The Annecy International Animation Film Festival‘s nine Special Prizes were presented today (Friday, June 14) at a ceremony held at the Bonlieu. The official competition prizewinners will be announced Saturday.
The festival previously announced that celebrated animation producer Bonnie Arnold was presented with a Golden Ticket lifetime honor during the official reception for the members of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences. The accolade was given in recognition of Arnold’s support and loyalty to the festival in recent years. She follows Illumination Founder & CEO Chris Meledandri, who received the Golden Ticket last year.
Arnold’s relationship with the Festival began in 2013, when she participated in a WIP Session of How to Train Your Dragon 2. In 2015, she was a member of the all-female jury, part of Annecy’s tribute to women’s contributions to animation. She attended the event this year in support of the upcoming release of Locksmith Animation’s That Christmas, as well as hosting the Academy’s reception.
“Bonnie Arnold is a Festival ally, a constant companion in our ongoing evolution and a key partner in our success,” Festival Artistic Director Marcel Jean said at the presentation. “Today, it is with immense pleasure that the Annecy Festival presents her with a Golden Ticket in acknowledgement of her long-standing support.”
Mickaël Marin, CITIA’s CEO, added, “Bonnie Arnold has been instrumental in changing the way feature films are produced, and it is this visionary mindset that we also wish to honor.”
She is perhaps best known for producing the three Academy Award-nominated How to Train Your Dragon films. She was a driving force behind the critically acclaimed trilogy from the outset and was instrumental in bringing the hit franchise to the screen. Previously, Arnold served as Co-President of Feature Animation at DreamWorks Animation, overseeing an impressive slate including such hits as Kung Fu Panda 3, Trolls and The Boss Baby.
Arnold will soon be producing an original Peanuts feature film directed by Steve Martino. The untitled feature from WildBrain and Peanuts Worldwide begins production in 2024 and will be released by Apple+. She is also executive producer on Netflix’s That Christmas, written by Richard Curtis and directed by Simon Otto, which will be released later this year. Arnold recently served as executive producer on DreamWorks’ Orion and the Dark, adapted from Emma Yarlett’s book by screenwriter Charlie Kaufman, for Netflix.
The Prix Spéciaux awardees are:
CITY OF ANNECY AWARD — The Meatseller by Margherita Giusti (Italy | Frenesy Film Company)
The true story of Selinna Ajamikoko, a young Nigerian woman who dreams of becoming a meat seller like her mom. In order to achieve her dream, she begins her voyage to Italy.
FRANCE TV AWARD FOR A SHORT FILM — The Car That Came Back from the Sea by Jadwiga Kowalska (Switzerland)
Full of exuberance and frivolousness, six friends drive to the Polish Baltic coast and back in a small, beaten-up car. During their trip, their car and their country fall apart. Nevertheless, life goes on.
ANDRÉ MARTIN AWARD FOR A FRENCH SHORT FILM — Butterfly / Papillon by Florence Miailhe (France | Sacrebleu Productions, XBO Films)
A man is swimming in the sea. As he does, memories rise to the surface. From his early childhood to his life as a man, all his memories are linked to water. Some are happy, some glorious, some traumatic.
BEST ORIGINAL MUSIC AWARD FOR A SHORT FILM — Joko — Aliaksandr Yasinski (Poland, Germany, Czechia | Las Sztuki Foundation, Clay Traces, Maur Film, Animoon)
Joko supports his family but faces humiliation when forced to carry city notables on his back, leading to a struggle between dignity and the lure of money in a tale of domination.
BEST ORIGINAL MUSIC AWARD FOR A FEATURE FILM — Flow — Rihards Zalupe, Gints Zilbalodis (Latvia, Belgium | Dream Well Studio, Take Five, Sacrebleu Productions)
A cat wakes up in a world covered in water, where the entire human race seems to have disappeared. He seeks refuge on a boat with a group of other animals. But getting along with them proves to be an even greater challenge than overcoming his fear of water! Everyone will need to learn to overcome their differences and adapt to this new world they find themselves in.
YOUNG AUDIENCE AWARD — Hello Summer by Martin Smatana, Veroni Zacharová (Slovakia, Czechia, France | Studio Bororo, Maur Film, Last Films, Vivement Lundi!)
Sea, sun, beaches and family holidays. But what if the hotel isn’t as stellar as promised, your room has a bit of a naughty view, the dinner is surprisingly exotic and your luggage travels elsewhere?
CANAL+ JUNIOR JURY AWARD — Noodles au Naturel by Matteo Salanave Piazza (France, La Poudrière)
In the pool changing room, Anthony realizes he has forgotten to bring his swim trunks. Swimming class is about to begin and he needs to find a solution.
FESTIVALS CONNEXION AWARD — Beautiful Men by Nicolas Keppens (Belgium, France, Netherlands | Animal Tank, Miyu Productions, Ka-Ching Cartoons)
Three balding brothers travel to Istanbul to get a hair transplant. Stuck with each other in a hotel far from home, their insecurities grow faster than their hair.
FESTIVALS CONNEXION VR AWARD — Emperor by Marion Burger, Ilan Cohen (France, Germany | Reynard Films, France Televisions, Atlas V)
A virtual reality interactive and narrative experience that invites the user to travel inside the brain of a father who is suffering from aphasia.
