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Annecy Festival
20 Movies to Catch at Annecy A
ah, lucky are the animated movie lovers who get to travel to Annecy this month! Festival organizers are screening 20 amazing new animated movies (10 in the official competition and another 10 in the Contrechamps “reverse shot” sidebar) from talented artists from around the world. Here is a quick rundown of these hot new titles, accompanied by comments from festival’s artistic director Marcel Jean. (We promise: If we haven’t covered them in the magazine yet, you’ll be reading more about them in the months ahead!)
Official Competition Blind Willow, Sleeping Woman. Dir. Pierre Foldes (Canada, France, Luxembourg). “This may very well be the most eagerly-awaited animation feature of the year! Adapted freely from several of Haruki Murakami’s short stories, the film is highly unique, its structure honoring the traits of the novellas which inspired the filmmaker.”
Charlotte. Dir. Eric Warin & Tahir Rana (Belgium, Canada, France). “The all-too short life of the German-Jewish painter Charlotte Salomon, who died at 26 in Auschwitz, is portrayed in this gripping movie which explores an outstanding artistic temperament swept up in the whirlwinds of history.” Goodbye, DonGlees! Dir. Atsuko Ishizuka (Japan). “Released in Japan in February, this is both a story of friendship and of rite of passage. Funny, moving, close to nature; a film which will delight anime fans.” The House of the Lost on the Cape. Dir. Shinya Kawatsura (Japan). “A meticulous adaptation of Kashiwaba’s novel, this feature film rekindles memories of the tragic 2011 earthquake and ensuing tsunami. Although the make-up of this film’s first few minutes may appear relatively conventional, the rest is definitely full
of surprises, with segments of it on the cusp of experimental.”
to renew its acquaintance with this too-rare auteur.”
The Island. Dir. Anca Damian (Romania, France, Belgium). “Using her unique and always surprising style, Anca Damian, winner of the 2012 Feature Film Cristal, freely revisits the myth of Robinson Crusoe, treating viewers with a dive into her baroque realm.”
My Love Affair with Marriage. Dir. Signe Baumane (U.S., Latvia, Luxembourg). “One of the great forces of contemporary feminist animation, here Signe Baumane offers us a second feature film pursuing an approach that’s both unique and consistent. It is equally intimate and drole, without forgetting the joy brought us by the songs interspersed throughout the story.”
Little Nicholas – Happy as Can Be. Dir. Amandine Fredon & Benjamin Massoubre (France, Luxembourg). “Using animation to redraw Sempé’s strokes and add color to the artist’s drawings was certainly a great challenge. A challenge taken up by a talented team that never took the easy way out and that ensures we feel right at home with Goscinny’s verve and Sempé’s agility. A major popular movie which — we do trust — will easily bridge the generation gap!” No Dogs or Italians Allowed. Dir. Alain Ughetto (France, Italy).“Jasmine was the revelation of the 2013 Annecy Festival. Now, nearly 10 years later, Alain Ughetto is back with a film that again draws deeply from autobiography, a film in which the narrative device is once again built on representation of the film’s production resources. Annecy Festival is thrilled
Nayola. Dir. José Miguel Ribeiro (Portugal, Belgium, Netherlands, France). “Political and social, José Miguel Ribeiro delves into Angolan history to relate the fate of three women from the same family, a tribute to the struggle of brave Angolan women whose lives are imprinted with the violence of history. This is a highly successful passage from short formats to feature film by a reputed short filmmaker.” Unicorn Wars. Dir. Alberto Vazquez (Spain, France). “Prolific and gifted, the Spaniard Alberto Vazquez favors us with his second feature film, so striking with its visual opulence, its generous staging and its originality. A pleasure not only for the eyes but for the spirit as well!”
Goodbye, Don Glees!
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No Dogs or Italians Allowed
jun|jul 22
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