At the heart of animation
Screenings, debates with authors and round table discussions: these are all part of the packed programme of the Animation Meetings taking place today at the Senate in Paris. The event is being organised by AGrAF, AFCA and SACD as part of the 2nd celebration of animation cinema (October 21-28 throughout the whole of France), with the participation of SPFA and TVFI, and the support of the CNC and CICT (the International Committee of Cinema, Television and Audiovisual Communications at UNESCO).
It’s an opportunity for professionals from the sector to look at the current state of animation in the French-speaking world, and to discuss current issues and debate about the future of the genre in the world market.
French animation is taking off after the success of the 2003 hit
Belleville Rendez-Vous [+see also:
trailer
film profile] by Sylvain Chomet. Though it should be said that as far as the conception and the making of these animations is concerned, there are current difficulties in the field of international funding. There is the fundamental question of finding a balance between the ambition to distribute films on a worldwide scale and the strictly Francophone nature of their creation (style of writing, graphics and filming style.
The day at the Senate aims to take an in-depth look at these issues, and in the morning a series of animated short films are being shown, followed by a discussion with four directors, including the French director Hoël Caouissin and the Belgium Jean-Luc Slock (atelier Caméra Enfants).
The afternoon is featuring a number of debates. The first will discuss French animation conquering the world markets with participation by Mathieu Béjot (general director, TVFI), Benoît Danard (CNC), Stéphane Le Bars (SPFA-the trade union of animation film producers) and Benjamin Legrand (SACD). While the theme "What contents to use for animation? The universality of expression of the Francophone cultural identity will see speeches by Lionel Charpy (the president of the AFCA), Patrick Eveno (producer, Folimage), Michel Ocelot (director) and Stéphane Piera (author and president of the AGrAF). Finally there’s the debate on "National and Francophone Support" with contributions from Maryse Brugière (head of programming, CSA), Christian Davin (the president of the SPFA) and David Kessler (the director general of the CNC).
(Translated from French)
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