Minions & Monsters Opens Annecy 2026 Festival
SkimNews Take
Annecy's consistent role in premiering Illumination's tentpole films demonstrates its established influence as a critical early taste-maker and promotional platform for major studio animation.
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- Minions & Monsters opens the 2026 Annecy International Animation Film Festival on June 21-27, debuting worldwide on July 1.
- Pierre Coffin directs the third Minions film and also voices the Minions, continuing his long-term partnership with Illumination.
- Illumination builds on its Annecy legacy, having premiered Despicable Me in 2010, opened the festival in 2022, and earning a Golden Ticket award for CEO Chris Meledandri in 2023.
Why it matters: Illumination and Universal secure a marquee world premiere at Annecy, amplifying buzz for the July 1 global release, which drives tens of millions in opening-week box-office revenue.
