12/06/2006

Young director Christian Volckman (see interview) won the Cristal for Best Feature on Saturday for his debut film Renaissance [+see also:
film review
trailer
interview: Aton Soumache
interview: Christian Volckman
film profile] (see Focus) at the 30th Annecy International Animated Film Festival.

Produced by Atom Soumache (interview) for Onyx Films, the €15m Renaissance received European co-production funding from France’s Millimages, Luxembourg’s LuxAnimation S.A.) and UK outfit Timefirm, as well as backing from France 2 Cinéma (€1m), the Centre National de la Cinématographie (advance on receipts of €500,000 and a grant of €120,000 for the use of new technology) and the Ile de France region (€220,000).

Sold internationally by Odyssey Entertainment, Renaissance will be released this June in Australia and will be distributed in the US on September 22 by Miramax.

Annecy awarded its 2006 Cristal for Best Short Film to Portuguese production História Triste con Final Feliz (lit. “A Tragic Story With a Happy Ending”) by Regina Pessoa. Two British films were also among the prizewinners: Dreams and Desires – Family Ties by Joanna Quinn (Special Jury Award and Audience Award) and Rabbit by Run Wrake (Special Distinction). German director Till Nowak also picked up an award for Best Debut Film with his short Delivery.

(Translated from French)