ANIAFF Announces Jury for the International Feature Film Competition

Tokyo, Japan – November 1, 2026 – The Aichi Nagoya International Animation Film Festival (ANIAFF) has announced the three jury members for its International Feature Film Competition at the festival's second edition, taking place November 13–18, 2026, in Nagoya, Aichi Prefecture, Japan.

The jury brings together three professionals with diverse backgrounds in animation, filmmaking, and the international animation scene:

Rupert Bottenberg
Based in Montreal, Canada, Rupert Bottenberg has served as Director of Animation Plus, the animation section of Fantasia International Film Festival, since 2014. His work spans comics, visual arts, music journalism, and animation.

Yūichi Itō
An animation director known for combining stop-motion animation and visual effects, Yūichi Itō founded I.TOON Ltd. in 1995. His work includes the NHK Educational TV series “Knyacki!”, the “Pon de Lion” commercials, and Hikaru Utada's music video “traveling.” He is also a professor at Tokyo University of the Arts.

Taiki Sakurai
Taiki Sakurai began his career as a screenwriter at Production I.G, working on “Ghost in the Shell: Stand Alone Complex.” He later led Netflix's anime creative team for six years before founding Salamander Pictures in 2023.

Full jury profiles and comments:
https://aniaff.com/en/news/topics-en/20261028/post-1197-en/

Other Highlights
The festival will also present a special program, “AI as Portrayed in Animation,” featuring a discussion between game AI expert Yoichiro Miyake and director Seiji Mizushima, alongside screenings exploring depictions of AI in animation, including “RAKUEN TSUIHO -Impelled by 10th Anniversary-” and Ari Folman's “The Congress.”

Guest talks will also feature internationally renowned contemporary artist Takashi Murakami and anime director Kunihiko Ikuhara. Other highlights include “Giovanni's Island,” directed by Mizuho Nishikubo and produced by jury member Taiki Sakurai, as well as the independent animated works “Slaying Holofernes” and “echo,” both accompanied by talks with the filmmakers and other guests.

For more details about ANIAFF, visit:
https://aniaff.com/en/

The second edition of ANIAFF will take place November 13–18, 2026, in Nagoya, Aichi Prefecture, Japan.

About ANIAFF
Held in Nagoya, Aichi Prefecture, Japan, the Aichi Nagoya International Animation Film Festival (ANIAFF) aims to contribute to the development of animation culture and industry worldwide under its guiding principle, “Creators First.” The festival brings together creators and producers from around the world through screenings, talks, conferences, workshops, and industry networking, creating opportunities for established and emerging talents to connect and collaborate.