ASIFA (Association Internationale du Film d’Animation) was founded in 1960 in Annecy, France as an association of individual animation artists.

Today ASIFA can be described as an international network of numerous local ASIFA Chapters, which have developed their own local identities and special activities. These ‘local’ ASIFA Chapters send their representatives to the ASIFA Board, where all important decisions are made. The key board positions, including President, Vice-Presidents, General Secretary, Treasurer and all additional functionaries are elected for three years by the ASIFA Board. All ASIFA Members can participate in the democratic decision processes.

Compared to the early years of ASIFA, when the Board Members were only Animation Artists, the ASIFA Board today is composed of animation specialists from very different backgrounds. They are animation artists, producers, journalists, teachers, workshop leaders, festival directors, employees of local ASIFA Groups, and so forth.

ASIFA has adapted its activities during the decades. While it was important during the first decades to start the first animation festivals of the world (Annecy, Zagreb, Hiroshima, Espinho, etc.), to promote the art of animation with the first international printed magazine about animation or to provide information about Animation Schools internationally, ASIFA has developed different activities today.

One of the most successful new projects is the International Animation Day (28th October), a project that extends to non-ASIFA groups. The international Animation Workshop Group (AWG) continues to do its successful work with children’s workshops, and also the famous ASIFA Prize, founded in 1985, is given annually to outstanding personalities who have supported the art of animation.

With this website, you are invited to contribute to ASIFA with your ideas, opinions, news and critique.