Amsterdam’s Cinekid Festival wrapped up Friday with the big awards winners reveal. While the majority of major prizes went to live-action projects — including the €10,000 Best Children’s Film winner Wallay (Berni Goldblat) and €7,500 Best Dutch Family Film winner The Day My Father Became a Bush (Nicole van Kilsdonk) — there were a couple noteworthy animated triumphs.
In the Best European Short Animation Film juried category, Kateřina Karhánková’s Fruits of Clouds came out on top. Produced in the Czech Republic by MasterFilm and co-production partners FAMU and Media Film (SK), the short introduces a community of burrow-dwelling creatures who survive on the glowing fruit that grows from rare falling seeds, and the one critter who is brave enough to venture into the dark woods to find a different food source. You can see a teaser on the MasterFilm website.
On the television side, the toon standout is Dutch/Belgian stop-motion series George & Paul, which took the Cinekid Kinderkast (Age 4-6) Audience Award. The bright and energetic comic adventures of two friends made out of building blocks is created by Erik Verkerk and Joost van den Bosch (Ka-Ching Cartoons) and produced by Pedri Animation & Beast Animation for NTR and VRT. (Official site)
Complete list of festival and Cinekid for Professionals winners here.
 and €7,500 Best Dutch Family Film winner The Day My Father Became a Bush (Nicole van Kilsdonk) -- there were a couple noteworthy animated triumphs.){kind=link}