Early autumn was marked by a strong presence of short films in international festivals: 324 films represented France in festivals in Europe (Germany, England, Belgium, Spain, Greece, Ireland, Portugal, Sweden, Switzerland), North America (Canada, United States), and Asia (South Korea, Japan). A total of 18 films were awarded prizes.
Festival Animatou (Switzerland) – October 1–10
Initially dedicated to children's animation, Animatou has opened up over the years to all forms of animated film. By diversifying its programming and its audience, it has allowed itself to fulfil its ambitions: selecting films from all over the world, cultivating curiosity, and encouraging encounters. To celebrate its fifteenth anniversary, Animatou offered a fine program, made up of traditional competitions, retrospectives, and other special strands. 42 short films flew the French flag this anniversary edition. Nine of them received 13 awards, including the Animatou Grand Prix awarded to Tie, a Portuguese-French coproduction.
Grand Prix Animatou
RTS Young Audience Award
Payot Libraire Audience Award
HUG Belle-Idée Award
HUG Teens Award
Caramel Award
Pistachio Award
Honorific award for grades 1-2-3P (4 to 6 years old)
Honorific award for grades 4-5-6P (7 to 9 years old)
Honorific award for grades 7-8P, 9 & Secondary I (11 to 13 years old)
- Bach-Hông (Ex aequo)
- Lame Holidays (Ex aequo)
Honorific award for Secondary II & Higher Education and Art Schools (16 years and older)
Special Mention International Competition Jury
Festival International du Film Francophone de Namur (FIFF) (Belgium) – October 2–9
Thirty-six French short films, divided between the International Competition and the FIFF Campus Section were programmed during the 35th edition of a festival which, this year again and despite a "tightened" selection, gave pride of place to short films. Among the nine French titles competing for the Bayard d'Or, five shared four awards:
Bayard d'Or for Best Short film
- Maalbeek (photo)
International Competition: Best Director
International Competition: Best Cinematography
Special Mention International Competition Jury
- I Am Afraid to Forget Your Face (Ex aequo)
- And Yet We Are Not Super Heroes (Ex aequo)
Vila do Conde International Short Film Festival (Portugal) – October 3-11
With its rich and unique programme, which brings together established directors and new talents, the 28th edition of Curtas de Vila do Conde once again kept its promise: to showcase committed cinema and present top level latest works, through programs that question identity, history, and individual freedoms. 41 films, 27 of which were in the main competitions, represented French short films. The winners were:
Grand Prix Fiction
Grand Prix Animation
Grand Prix Documentary
Festival du Nouveau Cinéma de Montréal (FNC) (Canada) – October 7-31
Offbeat, unique, sharp, daring, innovative - these are just a few of the words that define the FNC de Montréal. All genres are honored in an eclectic program that leaves room for originality and diversity.
35 French works were selected this year in the four main competitions dedicated to short films. Among the winners were:
Prix des P'tits loups
Sapporo International Short Film Festival (Japan) – October 10-31
Since its creation in 2006, the Sapporo Festival has always considered short films as works in their own right, in which the public can identify and find real values. It has always been committed to highlighting the know-how and talent of the people who make up the artistic and technical teams. Out of the ten French films selected this year, four featured in the prize list and shared seven awards:
International Competition: Best Director
- Erenik Beqiri for The Van
Families & Children Competition Special Jury Prize
Best Actress
Best Children's Film
Best Editing
Best Non-Dialog
Children's Shorts Silver Award
Badalona Film Festival – Filmets (Spain) – October 16-25
Chosen by the organisers to express their empathy with filmmakers and the public, the motto of this 46th edition took on its full meaning this year: "We will all have Filmets!" A unique event of its kind, the festival brought together 17,500 spectators who came to discover more than 200 films in competition. Among them, 79 French films, two of which reaped awards:
Best Original Music
Jury Special Mention
Uppsala International Short Film Festival (Sweden) – October 19-25
Uppsala is now considered the most important festival in Sweden, and one of the most renowned in Europe. All genres come together in competitive strands and retrospectives that highlight an emerging generation of filmmakers and established talents. One of the 23 French films selected this year was in the awards list:
Uppsala Short Film Candidate for the European Film Awards 2021
