The dynamism of French animation radiates through a rich program of international events. From animation festivals spotlighting feature films and shorts, to Unifrance initiatives – such as MyMetaStories and MyFrenchAnimationDays (MyFAD), both of which were a great success – to key professional gatherings and prestigious ceremonies, discover how French animation continues to appeal, innovate, and assert itself on the world stage.
Illustration : A Boat In The Garden, by Jean-François Laguionie
I - Animation film festivals: focus on feature films
Hiroshima International Animated Film Festival (August)
At this prestigious Japanese animation festival, Benoît Chieux's Sirocco and the Kingdom of the Winds was awarded the Grand Prix in the Feature Film Competition category.
At the same time, a number of short films were selected in various competition categories: Florence Miailhe's Butterfly and Nicolas Keppens's Beautiful Men, selected in the A Slice of Society strand; Butterfly won an award.
In the Contemporary Tales category, the winners were Misérable Miracle by Ryo Orikasa and Wander to Wonder by Nina Gantz. Gianluigi Toccafondo's La Voix des sirènes represented France (and Italy) in the Fictive World strand, while Georges Schwizgebel's From One Painting… to Another featured in Visual Poetry.
Ottawa International Animation Festival (September)
In Canada, the benchmark festival for animation crowned Gints Zilbalodis's Flow with the Grand Prize for Animated Feature, reinforcing the international recognition of this singular work, already presented at Cannes.
In the International Short Film Competition, several works were honored: La Voix des sirènes (Grand Prize), Beautiful Men (Best Narrative), Percebes (Best Design), and Glass House (Ixxpen Award for Best Technique).
Animatou (October)
The Swiss festival showcased a diverse selection of films. In the out-of-competition feature category, Flow by Gints Zilbalodis, Chicken for Linda! by Chiara Malta and Sébastien Laudenbach, and Savages by Claude Barras captivated audiences.
The shorts competition also featured several French works, confirming the dynamism of French animation in this format. The Grand Prix Animatou went to Wander to Wonder by Nina Gantz, while The Knots of Destiny won the Doc'Anim Award, Une guitare à la mer the Swiss Competition Audience Award, Frite sans maillot the Pistache Prize, and Yuck! the Artopie Prize.
Bucheon International Animation Film Festival (BIAF) (October)
In South Korea, several French feature films were selected for the International Competition: Into The Wonderwoods by Vincent Paronnaud and Alexis Ducord, The Darwinners by Jul and Jean-Paul Guigue, Savages by Claude Barras, and A Boat In The Garden by Jean-François Laguionie, the latter winning the Special Distinction Prize.
On the short film front, Wander to Wonder won the International Competition Jury Prize.
Animation Is Film Festival (October)
At the Animation is Film Festival, which took place in Los Angeles in October, French productions stood out in the Official Competition, which featured Ghost Cat Anzu and Flow, with the latter awarded the Grand Prize.
In the short film category, Wander to Wonder won the Grand Prize.
ReAnimania, Yerevan (October)
The 16th International Animation Film Festival of Yerevan (ReAnimania) was held from October 20 to 26, with a strong French presence.
Among the feature films in Competition were Flow (which received the Valentin Podpomogov Award for Best Concept of an Animated Feature Film), Ghost Cat Anzu, The Most Precious of Cargoes, A Boat In The Garden, and Into The Wonderwoods. Two French films were also honored with special screenings: The Siren and Sirocco and the Kingdom of the Winds.
France made a particular impression in the short film and graduation film categories, with works such as Florence Miailhe's Butterfly (Best Short Film).
A look back at the first Festival International Gbaka Animation (FIGA)
From October 25 to 27, Togo hosted the first edition of FIGA at the Institut Français of Lomé, which was notable for its vibrant tribute to Kirikou and the Sorceress, in the presence of its director Michel Ocelot. His works, alongside the feature film Yellowbird, amazed an enthusiastic audience, confirming FIGA's promising role in Togo's cultural landscape.
Gijon International Film Festival (November)
At its 62nd edition, from November 15 to 23, FICX gave pride of place to French animation. Claude Barras's Savages stood out with nominations in the Esbilla and Enfants Terribles categories, testifying to its impact with a wide range of audiences. And Kristina Dufková's Living Large represented French animation at the Europa Film Festivals Award – Europa Joven.
II - Unifrance events: MyMetaStories and MyFrenchAnimationDays (MyFAD)
MyMetaStories: An immersive success!
The 2nd edition of MyMetaStories, organized by Unifrance with the support of the Creative Europe MEDIA, program, ended on a high note. From October 11 to November 3, 2024, this innovative, digital European festival showcased 20 films, including eight animated shorts, among them three French films: Goodbye Jerome!, Boom, and Mondo Domino.
The highlight of the event? An immersive Minecraft® experience, from October 18 to 21, bringing a new dimension to animation!
MyFrenchAnimationDays (MyFAD): A new celebration of animation!
The first edition of MyFrenchAnimationDays (MyFAD) took place from October 11 to 31, 2024, in connection with World Animation Day and the Fête du cinéma d’animation in France, and in partnership with AFCA and ASIFA.
• Two online talks
- MyFAD Online Talk: “With Jérémy Zag and Aton Soumache: Discover the World of Animation Filmmaking," a session featuring a discussion on the worldwide success of Miraculous: Tales of Ladybug & Cat Noir.
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MyFAD Online Talk: “With John Coven and Briana Yarhouse: How to Become an Animator?” Animation: a universal language that touches all ages and generates vocations. But how and when should you go down this path? Which schools for which careers?
• Special screenings
These allowed a wide range of French animated films to be shown to international audiences:
- Sirocco and the Kingdom of the Winds in Norway (10/12): Screening at Nordisk Film Kino, with an introduction by Nordubb company's dubbing manager and Josfine, the young voice of the main character, aged six during the dubbing.
- Mars Express in the United Kingdom (10/12): Screening at Ciné Lumière II, welcoming an audience of adults with a passion for animation and science fiction.
- Sirocco and the Kingdom of the Winds in Poland (10/13): Free screening for around 150 children and their teachers from five bilingual schools in Warsaw. The screening, introduced by director Rafael Lewandowski, concluded with an art workshop and snack.
- The Siren in the United Kingdom (10/24): Screening at the Institut Français in London, preceded by an interview with director Sepideh Farsi. The Institut Français is planning a new screening in early 2025 to reach a wider audience.
- Flow in Italy (11/3): Virtually simultaneous premiere in Rome and Milan. Both events were a great success, with both cinemas practically sold out.
- Animal Tales of Christmas Magic in December in Italy.
• Discovery workshops
Through a turnkey package specially designed for teachers, MyFAD invited kindergarten and primary school classes to plunge into the world of animation through interactive and educational activities based on four popular series: Edmond and Lucy, Gigantosaurus, Simon Super Rabbit, and Zig & Sharko.
Participating classes were also able to take part in a game-competition, at the end of which a jury will meet at the Unifrance Rendez-Vous in Paris 2025 to select the winners. The jury includes:
- Vicky Schroderus (Representative of YLE, the Finnish public television channel)
- Frank Dietz (Representative of Super RTL, the German children's animation channel)
- Telidja Klai (Representative of VRT, the Flemish public television channel)
- Mickaël Marin (MIFA Director)
- Isabelle Vanini (AFCA representative)
III - Professional events (markets and meetings)
Cartoon Forum
For its 35th edition, the Cartoon Forum, a key event for co-production and pitching for animated series, unveiled 75 animated series projects from 20 countries, with France leading the way with 36 projects. Nearly 1,000 professionals from 42 countries took part in the event, and a total of 485 companies were represented, including 551 French participants and 173 French companies.
French projects dominated among the most popular European co-productions, with works such as A Lamb's Stew (La Cabane Productions), Esther (Sacrebleu Productions), Gaby & La Brigade des Mers (Something Big), Mia Moké (Special Touch Studios & Creative Touch Studios), Harmony (Fantabulous), and Once there was... (Bagan Films), illustrating France's significant impact on the landscape of collaborative animation in Europe.
French projects also attracted considerable attention from buyers during the well-attended pitch sessions. These included Master of the Unicorns (Cyber Group Studios), Le Loup en Slip (KMBO & Les Films de l'Arlequin), Perdus dans le futur (Ellipse animation), A Lamb's Stew (La Cabane Productions & Thuristar), Bonjour les ancêtres! (dandelooo), Le Tour de Frousse (Samka Animation), Mary & Franky (Media Valley), Ma Vie est un Manga (Brain Comet & Blue Spirit), La Famille Shrimp (Autour de Minuit), H.O.M.E (TeamTO), and Bin Buddies (Millimages). They offered further proof of French innovation and enjoyed a strong buyer presence.
Over the years, the Cartoon Tributes have become a key distinction in the European animation industry, with prestigious awards given to companies that play an active role in the sector's development.
- This year, ARTE won Broadcaster of the Year, confirming its key role in broadcasting and promoting European animation.
Rencontres de Fontevraud / NEF Animation
The Rencontres de Fontevraud, organized by NEF Animation on October 18 and 19 featured:
- The feature films The Roman Of Renard, Deserts, and Prends garde à toi !.
- Original audiovisual programs such as Luz & The Sonidos (Pierre-Emmanuel Lyet, Gordon) and The Legends of Paris: A Tale of the 19th century Artistic Scene (Amélie Harrault).
- Conferences and artistic discussions, including those with Michael Dudok De Wit on animation and ecological awareness, and Joachim Hérissé on horror in animation.
- Public script reading: Petite Casbah (2 episodes).
MIP Junior
MIAM! Animation's Les Minus topped the list of most-viewed programs, marking a notable change from the previous year, when English language productions dominated the rankings. This year, two French series made it onto the podium: Les Minus (1st place, MIAM! Animation) and Les Borrowers (3rd place, Blue Spirit). A total of six French series made the Top 20, including Belfort & Lupin (6th place, Ellipse animation), Les Trois Bricochons (9th, Xilam Animation), Goat Girl (10th, MIAM! & Daily Madness Productions), and Les Gardes Chimères (17th, Monello Productions).
Animation is Film: Unifrance cocktail reception in Los Angeles
The Annecy International Animation Film Festival and Unifrance held their Animation is Film Cocktail Reception in Los Angeles on Sunday October 20 at the Hollywood Roosevelt Hotel. The event brought together professionals from the global animation industry.
The French selection included feature films Ghost Cat Anzu, and Flow, as well as shorts Percebes, Beautiful Men, Nube, Wander to Wonder and Yuck! The short film Wander to Wonder won the Grand Jury Prize 2024.
New Waves and the power of co-production
On October 12, several French production companies took part in the New Waves, program, organized in London by the CNC, Institut Français in the United Kingdom, and the BFI.This program, supported by Unifrance, brought together twelve French production companies and 20 British production companies active in dramatic fiction and animation. It testifies to the willingness of British and French public authorities and producers to work together and consolidate their ties despite Brexit.
Within the French delegation, several companies stood out with international animation projects co-produced with key European partners:
- Andarta Pictures presented Tricotown, a series in co-production with British studio Second Home Studios, strengthening the creative ties between France and the United Kingdom. Their Ewilan's Quest project is in co-production with APC Kids for EMEA territories and Bejuba for the USA and Latin America.
- Blue Spirit, a company renowned for its international collaborations, is seeking UK co-productions for projects such as Gisèle and her Little Monsters, and is already working with European partners on Season 3 of Alice & Lewis, broadcast in France, Italy, Spain, and beyond.
- Les Films d'Ici Méditerranée continues its success in co-production with countries such as Belgium and Spain for films such as Josep and They Shot the Piano Player, as well as for the educational series Animals in a Nutshell, financed by French regional funds, and Désert, developed with European support, notably from Pictanovo in France.
- Oble Studios is developing Fata Morgana, an animated thriller co-produced with Central European partners, strengthening the ties between France and this region, for a project that combines modernity and history.
These European partnerships illustrate the importance of international co-productions in propelling French animation onto the world stage.
IV - International ceremonies
A fine harvest at the Emile Awards 2024 for The Family Portrait!
France stood out at the Emile Awards 2024, with the victory of The Family Portrait, an animated film with puppets directed by Croatian filmmaker Lea Vidaković. The short film, a co-production between (Vivement Lundi !), Croatia (Adriatic Animation), and Serbia (Biberche Productions), won Best Sound Design and Best Music.
The ceremony, held on September 23, 2024 at the Apollon Theater in Hermoupolis on the Greek island of Syros, marked the Emile Awards' return to prominence after a pandemic-related hiatus..
On course for the Oscars?
With 20 international awards already to its name, The Family Portrait continues to cause a sensation. After winning the Rigo Mora Award at the Guadalajara International Film Festival last June, the film is now up for a nomination at the 2025 Oscars.
Focus on the French films in Competition at the European Film Academy (EFA) Awards 2024
French animation sparkled at the European Film Awards (EFA) 2024, with four films competing in the Best Animated Feature category; Flow by Gints Zilbalodis (Latvia, France, Belgium co-production), a superb post-disaster adventure story, won the award
Three other films in this category were also French co-productions: Living Large by Kristina Dufková (Czech Republic, France, Slovakia), about a young boy with a passion for cooking; Savages by Claude Barras (Switzerland, France, Belgium), a hard-hitting look at environmental conflicts in the Amazon; and They Shot the Piano Player by Fernando Trueba and Javier Mariscal (Spain, France, Netherlands, Portugal, Peru co-production), a documentary recounting the disappearance of a musician in Argentina in the 1970s.
So many singular works that reinforce the impact of French animation on the European scene.
French animation at the International Emmy Awards 2024
French animation was present at the International Emmy Awards with a nomination for Mystery Lane in Kids:Animation.
Created by Antoine Rodelet and Josselin Charier, and produced by Hari International, the series follows the adventures of Clever, a brilliant guinea pig, and her brother Bro, as they carry out mysterious investigations on the streets of London.
This nomination once again testifies to the dynamism and creativity of French animation, recognized worldwide for its excellence.
