Between 4 and 6 March, 16 animation directors, producers, institutional representatives, and other industry professionals will gather in Bordeaux, France, to represent the Latvian animation industry in the annual pitching and co-production forum, Cartoon Movie (read news).

Held in Nouvelle-Aquitaine, this prestigious event is one of Europe’s leading animation industry gatherings. Since 1999, it has facilitated the funding of more than 480 animated features worth €3.2 billion. Each year, over 850 industry professionals convene in Bordeaux to discover new animated features, to seek co-producers and financiers, and to secure distribution and sales deals.

Gints Zilbalodis’ Flow [+lee también:
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Thanks to the global attention which Flow has drawn towards Latvian animation, the 2025 edition of the French industry gathering will celebrate the Baltic country’s artistry with a dedicated Spotlight on Latvia.

Between 5 and 6 March, three new Latvian animated features will be presented among the 55 projects selected from across Europe. The first is Born in the Jungle by Edmunds Jansons (produced by Latvia’s Atom Art, Poland’s Letko and Czech studio Hausboot), described as “a gorgeous and fascinating adventure story set in the jungle thickets.”

The second is the final instalment of Signe Baumane’s trilogy, which began with Rocks in My Pockets [+lee también:
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Finally, Studija Kokles will present Kārlis Vītols’ debut animated feature, The Northern Star, co-produced with France’s Yabunousagi. The film promises to be “a wonder-filled road story dedicated to the doctor, collector, and creator of the first Baltic museum, Nikolaus von Himzel.”

Meanwhile, the three production teams behind Flow - Latvia’s Dream Well Studio, France’s Sacrebleu Productions, and Belgium’s Take Five – have been nominated as European Producers of the Year at this year’s Cartoon Tributes. The awards will be voted on by industry representatives attending the event, with the winners due to be announced on 6 March.

The Spotlight on Latvia is being organised by the Latvian Animation Association, with support from the National Film Centre of Latvia and LIAA – Investment and Development Agency of Latvia.