This spring, international festivals took their hats off to French animation. Numerous animated films were selected by international festivals, including Flóra Anna Buda's short film 27, which went on to win the Short Film Palme d'Or at the Cannes Film Festival.
Festival international du film de Hong Kong
For its 47th edition, the festival presented a number of French animation works to its Asian audience, including the feature by Julien Chhenget Jean-Christophe Roger, Ernest and Célestine : A Journey in Charabia. Three French short films were also programmed: Ice Merchants by João Gonzalez, Shadow of the Butterflies by Sofia El Khyari, and Skinned by Joachim Hérissé.
Festival international du film de San Francisco
Three French films were selected by the San Francisco International Film Festival, which ran from April 13 to 23: the feature Ernest and Célestine : A Journey in Charabia was in the Narratives international competition section, and two student films Code rose and Swing to the Moon featured in the Golden Gate Award category.
Festival international du film de Munich
From June 23 to July 1, 2023, the German festival presented its audience with three French animated works: the features Ernest and Célestine : A Journey in Charabia and Blind Willow, Sleeping Woman, as well as the short film by Osman Cerfon, Aaaah!.
Festival international du film de Cannes
French animation was present at this year's Cannes Film Festival, with six French works in selection. Among the feature films, Pablo Berger's Robot Dreams enjoyed a special screening, while Mars Express by Jérémie Périn was presented in the Cinéma de La Plage strand. Several French shorts were also in competition:
- 27 by Flóra Anna Buda
- The Perra by Carla Melo Gampert
- Peeping Mom by Francis Canitrot
- Electra by Daria Kashcheeva.
At the end of the festival, the prestigious Palme d'Or (short film) was awarded to 27 by Flóra Anna Buda.
Festival international du film de Melbourne
In August, it's time for French animation at the Melbourne Festival. Seven French productions will be screened. See the full list below.
Short films:
Immersive works:
Feature films:
- Little Nicholas - Happy as Can Be by Amandine Fredon and Benjamin Massoubre
- Robot Dreams by Pablo Berger
- Blind Willow, Sleeping Woman by Pierre Földes
Festival International du Film Fantastique de Bucheon (BIFAN)
BIFAN's animation selection is original this year, in that it features only immersive works: All Unsaved progess will be lost, Archi VR - La Villa Savoye, Kidnapping à Vostok, Champollion, The Egyptian, Jailbirds, and Oxymore.
Festival du film de Locarno
The festival's selection includes two animated films from France. This year, Swiss audiences will have the chance to discover: Nina and the Tales of the Hedgehog by Alain Gagnol and Jean-Loup Felicioli, Chicken for Linda! by Chiara Malta and Sébastien Laudenbach, and the short film by Loïc Hobi, Alexx196 & the Pink Sand Beach.
Mostra internationale de cinéma de Venise
To date, we know that the Italian festival, which runs from August 30 to September 9, will offer audiences a handful of immersive French animation works:
- Wallace & Gromit in the Grand Getaway
- Another Fisherman's Tale
- Emperor
- Gaudí, the Atelier of the Divine
- Peupler
- Human violibs - prelude
Nina Gantz's short film Wander to Wonder will also be presented at the event.
Short takes:
- Yuku and the Flower of the Himalayas was selected for the youth section in the Polish festival New Horizons
- No Dogs or Italians Allowed was one of the eight feature films presented to Chinese audiences as part of the French Film Panorama in China, a festival organised by Unifrance.
