11/12/2017 - Claude Barras’ film dominates the winners’ list of the first edition of the trophies handed out by the European Animation Awards association

Founded by the European Animation Awards with the aim of rewarding "the excellence and diversity of European animation", the first-ever Emile Awards were handed out on 8 December in Lille, at a ceremony that brought together the crème de la crème of a sector that is highly dynamic in terms of artistic quality, technical expertise and job creation on the Continent.

Open to works that were released or circulated between 1 January 2016 and 31 July 2017, this first edition allowed the Swiss-French production My Life as a Courgette [+see also:
film review
trailer
interview: Claude Barras
film profile] by Claude Barras to add three new accolades to its already very well-stocked trophy cabinet. Unveiled in the Directors’ Fortnight last year, nominated for the Oscar, the winner of two César Awards (Best Adaptation and Best Animated Film), two Lumières Awards (Best Screenplay and Best Animated Film), the European Film Award for Best Animated Film, as well as the Crystal for Best Feature and the Audience Award at Annecy, the feature triumphed in Lille, scooping the Emile Awards for Best Feature Film, Best Writing and Best Soundtrack. We should point out that it came out last Thursday in Greece, courtesy of Rosebud/Seven Films.

The Red Turtle [+see also:
film review
trailer
film profile] by Dutch director Michael Dudok de Wit took home two trophies, for Best Storyboard and Best Character Animation, while Long Way North [+see also:
trailer
film profile] by France’s Rémi Chayé rounds off the list of feature-length winners, with the Award for Best Background and Character Design.

Here is the full list of winners:

Feature Film category

Best Feature Film
My Life as a Courgette [+see also:
film review
trailer
interview: Claude Barras
film profile] – Claude Barras (Switzerland/France)

Best Writing
My Life as a Courgette

Best Storyboard
The Red Turtle [+see also:
film review
trailer
film profile] - Michael Dudok De Wit (France/Belgium/Japan)

Best Character Animation
The Red Turtle

Best Background and Character Design
Long Way North [+see also:
trailer
film profile] - Rémi Chayé (France/Denmark)

Best Soundtrack
My Life as a Courgette

Short Film category

Best Animated Short Film
The Burden - Niki Lindroth von Bahr (Sweden)

Best Background and Character Design
Peripheria - David Coquard-Dassault (France)

Television category

Best TV/Broadcast Production
Revolting Rhymes (UK)

Best Writing
The Amazing World of Gumball (UK)

Best Storyboard
Shaun the Sheep, series 5 (UK)

Best Character Animation
Revolting Rhymes

Best Background and Character Design
Ernest & Celestine (France/Belgium/Luxembourg)

Best Soundtrack
Lastman (France)

Student Film category

Best Student Film
Merlot - Marta Gennari and Giulia Martinelli (Italy)

Commissioned Film category

Best Commissioned Film
The Last Job on Earth (UK)

(Translated from French)