Created in 2001, the awards for best director, distributor and producer of the year seek to reward companies and personalities who have contributed to the development of European animation over the last year.
Cartoon Movie Tributes has fostered a reputation as one of the most professional and significant awards in this field, with the winners selected by the participants attending Cartoon Movie 2009, the annual meeting point for the European animation industry which will be held this year in Lyon, France, from 4-6 March. Directors and companies from eight different countries are among the nominees. The winners will be announced at the Centre de Congrès in Lyon on 7 March.
The nominees are:
Best European Director of the Year
* Thorbjørn Christoffersen, Craig Frank and Kresten Vestbjerg Andersen (Denmark) for «Journey to Saturn»
* Jacques-Rémy Girerd (France) for «Mia and the Migoo»
* Tomm Moore (Ireland) for «The Secret of Kells»
Best European Distributor of the Year
* BAC Films (France)
* Intersonic (Slovak Republic)
* Lusomundo (Portugal)
Best European Producer of the Year
* Anima Vitae / Cinemaker (Finland) / Ulysses (Germany) / A. Film (Denmark) / Magma Films (Ireland) for «Niko & the Way to the Stars»
* Crone Film (Denmark) / Sola Media (Germany) for «Sunshine Barry and the Disco Worms»
* Kandor Graphics / Perro Verde Films / Green Moon (Spain) for «The Missing Lynx»
* Cartoon Saloon (Ireland) / Les Armateurs (France) / Vivi Film (Belgium) for «The Secret of Kells»
The organisers of Cartoon Movie also announced that the Danish film «Journey to Saturn» has been chosen to open the event on Wednesday 4 March. Produced by A. Film and directed by Thorbjørn Christoffersen, Craig Frank and Kresten Vestbjerg Andersen, this unconventional CGI animation tells with adult humour the space journey of an incompetent crew of Danish astronauts. Based on the classic Danish graphic novel by Claus Deleuran the film was released last September in Denmark.
About Cartoon Movie
Organised every year since 1999 by Cartoon - European Association of Animation Film, Cartoon Movie brings together some 500 producers, investors and distributors of feature-length animation films from across Europe. The objective of the event is to increase the number of co-productions and cross-border projects, to facilitate financing and production and ensure the distribution of the films both across Europe and internationally.
Cartoon Movie 2009 is organised with the support of the Media Programme of the European Union, CNC (Centre Nationale du Cinématographie), the Rhône Alpes Region, Greater Lyon and in collaboration with the Cluster Rhône Alpes Imaginove (Lyon).
For images on high resolution, please visit:
www.cartoon-media.be/MOVIE/press.php
<http://www.cartoon-media.be/MOVIE/press.php> (password: 11inlyon)
Cartoon Movie Organisation: Annick Maes
Tel: (32) (2) 242 93 43 - This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. <This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.>
International Press: Gerardo Michelin
Tel: (34) (630) 57 22 68 - This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
