PRESS RELEASE – 27^TH APRIL 2023

The Feature Films Official Selection
of the 2023 Annecy Festival

The Festival’s press conference, organised by the CNC, has just ended. Dominique Puthod, Chairman of CITIA, Mickaël Marin, Director, and Marcel Jean, Artistic Director, presented the Feature Films Official Selection, Screening Events, some Works in Progress and other elements from this new edition, which will be held from 11^th to 17^th June, one additional day this year.

Véronique Encrenaz, Head of Mifa, also talked about the Film Market’s highlights.

Check out the REPLAY of the Press Conference:

This selection process was a huge challenge due to the exceptional quality and impressive number of films submitted! Out of around one hundred films entered, Marcel Jean unveiled 23 Feature Films in the Official Selection:

Official Competition:

Art College 1994 by Liu Jian

Production: China Academy of Art, Hangzhou Lightriver Culture & Media/China

Four Souls of Coyote by Áron Gauder

Production: Cinemon Entertainment/Hungary

Kensuke's Kingdom by Neil Boyle and Kirk Hendry

Production: Lupus Films, Melusine Productions/Studio 352, Le Pacte/United Kingdom, Luxembourg, France

La Sirène by Sepideh Farsi

Production: Les Films d’ici, Katuh Studio, Bac Cinema, Lunanime, TrickStudio Lutterbeck/Germany, Belgium, France, Luxembourg

Chicken for Linda! by Chiara Malta and Sébastien Laudenbach

Production: Dolce Vita Films, Miyu Productions, Dorje Film/France, Italy

Lonely Castle in the Mirror by Keiichi Hara

Production: A-1 Pictures/Japan

Mars Express by Jérémie Périn

Production: Everybody on Deck, Je Suis Bien Content/France

Sirocco and the Kingdom of Air Streams by Benoît Chieux

Production: Sacrebleu Productions/Belgium, France

The Inseparables by Jérémie Degruson

Production: nWave Digital, Octopolis, A Contracorriente Films/Belgium, Spain, France

The Inventor by Jim Capobianco and Pierre-Luc Granjon

Production: Curiosity Studio, Leo & King, Foliascope/USA, France, Ireland

The Tunnel to Summer, the Exit of Goodbyes by Tomohisa Taguchi

Production: Clap/Japan

Contrechamp Competition:

When Adam Changes by Joël Vaudreuil

Production: Parce Que Films/Québec, Canada

Tender Metalheads by Carlos Perez-Reche and Joan Tomas

Production: La Productora de Juanjo Saez/Spain

Johnny & Me – A Journey through Time with John Heartfield by Katrin Rothe

Production: Hanfgarn & Ufer Filmproduktion/Germany, Austria, Switzerland

Komada – A Whisky Family by Masayuki Yoshihara

Production: Story INC., P.A. Works, DMM.com/Japan

The Sacred Cave by Daniel Minlo and Cyrille Masso

Production: Malo Pictures/Cameroun

Robot Dreams by Pablo Berger

Production : Les films du Worso, Arcadia Motion Pictures, Noodles Production/Spain, France

Rosa and the Stone Troll by Karla Nor Holmbäck

Production: Dansk Tegnefilm/Denmark

Saleem by Cynthia Madanat Sharaiha

Production: Digitales/Jordan

Slide by Bill Plympton

Production: Plymptoons Studio/USA

Toldi by Marcell Jankovics and Lajos Csakovics

Production: Kecskemétfilm/Hungary

Tony, Shelly and the Magic Light by Filip Pošivač

Production: Filmfabriq, Nutprodukcia, Nutprodukce/Hungary, Czech Republic, Slovakia

White Plastic Sky by Tibor Banoczki and Sarolta Szabo

Production: Salto Films, Artichoke/Hungary, Slovakia

This conference was also the opportunity to disclose that Sirocco and the Kingdom of Air Streams by Benoît Chieux, announced previously in the Official Competition, will be opening the Festival on Sunday 11^th June, as well as having a glimpse of the Screening Events:

MONDAY 12^TH JUNE:

The Spider Within: A Spider-Verse Story: the film is presented as part of the LENS programme
Production: Sony Pictures Animation

A presentation of a work-in-progress version of Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles – Mutant Mahem by Jeff Rowe
Production: Ewan Goldberg, Seth Rogen, James Weaver – Nickelodeon Animation Studios/USA

TUESDAY 13^TH JUNE:

A first look at The Lord of the Rings: The War of Rohirrim, the new feature film by Kenji Kamiyama
Production: Warner Bros. Animation/USA

Star Wars: Visions – Behind the Scenes of "Screecher's Reach", "In the Stars" and "The Spy Dancer", a making of the series and presentation of three episodes directed respectively by Cartoon Saloon, Punkrobot and La Cachette studios.

A first look at Fixed by Genndy Tartakovsky
Production: Sony Pictures Animation, New Line Cinema

WEDNESDAY 14^TH JUNE:

A first look at Migration, directed by Benjamin Renner
Production: Illumination Entertainment

"Rick and Morty": 10 Years of Intergalactic Adventures by Justin Roiland and Dan Harmon
Production: Marc Haimes – Warner Bros. Pictures

A first look at the anthology Kizazi Moto: Generation Fire, a making of and presentation of three films by their directors
Production: Disney+

A special screening of the eagerly awaited animation film Nimona, directed by Troy Quane and Nick Bruno and adapted from the New York Times best-selling graphic novel, as well as a Making of in the presence of the film crew.
Production: Netflix Animation, Annapurna Animation

Netflix will also present its panel discussion on From "Chicken Run: Dawn of the Nugget" to "Blue Eye Samurai" – See What's Next @ Netflix.

THURSDAY 15^TH JUNE:

Ruby Gillman, Teenage Kraken by Faryn Pearl and Kirk DeMicco
Production: DreamWorks Animation/USA

A first look at Trolls Band Together by Walt Dohrn and Tim Heitz.
Production: Gina Shay – DreamWorks Animation/USA

FRIDAY 16^TH JUNE:

Elemental directed by Peter Sohn and produced by Denise Ream
Production: Pixar Animation Studios/USA

Pixar Animation Studios will also present an early look at never-before-seen materials from its first-ever original series Win or Lose coming soon to Disney+.

Kaina of the Great Snow Sea: Star Sage by Hiroaki Ando
Production: Polygon Pictures, Fuji Television Network, Crunchyroll, Dentsu Film, Bilibili, Netease

Throughout the week you will discover other Screening Events including:

Two medium-length films: The Forest of Miss Tang, directed by Denis Do and Garden of Remembrance, directed by Naoko Yamada
Production: respectively Special Touch Studios and Science SARU

Ozi, Voice of the Forest, directed by Tim Harper
Production: GCI Film, Leonardo DiCaprio, Ramsay McBean, Keith Chapman Productions

Nina et le Secret du hérisson by Alain Gagnol and Jean-Loup Felicioli
Production: Parmi les lucioles Films, Doghouse Films

The Canterville Ghost, directed by Kim Burdon
Production: Space Age Films, Sprout

In celebration of 100 years of Walt Disney Animation Studios, we will enjoy several delights:

An all-new short from Walt Disney Animation Studio directed by Trent Correy and Dan Abraham screened during the Opening Ceremony.

Walt Disney Animation Studios Chief Creative Officer Jennifer Lee returns to Annecy to share details about the all-new original feature film Wish, for which she is both Executive Producer and a writer on the project.
Production: The Walt Disney Animation Studios/USA

Fantasia 2000, directed by Eric Goldberg, Pixote Hunt, Hendel Butoy

Jennifer Lee and Eric Goldberg will be with us

> Check out all the Screening Events

wORK IN pROGRESS

Marcel Jean then also revealed some of the highly anticipated film titles in production. Sources of inspiration, the Work in Progress sessions (WIP) have enabled thousands of enthusiasts over the years to discover the processes and challenges involved in creating unique animation works, led by their writers, directors, head animators, producers, etc.

This coming June, festivalgoers will be lucky enough to discover previews of 17 projects in production: 12 feature films, 1 series, 3 VR experiences and 1 short film.

Let’s look at 8 titles:

Frankelda and the Prince of Spooks (Frankelda y el príncipe de los sustos) by Roy Ambriz and Arturo Ambriz

Production: Cinema Fantasma, Turner Broadcasting & Cartoon Network Latin America/Mexico

Little Amélie or the Character of Rain (Amélie ou la Métaphysique des tubes) by Liane-Cho Han and Maïlys Vallade

Production: Ikki Films, Maybe Movies, 2 Minutes, France 3 Cinéma/France

Into the Wonderwoods (Dans la forêt sombre et mystérieuse) by Vincent Paronnaud (aka Winshluss) and Alexis Ducord

Production: Je Suis Bien Content, Gao Shan Pictures, Le Pacte/France

Slocum by Jean-François Laguionie

Production: JPL Films, Melusine Productions/Studio 352/France, Luxembourg

Aztec Batman: Clash of Empires (Batman azteca: choque de imperios) by Juan Meza-Leon

Production: Warner Bros. Animation, Anima Estudios, Chatrone/Mexico, USA

Captain Laserhawk: A Blood Dragon Remix by Mehdi Leffad

Production: Bobbypills, Ubisoft Film & Television/France, USA

Flow by Gints Zilbalodis

Production: Dream Well Studio, Sacrebleu Productions, Take Five/Latvia, France

Spellbound by Vicky Jenson

Production: Apple Original Films, Skydance Animation/USA

> Check out all the WIP sessions

Lastly, the Artistic Director highlighted the themes included in this edition that have already been the subject of previous announcements: A Tribute to Mexican Animation and Animation, Pride and Diversity.

In liaison with these themes, the Festival will have the immense pleasure in welcoming some leading names in animation including Guillermo del Toro, Jorge R. Gutierrez and Barry Purves.

Focus on the Mifa

The Annecy Festival is also the largest International Animation Film Market with over 13,000 badgeholders, 106 countries represented and almost 3,000 companies onsite to promote animation and the moving image industry internationally.

After its record year 2022, the Mifa is taking on a new dimension to offer an increased 10,000 m² surface area.

This year for professionals and young talent, the Mifa is redesigned around 3 offers and 3 areas, one of which has a brand-new venue.

Stands and pavilions in the Exhibitors Area.

Industry Content in the Impérial Palace and in the Salle de la Volière.

Talent Content in the new dedicated area: Le Campus. In particular, it will be hosting the Mifa Campus, which will no longer be one single day but will last the full length of the Mifa, Tuesday to Friday.

The Market will host 6 Recruiters Talks from leading players in the audiovisual industry who will present their latest news: Mediawan, Disney, AnimFrance, France Télévisions, M6, CANAL+.

Once again, Monday will be dedicated to women in animation, as well as diverse content throughout the week by various female associations from around the world.

Technology will take pride of place on the Conferences’ programme with, for the first time ever, Mifa Tech Breakfasts from Tuesday to Friday so that professionals may openly discuss about technology and XR issues.

In the wait until June, discover 5 Feature Film Works in Progress that will be presented at the Annecy Animation Showcase as part of the 2023 Animation Day at Cannes on 21^st May. The Marché du Film and Annecy Festival’s joint initiative is a necessity for professionals and film enthusiasts, who will also have the chance to exchange views about animation film during panel discussions.