French lead Cartoon Movie nominees

by Anne Feuillère

01/03/2007 - This year’s edition of Cartoon Movie, an annual event for animation film industry professionals held in Potsdam (March 7-9), will be a very French affair, with Gallic titles dominating the event (see news).

It therefore comes as no surprise that they also lead the nominees announced by the European Animation Film Association, which organises the annual forum that pays tribute to the most outstanding players in animation film directing, distribution and production.

Three French filmmakers are nominated in the Best Director category: Philippe Leclerc for The Sun Queen (see news, also the opening film), Michel Ocelot for his enchanting Azur & Asmar [trailer] and Luc Besson for Arthur and the Invisibles [trailer].

The category also includes the outsider title The Ugly Duckling and Me! [trailer], by Michael Hegner and Karsten Kiilerich , a hilarious rock ‘n’ roll adaptation of Hans Christian Andersen’s fairytale about a rat, a cat’s cousin and the father of a duck who turns out to be a swan. The title was co-produced by Denmark (A.Film A/S), France (Futurikon) and Ireland (Magma Films ).

The Sun Queen, which will make its international premiere at the foot of the Egyptian pyramids in Cairo on March 13, will represent France’s Belokan Productions in the Production category along with Alphanim, Europool, Nelvana and StudioCanal, producers of French helmer Dominique Monféry’s Franklin and Granny’s Secret.

Other nominees include German outfit BAF Berlin Animation Film for Happily N’Ever After and Estonia’s Eesti Joonisfilm with Latvia’s Rija Films for Lotte from Gadgetville [trailer] (see news).

Two French outfits are vying for Best Distributor – Rezo Films (distribution and sales of The Sun Queen) and France Télévision Distribution – with Denmark’s Scanbox Entertainment and German outfit Universum Film.

(Translated from French)