Organizers of the first all-online Annecy festival have announced stellar additions to the 2020 virtual program, with major names in international animation joining the previously announced Masterclass, Work-in-Progress and Preview highlights.
Full program available here: www.annecy.org/programme:en
Each Annecy Masterclass showcases a journey, fueled by strong feeling and bold vision. Whether it’s the Blies Brothers, Bruno Coulais, Ron Clements, John Musker, Dean DeBlois or Henry Selick — all of them will speak about the passion that animates them!
Dean DeBlois | Join the writer-director Dean DeBlois (How to Train Your Dragon films) in conversation with Peter Debruge (Variety). Thursday, June 18, live at 5:00-6:00 p.m. (Central European Time – CET) then on replay at Annecy Online until June 30.
A Conversation Between Henry Selick and Bruno Coulais | Director Henry Selick and his composer Bruno Coulais discuss the role of music in Henry’s filmography and their collaborations on Coraline, as well as their upcoming film Wendell & Wild. Available to view from June 15-30.
Ron Clements and John Musker: On Animation, Careers and Industry | Legendary Disney directors Ron Clements and John Musker (The Little Mermaid, Aladdin, Hercules, The Princess and the Frog, Moana) discuss their careers and their views on the animation industry. Friday, June 19 live at 6:00-7:30 p.m. (CET), then on replay at Annecy Online until June 30.
Sexual Violence in Animation by the Blies Brothers | The trilogy on sexual violence is formulated in three cinematographic variations on the same theme. An opportunity to analyze with the directors the power of animation for addressing the issue of sexual violence.
Presented in 2019, the Blies Brothers’ Zero Impunity is hybrid animation and live recording in a feature film about sexual violence in wartime. Ghostdance, the second part in pre-production, will deal with indigenous femicide in Canada from a fictitious and poetic perspective. The third part, Aimer moins, will be focused on attachment and detachment theories. A film about a blighted and abused childhood, but it is especially a film about the friendship of two friends rehabilitating.
Available from June 15-30, live Q&A June 22 at 2:00-3:00 p.m. (CET). Zero Impunity will also be available for viewing on the platform throughout the Festival.
Cartoon Network Studios: The Art of Storyboarding | Discover the artists behind some of Cartoon Network Studios’ hit series such as Summer Camp Island, The Amazing World of Gumball and Apple & Onion. During this exclusive Masterclass, they will share their journeys, learnings and top tips for aspiring storyboard artists worldwide. Participants include:
- Mic Graves, Series Director, The Amazing World of Gumball; Executive Producer & Series Director, Elliott From Earth
- Julia Pott, Creator, Summer Camp Island
- Alabaster Pizzo, Storyboard Artist, Summer Camp Island
- Chuck Klein, Director, Apple & Onion
Available to view from June 15-30.
Joining the Work-in-Progress lineup is a first-look at Baobab Studios’s Baba Yaga — the Asteroid! and Bonfire studio’s latest immersive storytelling experience. Featured speakers will include:
- Maureen Fan, Baobab Studios’ Co-founder
- Eric Darnell, Co-founder/Director
- Larry Cutler, Co-founder/CTO.
As well as several other key members of the Baobab team such as:
- Kane Lee, Head of Content
- Mathias Chelebourg, Co-director
- Ken Fountain, Animation Supervisor
- Glenn Hernandez, Production Designer
Available to view from June 15-30, live Q&A on June 22 at 6:00-7:00 p.m. (CET)
In the Preview section, catch up on the latest developments in highly-anticipated animated features:
Connected | Directed by Mike Rianda and Jeff Rowe, produced by Phil Lord and Christopher Miller, from Sony Pictures Animation, distributed by Columbia Pictures / SPA. A comedy about an everyday family’s struggle to relate while technology rises up around the world! Working remotely to finish the film, the filmmakers and artistic team give us the latest news and an exclusive glimpse.
Yakari | Directed by Xavier Giacometti and Toby Genkel, produced by Dargaud Media, Wunderwerk GmbH and Belvision, distributed by BAC Films. With his tribe’s move to follow the migrating bison, Yakari, the little Sioux boy, sets out on his own to follow the trail of Little Thunder, a wild mustang said to be untameable. Travelling far from home and deep into the territory of the terrible Cougarskins, Yakari and Little Thunder undertake a great adventure and find their way back home.
La Calesita | Directed by Augusto Schillaci, produced by Reel FX. This is the heartfelt story of the beloved Argentinian merry-go-round operators who have dedicated their lives to providing fun and happiness to children and their neighborhoods.
Two beloved films bookending two decades of animated feature innovation have been added to the Making Of line-up.
Chicken Run | 20 years after the release of Chicken Run, Nick Park and Peter Lord look back at the making of this film which changed the history of animation and brought Aardman to a new level. Distribution: DreamWorks Animation SKG.
Into the Unknown: Making Frozen 2 | The pressure on filmmakers to create the next chapter in the Frozen saga was immense, made more so when cameras were invited to capture the last year of production as the team raced against the clock. Join Frozen 2 filmmakers, including Walt Disney Animation Studios’ Chief Creative Officer Jennifer Lee and her fellow director Chris Buck, as they share insights into the creation of both the film and the documentary series that followed them through the process. Into the Unknown: Making Frozen 2 is a rare and raw look at the creativity, heart and hard work that go into the craft of animation, giving viewers an insight into the world of our artists and storytellers as never before.
The first episode will be available to discover in OV with French subtitles from June 26-28. All six episodes of Into the Unknown: Making Frozen 2 will drop on Disney+ on Friday, June 26.
Online accreditation for the Annecy Festival and MIFA Market now open.
