01/10/2025 - Four animation talents have been chosen to take part in the new edition of the residency, supported by Film Fund Luxembourg, Magelis and Wallimage

l-r: Vanessa Vincent (Wallimage), directors Perrine Vanderhaeghen, Martina Doll and Stéphane Hueber-Blies, and Virginie Nouvelle (Wallimage) (© Wallimage)

Four animation talents have been chosen to take part in the new edition of the Animation3 residency, an initiative supported by Film Fund Luxembourg, the French cluster Magelis and the Belgian audiovisual fund Wallimage. Announced before the summer, the programme officially kicked off on 29 September 2025, with an itinerant journey that will take participants to Luxembourg, Wallonia and Angoulême, the French capital of comics.

The four selected auteurs will each receive a €3,000 grant, and will have their accommodation, meals and travel expenses covered, as well as benefiting from guidance from tutors and industry professionals. The aim is to support the launch of original film and television projects, still at the writing stage, with the potential to reach cross-border audiences and foster co-production between the three territories.

Among the selected projects is Lyra & Armin, an animated feature by brothers Nicolas Blies and Stéphane Hueber-Blies (Luxembourg), described as a dramatic and poetic tale. From France comes Le Grand Saut, a 3D children’s series with a light and humorous tone, created by author Martina Doll. Rounding off the trio is Ariette, a 2D feature by Belgian filmmaker Perrine Vanderhaeghen, conceived as a family story deeply connected with nature.

The programme will unfold in three stages: one week in Wallonia, one in Luxembourg and one in Angoulême. This itinerant dimension reflects the spirit of the project, launched in 2023 to stimulate European cooperation in the field of animation, and to encourage the circulation of stories and creators.

Incorporating more than 30 studios and 1,500 professionals, Magelis stands as the second-largest animation production hub in France after Paris, while Wallimage continues its targeted support strategy for the audiovisual and gaming industries in Belgium. For its part, Film Fund Luxembourg contributes its consolidated expertise in selective funding and development support.

This first edition of Animation3 therefore represents a significant step in building a shared ecosystem dedicated to European animation, offering auteurs the chance to grow in an international environment and to develop future productive collaborations.