13/03/2017 - Claude Barras has been crowned Best European Animation Director of 2016, and his film has also come out on top in the Producers category

(l-r) Peter Solvsten Thomsen (Angel Films), Armelle Glorennec (Blue Spirit Productions) and Marc Bonny (Gebeka Films)

After being nominated for the Oscar, and winning a European Film Award, two Césars, two Lumières Awards, the Crystal at Annecy and a prize at San Sebastián since it was first presented in the Cannes Directors’ Fortnight, while simultaneously also enjoying an impressive theatrical run (taking 771,000 admissions in France), My Life as a Zucchini [+see also:
film review
trailer
interview: Claude Barras
film profile], the feature debut by Swiss director Claude Barras, has added two further awards to its trophy cabinet at the 19th edition of Cartoon Movie (8-10 March 2017), by scooping two Cartoon Movie Tributes.

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My Life as a Zucchini emerged triumphant in the categories of Best European Director of the Year and Best European Producer of the Year, thanks to the trio made up of Rita Productions (Switzerland), Blue Spirit Productions and Gebeka Films (France). As a reminder, the movie also received backing through co-productions by France 3 Cinéma, RTS, Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes Cinéma and Helium Films, and it was also pre-purchased by Canal+ and Ciné+. Its international sales are handled by Indie Sales. 

The third Cartoon Tribute, for European Distributor of the Year, was bestowed upon Danish distributor Angel Films and was handed to Peter Sølvsten Thomsen in Bordeaux. Over the last few years, the company has brought out such titles as Phantom Boy [+see also:
trailer
film profile], Moomins on the Riviera [+see also:
trailer
film profile], L'apprenti Père Noël et le flocon magique [+see also:
trailer
film profile], Pinocchio [+see also:
film review
trailer
interview: Enzo D'Alò
film profile], Tad, the Lost Explorer [+see also:
trailer
film profile], Ernest and Célestine [+see also:
film review
trailer
interview: Benjamin Renner, Vincent Pa…
film profile] and Zarafa [+see also:
trailer
film profile] in Denmark. And fittingly, its line-up also includes My Life as a Zucchini. 

Each year, the Cartoon Movie Tributes serve to reward a leading figure or company that has had a dynamic and positive influence on the European animated feature-film industry.

(Translated from French)