborative process behind its production.
SCADFILM
SCADFILM produces premier events for students and professionals working in film, television, animation, AR/VR, acting, and video production. Audiences experience year-round programming that includes screenings, master classes, and behind-the-scenes presentations from industry luminaries. SCADFILM's events calendar includes SCAD AnimationFest, SCAD TVfest, SCADFILM In Focus, and the SCADFILM Storytellers series.
The preeminent authority in film and television education, SCAD is the only university with professionally run casting offices, located in Atlanta and Savannah. With more than 8,100 SCAD students and alumni working in animation, entertainment, film, media production, writing, editing, broadcast media, and performing arts — with over 2,800 in Georgia alone — SCAD helps drive the multibillion-dollar film and television industry across the state, Business Facilities Magazine's No. 1 region for film production. Additionally, SCAD students, alumni, and faculty have won Oscars, Grammys, Emmys, Golden Reels, Tonys, Annies, and more.
SCAD Lacoste
SCAD Lacoste is a residential study-abroad location in France, offering immersion in the history and culture of Provence. Courses each quarter are varied to apply to all SCAD areas of study and are taught by SCAD professors. Lacoste is a beautifully preserved medieval village and historic destination for artists, known for its extraordinary light and exquisite pastoral setting. SCAD Lacoste structures dating from the ninth to the 19th centuries feature cutting-edge contemporary amenities.
SCAD Lacoste resources include a library, a gallery, a dining hall, and housing, as well as teaching studios dedicated to painting, drawing, sculpture, printmaking, photography, and digital imaging. Students interact with visiting artists, take field trips to museums and historic sites in the area, and exhibit their work at a local vernissage. Celebrated artists and designers visit with SCAD Lacoste students throughout the year. Notable guests have included CFDA Award-winning fashion designer Jean Paul Gaultier; artist and illustrator Ruben Toledo; Academy Award-winning costumer designer Janty Yates; former Walt Disney Imagineering president Bob Weis; Vogue editor Chioma Nnadi; Academy Award-winning actor Jeremy Irons; Academy Award-nominated director Jean-Pierre Jeunet; interior and furniture designer Ilse Crawford; Golden Globe Award-winning actor Aaron Taylor-Johnson; architect Joey Shimoda; fashion designer Stefano Pilati; and Emmy Award-winning actor and writer Phoebe Waller-Bridge.
SCAD: The University for Creative Careers
SCAD is a private, nonprofit, accredited university, offering 100 graduate and undergraduate degree programs across locations in Atlanta and Savannah, Georgia; Lacoste, France; and online via SCADnow. SCAD enrolls approximately 18,500 undergraduate and graduate students from more than 100 countries. The future-minded SCAD curriculum engages professional-level technology and myriad advanced learning resources, affording students opportunities for internships, professional certifications, and real-world assignments with corporate partners through SCADpro, the university's renowned research lab and prototype generator. SCAD has earned top rankings for degree programs in interior design, architecture, film, fashion, digital media, and more. Career success is woven into every fiber of the university, resulting in a superior alumni employment rate. A 2025 study found that 99% of recent SCAD graduates were employed, pursuing further education, or both within 12 months of graduation. SCAD provides students and alumni with ongoing career support through personal coaching, alumni programs, a professional presentation studio, and more.
Media Contacts
Cédric Maros
Executive Director, SCAD Lacoste
[email protected]
Wendy Gardner
Sr. Director, Public Relations
[email protected]