As part of Vrijplaats Animation, that kicked off earlier this year, FilmForward and Kaboom Animation Festival present this meet-up for animation professionals. With a screening of Ugo Bienvenu’s Arco, (2025), and an after talk plus networking drinks.
In 2075, a ten year old girl, Iris, witnesses Arco, a mysterious boy in a rainbow suit, fall from the sky. Arco comes from an idyllic far future where time travel is possible. Becoming fast friends, the two young children embark on a thrilling adventure to return Arco safely back to his home.
Arco is Ugo Bienvenu’s first feature film. Watch the trailer for Arco here. The animation was in the Official Selection at the 2025 Cannes Film Festival, subsequently winning the Cristal for Best Film at the Annecy International Animation Film Festival, as well as Best Film at the Champs-Elysées Film Festival. Arco had its Dutch premiere last week at Cinekid Festival in Amsterdam.
For this Animation meet-up we’re screening Arco exclusively in LAB111 with and for animation professionals. There will be an after talk and networking drinks after the film. This meet-up is open to all animation professionals, whether you’ve been in the industry for over 20 years or just finished your first film. Other film professionals and cinephiles are welcome too.
The Animation Meet-Up is a joint effort by FilmForward and Kaboom Animation Festival, as part of the public programming for the Vrijplaats Animation: FilmForwards’ yearly residency trajectory that is all about animation this year. The programme is co-sponsored by VEVAM Fonds. This event is made possible by Goodfellas and Independent Films.
Practical info
Date: Thursday 4 December
Time: 19.00 to 21.00 (film, after talk, and drinks)
Location: LAB111, Arie Biemondstraat 111, Amsterdam
Costs: 11,50 euro excl. VAT, including a drink
About director Ugo Bienvenu
Ugo Bienvenu is a Paris-based illustrator, director, screenwriter, comic book author, producer, publisher, art director, and entrepreneur. Raised in Guatemala, Chad, and Mexico, he moved to France at 15 to study at École Estienne, later attending Gobelins, CalArts, Les Arts Décoratifs de Paris, and Animation Sans Frontières.
As an illustrator, he has worked with major press outlets, publishers, musicians, and luxury brands. Since 2019, he has illustrated and designed extensively for Hermès. His acclaimed comic book Préférence Système won the Angoulême Critics’ Prize in 2019.
As a publisher, he has released works by over a dozen contemporary artists and contributed to the revival of Métal Hurlant. Through his production company Remembers, co-founded with Felix de Givry, he has produced numerous films, music videos (The Strokes, Polo and Pan, The Weeknd), series (Canal+), and advertising campaigns (Hermès, Chanel, Tiffany, and Louis Vuitton). He has also co-produced feature films by Bertrand Bonello and Félix de Givry.
As a director, Bienvenu premiered his first feature film Arco as an Official Selection at the 2025 Cannes Film Festival, subsequently winning the Cristal for Best Film at the Annecy International Animation Film Festival, as well as Best Film at the Champs-Elysées Film Festival.