Annecy kicks off this weekend, and with lots of of screenings, pitchings, workshops, panels, and events, it’s unattainable to see every little thing the pageant has to supply.
In planning for the week forward, we determined to pick a couple of options that we’ve been trying ahead to catching since this yr’s lineup was first introduced.
Beneath, in no explicit order, we’ve picked eight options screening in both the primary competitors or Contrechamp lineups. The checklist isn’t exhaustive, and we’ll hope to catch many different movies throughout this yr’s pageant.
Artwork Faculty 1994, Liu Jian
- There was loads of buzz round this title because it premiered at Berlin again in February. We’re excited to see what all the excitement is about, but additionally thrilled that director Liu Jian will lastly be again in Annecy with one in all his movies. Again in 2017, Lui’s Have a Good Day was chosen to display screen in competitors at Annecy, the place China had been chosen as that yr’s visitor nation. Nonetheless, on the eve of the pageant, the Chinese language authorities lobbied Annecy to take away the movie from competitors, a request with which the pageant complied.
Mars Specific, Jérémie Périn
- Anybody who follows European animation has had this title on their radar for a number of years. A gritty sci-fi noir epic, the few clips we’ve seen reveal all of the hallmarks of what makes sci-fi a lot enjoyable. Périn, who directed the unbelievable French animated collection Lastman, beforehand defined: “One factor I’ve at all times liked in cinema is when style movies – science fiction, thriller, horror – deal with the codes of those genres like a nice reward field by which the spectator can simply get their bearings as a result of they know the codes.” To that finish, Mars Specific clips look acquainted but additionally modern. We’re excited to see what the complete 85-minute characteristic has to supply.
The Inventor, Jim Capobianco, Pierre-Luc Granjon
- We singled this title as one of many Annecy tasks that impressed us finally yr’s occasion. This yr, the completed movie will display screen in the primary competitors. The Inventor is the most recent venture from Disney and Pixar veteran Jim Capobianco (who shared an Oscar nomination for Ratatouille’s screenplay) and Pierre-Luc Granjon (Poppety within the Fall, The White Wolf). Utilizing puppets that spark an prompt nostalgia for traditional Rankin/Bass vacation stop-motion fare, the characteristic visits time spent by Leonardo da Vinci as a part of the French courtroom within the years following his departure from Italy. In France, the inventor finds larger freedom to experiment on his timeless innovations and the corporate of the audacious Princess Marguerite.
Johnny & Me – A Journey by Time with John Heartfield, Katrin Rothe
- One other mixed-media supply, this documentary activates graphic designer Stefanie, who’s having a inventive disaster. Throughout a go to to a museum, she is enchanted by the satirical photomontages of Nazi opponent John Heartfield and magically transported into his studio.
Robotic Goals, Pablo Berger
- This one premiered at Cannes in final month and was a favourite amongst critics and audiences on the pageant. The movie Berger’s animation debut, though he’s an achieved director whose 2012 movie Blancanieves (Snow White) is taken into account a contemporary Spanish basic. It received dozens of awards at house and overseas, together with ten Spanish Academy Goyas. Distributors had been impressed as effectively, and indie powerhouse Neon ultimately scored U.S. rights to the kid-friendly characteristic with a bittersweet tone that ought to attraction to adults too.
Sirocco and the Kingdom of Air Streams, Benoît Chieux
- One other title that will probably be acquainted to those that observe European animation, Sirocco pitched at most of the continent’s most vital trade get-togethers on its solution to opening this yr’s Annecy. The fantasy follows the adventures of two younger sisters as they attempt to make their method house after getting trapped on this planet of their favourite guide. The stills which have been launched are gorgeous, and we are able to’t wait to see them transfer.
Lonely Citadel within the Mirror, Keiichi Hara
- As is often the case, Japanese animation is effectively represented at this yr’s Annecy. One of many quite a few standout titles from this yr’s crop is Hara’s major competitors participant Lonely Citadel within the Mirror. Not solely is there a good bit of buzz round this GKIDS pickup, however Hara is an Annecy common who has impressed with earlier movies together with Miss Hokusai and Colourful, the latter profitable the Viewers Award and a particular distinction in 2011.
The Inseparables, Jérémie Degruson
- This cg-animated characteristic screening in the primary competitors was written by Toy Story scribes Joel Cohen and Alex A contemporary twist on the Don Quixote narrative, the movie unspools in Central Park the place an deserted stuffed toy and a runaway puppet crew up for an epic New York Metropolis journey.
