06/03/2018 - The European animation co-production forum kicks off tomorrow in Bordeaux with more than 880 industry professionals and 60 projects taking part in the rendezvous

It’s all systems go for the 20th edition of the Cartoon Movie European animated film market, which will unspool from 7-9 March in Bordeaux and looks set to break its own records, in terms of both the number of professionals in attendance (880 of them, hailing from 41 countries, including 257 buyers) and the number of projects being showcased (60, of which 21 are at the concept stage, 26 in development, six in production and seven shown as sneak previews). France clearly dominates proceedings, with 18 projects, followed by Germany (seven), Spain (five), Denmark (three), Belgium (two), the Czech Republic (two), Italy (two), the Netherlands (two) and Poland (two).

There is a definite trend towards the resurgence of family comedies and children’s films, which represent 80% of the selected projects. The projects aimed at teenage and adult audiences, which are less plentiful than in previous years, mainly due to the reluctance of television channels to invest in this segment, are nonetheless no less interesting. Among them, we could highlight the sneak preview of Chris the Swiss [+see also:
film review
trailer
interview: Anja Kofmel
film profile] by Anja Kofmel (staged by German outfit MA.JA.DE. Filmproduktion together with Switzerland’s Dschoint Ventschr Filmproduction and Croatia’s Nukleus Film), which tells the story of the inquiry into the death of journalist Christian Würtenberg during the Balkan War in 1992. 

Three other literary adaptations also particularly stand out: Allah Is Not Obliged by Zaven Najjar, based on the novel of the same name by Ahmadou Kourouma (in development – produced by French outfit Special Touch Studios together with Luxembourg’s Paul Thiltges Distribution), about child soldiers in Liberia; Folio d’Alba by Frédéric and Samuel Guillaume (adapted from Pierre Bordage’s science-fiction novel Les Fables de l’Humpur – in development and being staged by Belgian outfit Nexus Factory together with Switzerland’s Film & Video Production); and The Sea Wolf by Emmanuel Gorinstein, based on Jack London’s book (also in development – produced by France’s Elda Productions together with fellow French company Je Suis Bien Content and Luxembourg’s Mélusine).

Among the projects intended for young audiences, we could single out Slocum by France’s Jean-François Laguionie (in development – JPL Films), A Greyhound of a Girl [+see also:
film review
trailer
film profile] by Italy’s Enzo d'Alò (in development – Paul Thiltges Distribution together with British outfit The Illuminated Film Company and Italy’s Aliante), Bartali's Bicycle [+see also:
film review
film profile] by his fellow countryman Enrico Paolantonio (in development – Lynx Multimedia Factory), In the Dark and Mysterious Forest by French duo Alexis Ducord and Vincent Paronnaud (at the concept stage - Je Suis Bien Content), and The Last Whale Singer by Reza Memari (at the concept stage - Telescope Animation - Germany). Another notable title on account of its up-and-coming young director is The Precious Gift by Lenka Ivancikova (at the concept stage – produced by Czech firm Animation People).

Cartoon Movie, which has since 1999 enabled more than 300 films to secure funding to the tune of a total of €2 billion, will this year put Spain firmly centre stage via a Spotlight, will host a Europa Distribution workshop (see the news), and will hand out the traditional Cartoon Tributes (see the news about the nominees) and, for the first time ever, a Eurimages Co-production Development Award.

(Translated from French)