Animation film production will be once again under the limelight in Cartoon Movie, the co-production and pitching event for European animated feature films to be held on March 4-6 in the French city of Bordeaux. Fifty-five projects from 16 countries will participate in the 27th edition of this event with the aim of accelerating their financing and encouraging their international distribution and exhibition. Selected from 120 submissions, the projects will be presented to potential co- producers, sales agents, distributors, streaming platforms representatives and investors, among others industry players. Twenty-one per cent of the projects in the line-up have been previously presented at Cartoon Movie, underlining the role of the event in the development of European animation. Since its first edition, Cartoon Movie has helped 486 films for a total budget of 3.2 billion EUR to advance towards their completion.
The line-up is spearheaded by France with 19 projects, followed by Germany (6), Norway (5) and Spain (4), while Latvia, Czechia, Belgium, and Ireland participate with three films each. Region-wise, with 11 projects, CEE countries participation almost doubles last year’s led by Latvia, which will be starring this year’s Spotlight.

The selection features new projects from seasoned directors such as Alain Ughetto (“Rose and the Marmots”), Anca Damian (“Short Stories about Love and Space”), Vincent Paronnaud & Alexis Ducord (“Treasure Island”), Toby Gunkel (“Skip”), Kajsa Næss (“How to deal with Shattering Geists”) and Werner Herzog, who is currently working on his first animated film, based on his book “The Twilight World”. European animation richness and diversity is also reflected in the wide array of genres featured in the selection, including adventure, comedy, drama, fantasy, and sci-fi, while inclusion, gender equity and sustainability concerns are among the topics addressed by the projects. Literary and comic-book adaptations, as well as films based on mythological and folklore tales, are also present in the line-up.

Although fiction and imaginary worlds are in the majority, reality finds its way into the selection. The life of artists such as Serge Gainsbourg (“Gainsbourg, rue de Verneuil”) or Sargis Mangasaryan (“Zako”) and of activists such as Anton de Kom (“Faya”) or Inês Etienne Romeu (“If I Die”) are at the heart of some of the projects to be pitched at the event. The destructive impact of war is also present in the line-up through the story of the last Japanese soldier to surrender after WWII (“The Twilight World”), while the Lebanese Civil War and the Six-Day War are the setting for “Thyme Hill” by Sarah Carlot Jabe and “Uncle Jo’s Cabin” by Marc Robinet & Maud Garnier, respectively. The full list of projects can be found here. Trends & Figures Cartoon Movie’s line-up includes mostly in-development projects (33) followed at a distance by in-concept (16) and in-production projects (3). The selection features also 3 sneak previews: “Fleak” by Jens Møller, “Tales From the Magic Garden” by Jean- Claude Rozec, Patrik Pass, Leon Vidmar and David Sukup, and “The Songbirds’
Secret” by Antoine Lanciaux. With an overall budget of 316.9 MIO EUR, this year films have an average cost of 5.6 MIO EUR, a 20% drop year-on year. With more than half of the projects (31) being produced among two or more Creative MEDIA countries, co-production emerges as the main financing model for animated films in Europe, while non-Creative MEDIA countries – including Canada, Colombia, Indonesia, Malaysia, the United Kingdom and the United States – are engaged in 7 co-productions.

All the Softness in the World

Regarding target groups, films aimed at Family audiences are nearly half of the total (45%), while those targeted at Young Adults/Adults have risen from 18% to 33% year- on-year and projects aimed at Children stand at 22%. Gender equity-wise, the number of films directed and produced by women are in line with last year’s (22% and 35%, respectively). The region Nouvelle-Aquitaine is represented by 7 projects. 6 projects are supported by the Nouvelle-Aquitaine Region: “The Dreamed Journey of Alpha Two” (Les Contes Modernes), “If I Die” (MIDRALGAR in co-production with Esther Vital (ES) & O Par (BR)), “All the Softness in the World” (Les Valseurs in co-production with Les Valseurs Bordeaux), “Bergeronnette” (Miyu Productions), ”Absolute Surrender” (Sun Creature in co-production with Brightstar (UK)) and “Treasure Island” (Je Suis Bien Content). Four are in production (or in co-production) with studios based in Bordeaux: “The Twilight World” (in co-production with Sun Creature), “Absolute Surrender” (Sun Creature), “If I Die” (MIDRALGAR) and “All the Softness in the World” (in co-production with Les Valseurs Bordeaux). Two involve regional authors or co-authors: “The Dreamed Journey of Alpha Two” (co-written by Alpha Kaba and Christophe Erbes) and “Treasure Island” (written by Vincent Paronnaud aka Winshluss). One project is supported by the Département Charente: “The Dreamed Journey of Alpha Two” (Les Contes Modernes).

Spotlight on Latvia

The Spotlight on Latvia will feature the projects “Born in the Jungle” by Edmunds Jansons (Atom Art), “Karmic Knot” by Signe Baumane (Studio Locomotive) and “The Northern Star” by Karlis Vitols (Studija Kokles). Latvia’s animation industry is gaining momentum after the international success of “Flow” by Gints Zilbalodis, which, presented at Cartoon Movie 2022, has been recognised by the European Film Awards (EFA) and the 82nd Golden Globes. The film is also in the race in the Animated Feature Film and International Feature Film categories for the 97th Academy Awards. Rooted in a rich storytelling heritage and driven by innovation, Latvian animation is ready to further expand its global presence. The industry merges history with contemporary perspectives, bold visionary voices, and mastery of diverse techniques. From captivating tales for children to thought-provoking works for adults, there’s animation for everyone. Latvian animation is not just going with the flow – they are the ones shaping it.

This Spotlight is organised by Latvian Animation Association and supported by the National Film Centre of Latvia and the Investment and Development Agency of Latvia.

About Cartoon Movie
Since its first edition in 1999, 486 films have been financially supported by Cartoon Movie for a total budget of 3.2 billion EUR. Organised by CARTOON, Cartoon Movie is an annual forum aimed at strengthening the production and distribution of animated feature films in Europe. The event has the support of Creative Europe – MEDIA, CNC (Centre national du cinéma et de l’image animée), Région Nouvelle-Aquitaine, Bordeaux Métropole, Pôle Image Magelis and France Télévisions. CARTOON – European Association of Animation Film is an international non-profit association based in Brussels that organises Cartoon Movie, together with Cartoon Forum, a co-production forum for animated TV series, and the training seminars Cartoon Springboard, CartoonNext, and Cartoon Business.
Cartoon Director: Annick Maes

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