The strength of European animation was reflected once again in the eleventh edition of Cartoon Movie, the business forum for the European animation industry which took place in Lyon, France from 4-6 March. From the quality of the projects presented to the rise in the number of participants in the event — which this year included the videogames industry for the first time — Cartoon Movie was confirmed as a key springboard for European animated film with a forward-looking vision.
The film animation sector continues to grow in Europe, overcoming new challenges thanks to its quality in technique and richness in art. This is one of the main conclusions of the Cartoon Movie - the business forum for the European animation industry - that finalized its 11th edition on March 6 in Lyon, France.
Over the three-day event, some 620 sector professionals came together in the capital of the Rhône-Alpes Region to see over 50 productions including both completed films and works in progress. The forum, which has been organized in Potsdam, Germany since it was founded in 1999, was celebrated for the first time this year in France. The animation industry welcomed the change, registering a 20% rise in the number of participants from the previous year.
The city of Lyon and the Rhône-Alpes Region, with their hospitality and dynamic audiovisual network, served as an inspiring backdrop for this event, which was held in the Centre de Congrès’ ample installations.
The event kicked off on the evening of March 4 with the screening of "Journey to Saturn", a Danish film produced by A.Films and directed by Thorbjørn Christoffersen, Craig Frank and Kresten Vestbjerg Andersen. This unconventional CGI animation that tells with adult humour the space journey of an incompetent crew of Danish astronauts was presented by Danish producer Karsten Kiilerich and French distributor Roch Lener (BAC Films).
Roch Lener (BAC Films) & Kaarsten Kiilerich (A. Films)
After a welcome speech by the organizers and the screening of the trailer of the event – an eclectic short in which students from La Poudrière school of animation let loose their creativity – the first working sessions began with the presentation of some 26 projects.
The rest of the projects were presented on the second day, followed by a closing press conference and a farewell dinner at Paul Bocuse’s Abbaye de Collonges.
This year, seven completed films, 26 in the process of development or production and 18 new concepts were pitched. The quantity and quality of the projects at Lyon are a promising indication of the strong future that lies ahead for European animation.
Presentation of "Ernest et Célestine"
Some of the projects which aroused the most interest among the buyers and distributors attending the event were "Auntie Hilda versus Attilem" (Folimage), "Panique au Village" (La [Parti] Prod. / Made in Productions / Mélusine / Beast Production / Les Films du Grognon / RTBF / Gebeka Films), "Occho Kochoi" (TeamTO), "The Secret of Kells" (Cartoon Saloon/Les Armateurs/Vivi Film), "Heavy Rain" (quantic dream), "Le Jour des Corneilles" (Finalement/Mélusine), "Ernest et Célestine" (Les Armateurs/Mélusine /Studio 352 / La [Parti] Prod. / Studiocanal France) and "Cendrillon" (Herold & Family / Nexus Factory).
Artistic and technical diversity prevailed once again at the latest edition of this event, which included a range of projects from those produced with traditional techniques such as 2D or stop motion to others with cutting edge technology like stereoscopic 3-D. There was also a wide variety of content, from action, adventure and comedy to original art films, literary adaptions and television series, among others.
The 51 projects pitched represented a total budget of 370 million EUR, 45 million EUR more than last year. Although France continues to be a driving force behind the sector with presence in 43% of the projects, participation from other European countries is on the rise, with representatives from 15 different countries involved in this year’s event. CGI films targeted at family audiences remained the post popular. Overall, the projects included 80 hours of animation, many of which will be premièred across Europe this year.
Another trend worth mentioning is the increasing role of co-productions in European animation. This year, nearly half of the 51 projects selected were joint-presentations by two or more European countries. The rise of co-produced projects this year (20% more than in 2008) also reflects the important role that co-productions can play in increasing distribution across Europe and bringing cross-border audiences together.
One of the novelties of Cartoon Movie 2009 was the participation of producers from the videogame industry, fruit of the European Association of Animation Film´s initiative to develop the synergies between two industries with similar characteristics and challenges.
In addition to the presentation of a film based on a game ("Heavy Rain", by quantic dream), some 8 gaming companies had the chance to make a presentation of their work to participants during the Croissant Shows. The 40 professionals from the gaming industry who registered for the event were also able to enjoy the Game Corner, a space organised by the Cluster Rhône Alpes Imaginove to serve as a reference point for the gaming sector. This was a first step toward strengthening ties between the two industries and was well received as an example of the wide range of possibilities for future cooperation, even if it will take some time.
Paul Young (Cartoon Saloon), Viviane Vanfleteren (Vivi Film), Tomm Moore (Cartoon Saloon), Roch Lener (BAC Films), Didier Bruner (Les Armateurs)
The meeting also hosted the ceremony for the Cartoon Movie Tributes 2009, awards which seek to recognize personalities or companies who have had a positive and dynamic influence on the sector. This year, the big winner was the film “The Secret of Kells” – a co-production between Ireland, France and Belgium – which took Best Director (Tomm Moore) and Best Producer (Cartoon Saloon, Les Armateurs and Vivi Film) of the Year awards. France’s BAC Films was selected Best Distributor of the Year.
The Cartoon Movie Coaching Programme was also held alongside the three-day event with the aim to strengthen the basics of networking of upcoming producers and talent in the European animation market. Some 40 students from two prestigious schools specialized in animation and based in the Rhône-Alpes region (the Emile Cohl school and La Poudrière) took part in the programme, as well as students from Les Gobelins (Paris), The Animation Workshop (Denmark), Kunsthochschule Kassel, Filmakademie Baden-Württemberg, Babelsberg Film School and European Animation Masterclass (Germany).
Cartoon Movie 2009 was organised with the support of the MEDIA Programme of the European Union, CNC (Centre national de la cinématographie), the Rhône Alpes Region, Greater Lyon and in collaboration with the Cluster Rhône Alpes Imaginove (Lyon). Since 1999, more than 130 projects with a total budget of 800 million EUR have obtained full financing thanks to this annual forum aimed at strengthening the production and distribution of animated feature films in Europe.
Cartoon Movie’s 12th edition will be held in Lyon from 3 - 5 March 2010.
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