This year perhaps more than the previous ones, the 47th Annecy Festival asserts itself as the world capital of animated cinema. One only has to take a quick look at the prizes awarded by the jury to understand that the event has acquired an international dimension as well as a legitimacy that goes well beyond the borders of France.
As rich as it is eclectic, the festival’s prize list thus crowns films from various backgrounds, from several different countries. The Cristal for best feature film is awarded to the Franco-Italian film Linda wants chicken! Directed by the duo Chiara Malta and Sébastien Laudenbach (The young girl without hands), this jewel of tenderness and humor transported the public during its official screening. It will hit theaters on October 18.
The Jury Prize goes to Hungarian film Four Souls of Coyote by Áron Gauder. With this film, the director revisits the Amerindian cosmogony and signs a masterful work, universal and accessible to all audiences, on Nature and the place of humans on Earth.
As for the film Robot Dreams by the Spaniard Pablo Berger (already the author of the excellent Biancaneives), it won the Grand Prix contrechamp. The plot of Robot Dreams is set in a universe populated by animals, where it is possible to make robots to alleviate loneliness. A New York dog builds a new friend: Robot. They play on the console, stroll through Central Park, and quickly become inseparable… Selected at Cannes in special screening, this delicious dreamlike and poetic Spanish film, adapted from the graphic novel by Sara Varon, will be released in theaters on December 27th.
As for the Mifa, the International Animation Film Market, the organizers welcomed 15,820 accredited members, i.e. a 19% increase compared to 2022, from 102 countries. which makes the director of the festival Mickaël Marin say: “More than ever, Annecy deserves its status as the world capital of animated cinema. This new participation record is the symbol of the recognition and trust of professionals. It is also the demonstration of the dynamism of an industry and the creativity of artists.”
Next year, after putting Mexico in the spotlight, the 48th edition of the festival will shine the spotlight on Portuguese animation. Annecy 2024 is therefore preparing to adorn itself with the sumptuous patterns of azulejos. See you from June 9 to 15, 2024.
Feature Film Crystal: Linda Wants Chicken!, by Chiara Malta and Sébastien Laudenbach (France, Italy).
Jury Prize: Four Souls of Coyote, d’Áron Gauder (Hungary).
Reverse Shot Grand Prize: Robot Dreams, by Pablo Berger (Spain).
Prix Paul Grimault : The Tunnel to Summer, the Exit of Goodbyes de Tomohisa Taguchi (Japon).
Prix du jury contrechamp : Tony, Shelly and the Magic Light, de Filip Posivac (Hongrie).
Gan Foundation Broadcast Award: Linda Wants Chicken! by Chiara Malta and Sébastien Laudenbach (France, Italy).
Audience Award: Sirocco and the Kingdom of Drafts, by Benoît Chieux (Belgium).
