Most of the fall film events have been maintained, in hybrid or online versions, and it is gratifying to see how French titles have received, across the board, a prominent place in the programs of the twenty-one festivals supported by Unifrance in November.
478 films, all genres combined, lit up screens in Canada, Germany, South Korea, Spain, Portugal, Romania, the United Kingdom, Russia, and Switzerland, and 41 prizes were awarded in the following 17 events:
Cardiff Animation Festival (United Kingdom) – October 24–November 1
The CAF, a meeting place for independent animators, new talent, industry professionals, and fans of the genre, aims to showcase the best of British and international animation for adults and young audiences.
11 French films represented France this year and, among them, 2 won awards:
Best Short Film Award:
- Sh_t Happens by Michaela Mikalyiova & David Stumpf (Slovakia/France coproduction)
Young Jury Award (7+ category):
- o28 by Geoffroy Collin, Otalia Caussé, Louise Grardel, Antoine Marchand, Robin Merle & Fabien Meyran
DOK Leipzig (Germany) – October 26–November 1
Considered the oldest festival devoted to documentary and animation, and open to cross media, Leipzig is unique in the international festival landscape, especially for its strict and radical attention to the artistic quality of the works presented.
Of the 6 French short films competing in this 63rd edition, 2 were among the award-winners:
Silver Dove for Best Animation (Competition for the Audience Award Short Documentary and Animated Film):
- Step Into the River by Weijia Ma (France/China coproduction)
Golden Dove for Best Documentary (International Competition Short Documentary and Animated Film):
- Trouble Sleep by Alain Kassanda
Tübingen | Stuttgart International French-language Film Festival (Germany) – October 28–November 4
The Tübingen | Stuttgart International French-language Film Festival is not only the largest showcase for French-language cinema in Germany, it also offers an exciting overview of the work of young filmmakers from all over the French-speaking world.
8 French short films were in competition at the 37th edition and 2 were on the prize list:
Grand Prix for Short Film:
Jury Special Mention:
Abitibi-Témiscamingue Film Festival (Canada) – October 31–November 5
The event is distinguished by the quality of its rich programming, with a variety of film forms, to allow film buffs to take an informed look at international production.
13 French short films were on the program for the 39th edition, and one animated film was on the list of winners, Athleticus: Une patinoire pour deux by Nicolas Deveaux which received the Prix Animé.
Message to Man International Film Festival (Russia) – November 3–8
To celebrate its 30th anniversary, Message to Man programmed more than 70 films in competition, retrospectives, and other special screenings, online conferences and debates, and Q&A sessions with the participation of filmmakers from around the world. The 2020 edition attracted more than 500,000 viewers, both online and in theaters.
The presence of 9 French short films didn't go unnoticed as 4 titles made it to the top of the awards list:
Centaur Prize for Best Documentary Short Film:
- Invisible Hero by Cristèle Alves Meira (France/Portugal coproduction) & Shānzhài Screens by Paul Heintz
Jury Diploma:
- Pissy Quarry by Eliott Chabanis & Apparition by Ismaïl Bahri (France/Burkina Faso coproduction)
Winterthur International Short Film Festival (Switzerland) – November 3–8
A popular public event, the festival is also an essential meeting place in Switzerland for the international short film industry. The various programs of this 24th edition offered a glimpse of different worlds, stimulating discussion around political and social issues, or simply invited audiences on entertaining escapades.
18 French works were programmed in the different competitions and 3 of them won awards:
Youth Jury Award:
Nomination European Film Awards:
Best Swiss Short Film Award:
- Carbon by Davide Tisato (France/Switzerland coproduction)
Kurzfilm Festival Hamburg (Germany) – November 5–8
The selection of the Kurzfilm Festival Hamburg is structured around programs that present contemporary cinematic art alongside influential avant-garde works. Judiciously selected, the films are divided into national and international competitions and special programs, all of which offer viewers a wide range of genres and tones that take them on a journey through time.
This year, the French selection included 9 titles and one animation was nominated at the European Film Awards: Genius Loci by Adrien Merigeau.
Alcine (Spain) – November 6–13
Since 1983, the festival has launched important Spanish filmmakers such as Alejandro Amenábar, Isabel Coixet, and Fernando León de Aranoa. A feature film section, focusing on new directors, is offered alongside the official short film section. Since 2007, an official section of European works contributes to strengthening the festival's position on an international level. 30 short films were presented at the 2020 edition, divided between European and national competition sections, Alcine Kids, and special programs.
2 French titles were awarded:
Alcine Award European Competition: 2nd Place:
National Competition, Ciudad de Alcala Awards: 2nd Place:
- Lonely Rivers by Mauro Herce (France/Spain coproduction)
Berlin International Short Film Festival for Young and Children (Kuki) (Germany) – November 8–20
From its humble beginnings as the children's film section of the Interfilm Berlin International Short Film Festival in 2000, Kuki has successfully grown into a major festival after celebrating its first edition in 2008. Known for its exceptional programming, it is dedicated to presenting fabulous and unusual films that young audiences rarely get to see.
10 films, for all ages from childhood to adolescence, represented France this year.
A Special Mention was attributed to Beauty Boys by Florent Gouëlou.
Cinanima (Portugal) – November 9–15
CINANIMA is renowned for its comprehensive and informed selection of auteur films. In addition to the competitive sections, which include student films, each year it offers a diversified non-competitive selection, with a wide range of programs aimed in particular at children and young people, as well as thematic retrospectives.
France was once again well represented this year, with 61 of our productions selected for the 44th edition. 3 were among the prizewinners:
Special Jury Award:
Best Film Award: Animation Documentary:
Antonío Gaio Award:
- Tie by Alexandra Ramires (France/Portugal coproduction)
Anim'Est (Romania) – November 9–15
Anim'Est is the only festival in Romania dedicated to animated films. Since 2006, it has annually gathered together films from all over the world in six competitive categories and numerous retrospectives. It pays special attention to films from studios and film schools, music videos, and VR works.
The 2020 French selection included no less than 53 titles, 5 of which received awards:
Animest Trophy:
Best Anidoc:
Best VR Short Film:
Best Music Video:
Special Mention for a Student Film:
La Cabina International Medium-Length Film Festival (Valencia) (Spain) – November 10–20
The festival takes its name from Antonio Mercero's medium-length film (La Cabina, 1972), in which the actor José Luis López Vázquez finds himself locked in a telephone booth. La Cabina is committed to demonstrating that the medium-length film format is innovative and, since 2008, has been steadily gaining notoriety by developing its activities around 30-60 minute films that possess as many qualities, whether they are longer or shorter, as those that can be discovered in theaters or at reference festivals.
Of the 8 French films in competition this year, 3 distinguished themselves with 4 awards:
Best Medium-Length Film Official Section:
- Moth by Roxanne Gaucherand (photo)
Best Supporting Actor (Ex Aequo):
Best Photographic Direction:
Best Editing:
- Patricia Allio for her film Reconstitution d’une scène de chasse
Sicaf (South Korea) – November 11–15
Since launching in 1995, Sicaf welcomes cartoons and animated films and, to broaden its horizons, has gradually opened up to contents such as games, characters, theme parks, new Internet media, and interactive art. It is recognized as the only Asian festival and one of the five best festivals in the world bringing together art, technology, and industry.
Out of the 15 French productions selected in 2020, 2 were awarded prizes
Student Competition Best Film Award:
- Trois francs six sous by Clémence Ottevaere, Florence Blain, Louise Leblond, Varoon Indalkar, Morgane Ladjel, and Hugo Valdelièvre-Rattier
Sicaf Choice Award:
International Festival of Francophone Film in Acadie (FICFA) (Canada) – November 12–20
The FICFA promotes and makes French-language cinema accessible to French-language speakers and Francophiles in Atlantic Canada, while promoting Acadian cinema in Acadia and in the Canadian and international Francophone world. Dedicated solely to films produced throughout the French-speaking world it distinguishes itself through high-quality generalist programming and seeks to present the best in both mainstream, genre, and auteur cinema.
15 French short films represented France this year, 11 of which were in official competition for the Prix La Vague for Best International Short Film. The prize was awarded to Sarah Heitz de Chabaneix's Amours synthétiques.
International Short Film Festival Ciudad de Soria (Spain) – November 12–22
12 sessions bringing together 70 films from 20 countries in competition, numerous thematic programs and parallel sections, films of all genres, for all tastes, to encourage awareness and open minds, were at the heart of this 22nd edition.
Among them, 14 French shorts, including 8 in the official selection. 4 were awarded the following 5 prizes:
Best Animation Short Film Award & Young Jury Best International Short Film Award:
Best Actor Award:
- Denis Lavant in Figurant by Jan Vejnar (France/Czech Republic coproduction)
Jury Special Mention for Photography:
- Metamorphosis by Carla Pereira & Juanfran Jacinto (France/Spain coproduction)
Jury in Quarantine Mention for Best Animation:
- Mad Mask by Stéphane Berla
Zinebi (Spain) – November 13–20
Every year, the Zinebi program finds room for all kinds of stylistic, creative, and innovative formats, and emerging directors of contemporary film from all around the world, so that each new festival renews its commitment to exploring new film territories, formal experimentation, and the hybrid and interdisciplinary condition of new cinematographic productions.
16 French films were selected in 2020 and Shānzhài Screens by Paul Heintz received the Best Documentary Award.
L'Alternativa (Spain) – November 15–29
Established in 1993, the event opens each year a space for the international production of independent cinema and projects a vast and stimulating selection of contemporary cinema, allowing the discovery of works that are not very widespread in today's audiovisual landscape.
One of the 6 French films in competition was awarded the International Short Film Prize: The End of the Kings by Rémi Brachet.
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