The ninth edition of Los Angeles' Animation Is Film Festival will run October 16-19, with most screenings at the TCL Chinese 6 Theatres in Hollywood, and for the first time it will open with an animated series rather than a feature.

The festival kicks off with the world-first theatrical premiere of the first two episodes of Dana Terrace's "Knights of Guinevere," following the online debut of Episode 1.02.

"We're thrilled to kick off another lively, animated weekend of the year's very best with a special theatrical presentation of Dana Terrace's 'Knights of Guinevere,'" said Matt Kaszanek, Animation Is Film director. "Dana is the artist behind one of the most beloved animated series of this decade. So naturally, it is with otherworldly excitement that we embrace her return to showrunning with a big-screen presentation of this visionary series."

Terrace is best known as the creator of Disney Channel's "The Owl House." Her new series opens a program that includes nine films in competition, many of them positioned among the year's animated Oscar contenders.

The competition slate features Louis Clichy's "Iron Boy," winner of the Un Certain Regard Special Jury Prize at Cannes and the Jury Award and Audience Award at Annecy, arriving fresh from screenings at the Toronto and New York Film Festivals. Leah Nelson's "Tangles," which premiered at Cannes, also competes, alongside "Julián," the latest feature from Irish studio Cartoon Saloon.

Further competition entries include the queer Cannes and Annecy favorite "Jim Queen," the North American premiere of "Ghost — End of Night," Brazil's hand-drawn "O Filho Da Puta (Son of a Bitch)," and Annecy Cristal winner "The Violinist." "Viva Carmen!" and "Cherry and Virgin" complete the nine-film lineup.

Beyond the competition, the festival's schedule spans studio presentations, retrospective screenings, filmmaker talks, and works-in-progress programs. A conversation with the founders of Cartoon Saloon will mark 25 years of the studio. Walt Disney Animation will offer a behind-the-scenes look at its upcoming "Hexed."

Retrospective highlights include a rare theatrical presentation of Paramount's 2026 hit "Avatar Aang: The Last Airbender" and a screening of Yoshiaki Kawajiri's 2000 cult classic "Vampire Hunter D: Bloodlust." Matt Braly's "Clara and the Below" receives a work-in-progress presentation.

The festival takes place one week before AFI Fest occupies the same Hollywood venue, positioning Animation Is Film as an early stop on the animation awards trail. The full slate is available on the festival's website.