It’s a wrap for the 2024 edition of Bordeaux’s Cartoon Movie (5-7 March), the pitching and co-production event for European animated films. On its closing day, the gathering announced the winners of the Distributor, Director, and Producer of the Year awards, best known as Cartoon Tributes. They were voted by more than 850 professionals attending the event from 35 different countries. “These prizes recognise the companies and personalities whose major contributions in their respective fields have significantly enhanced the European animation industry over the previous year,” states Cartoon Movie’s official press release.

On this occasion, French and Ukrainian professionals shared the podium.

Created in 1997, Paris-based outfit Eurozoom was crowned Distributor of Year thanks to its “extensive catalogue of European animated films, including Anca Damian’s The Island [+leggi anche:
recensione
trailer
scheda film], Salvador Simó’s Buñuel in the Labyrinth of the Turtles [+leggi anche:
recensione
trailer
scheda film] and Jan Bultheel’s Cafard [+leggi anche:
trailer
scheda film].

Meanwhile, the prize for Director of the Year was bestowed upon Jérémie Périn for his debut Mars Express [+leggi anche:
recensione
trailer
intervista: Jérémie Périn
scheda film] (France). The feature is a neo-noir science fiction film that was first presented at Cartoon Movie 2019. Produced by Everybody On Deck with the support of the Nouvelle-Aquitaine Region and the Charente Department, it was released nationwide in November 2023 after being screened at Cannes and Annecy.

Next, Ukraine’s Animagrad was named Produced of the Year. Launched in 2012 as part of Film, UA Group, it is currently one of the leading animation studios in Eastern Europe. The first international pitching session of their animated hit Mavka: The Forest Song was held at Cartoon Movie in 2017. Following its premiere in Ukraine in March 2023, the film was sold to over 80 countries.

Finally, the Eurimages Co-Production Development Award – consisting of a cash prize of €20,000 – went to Pesta, produced by Lise Fearnley and Tonje Skar Reiersen for Mikrofilm AS (Norway), with Xilam Films (France) and Knudsen Pictures (Germany). The adult/young adult-orientated picture is set in 1349 Norway, amidst the Black Plague. In it, a religious noble girl transforms into Pesta, the plague incarnate, to save her outlaw pagan lover.

Here is the full list of this year’s award winners:

Distributor of the Year
Eurozoom (France)

Director of the Year
Jérémie Périn - Mars Express [+leggi anche:
recensione
trailer
intervista: Jérémie Périn
scheda film] (France)

Producer of the Year
Animagrad (FILM.UA Group) - Mavka. The Forest Song (Ukraine)

Eurimages Co-Production Development Award
Pesta - Mikrofilm AS (Norway), Xilam Films (France), Knudsen Pictures (Germany)