{"id":408055,"date":"2026-04-20T10:10:10","date_gmt":"2026-04-20T10:10:10","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ie\/408055\/"},"modified":"2026-04-20T10:10:10","modified_gmt":"2026-04-20T10:10:10","slug":"cannes-annecy-animation-showcase-alain-gagnol-sofia-carrillo","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ie\/408055\/","title":{"rendered":"Cannes Annecy Animation Showcase: Alain Gagnol, Sofia Carrillo"},"content":{"rendered":"

\n\tThe Annecy Animation Showcase<\/a> comes back to Cannes\u2019 March\u00e9 du Film for yet another year, shedding light on five promising animated features.\u00a0<\/p>\n

\n\tHailing from Japan, France and Mexico, these ongoing projects bring animation to Cannes, a collaboration between Cannes\u2019 March\u00e9 du Film and the Annecy Festival which started in 2019 with an Animation Day and has been growing ever since.<\/p>\n

\n\t\u201cFor Annecy, this Showcase represents a key extension of our commitment to supporting animation beyond the Festival itself, throughout the year,\u201d said Annecy Festival CEO Micka\u00ebl Marin.<\/p>\n

\n\t\u201cBuilt over time with the March\u00e9 du Film, this collaboration allows us to accompany projects at a decisive stage, within one of the most strategic global platforms. It\u2019s both a continuity and an amplification of our mission, in service of the movies,\u201d he added.\u00a0<\/p>\n

\n\t\u201cAnimation has always had a strong presence in Cannes, particularly within the Official Selection,\u201d underlined Alexandra Zakharchenko, head of industry programs at the March\u00e9 du Film. \u201cIn recent years, several animated titles presented in the Festival have achieved major international recognition and the role of animation within the broader ecosystem of the March\u00e9 du Film has significantly evolved.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n

\n\tZakharchenko refers to films such as \u201cFlow,\u201d which debuted its circuit run at Cannes 2024, before meeting global success with audiences and critics alike. \u201cFlow\u201d and its surprise Academy Award win opened a path that other major indie animated titles such as Ugo Bienvenu\u2019s \u201cArco\u201d and \u201cLittle Amelie and the Character of Rain\u201d have since tried as well.\u00a0<\/p>\n

\n\t\u201cWe are also seeing a growing interest in the potential of animation among professionals already attending Cannes, many of whom are no longer exclusively specialized in animation but are increasingly engaging with it,\u201d continued Zakharchenko. \u201cPrivate investors also increasingly view animation as an IP-driven business model. Animation travels across territories, platforms and generations, while offering long-term value beyond the screen. As buyers shift from volume to durability, animation stands out as a resilient ecosystem \u2013 connecting storytelling, fandom, distribution and global exploitation in ways few other formats can.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n

\n\tAccording to Zakharchenko, this shift is something the teams aim to reflect at the March\u00e9 du Film itself, where animation is no longer confined to a single Animation Day, but is now embedded across the entire market under the Cannes Animation umbrella, spanning a wide range of formats: from work-in-progress and finished film showcases to panels, workshops, networking events, and its integration into other programs, including targeted co-production meetings.\u00a0<\/p>\n

\n\tThis year, with Japan the 2026 Country of Honor at the March\u00e9 du Film, the teams are also placing a particular focus on Japanese animation, alongside the longstanding strength and global reputation of French animation, a focus that is mirrored in the five projects selected for this year\u2019s Annecy Animation Showcase.<\/p>\n

\n\tA closer look at the titles:<\/p>\n

\n\t\u201cHidari,\u201d Masashi Kawamura (Japan) <\/p>\n

\n\tProducers: Dwarf Studios, Whatever, Tecarat<\/p>\n

\n\tLanguage: English; Genre: Action; Artistic technique: Stop motion animation; Completion: 2029<\/p>\n

\n\tBetrayed during Edo Castle\u2019s reconstruction, legendary craftsman Jingoro Hidari loses his father figure, fianc\u00e9e, and even his right arm. Forging lethal mechanical prosthetics, he turns grief into vengeance and carves a path to justice with his loyal \u201cSleeping Cat.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n

\n\tA pilot film<\/a> teasing the mindblowing wooden stop-motion technique used to bring \u201cHidari\u201d to life was shared three years ago by the project teams as proof of concept, along with BTS footage. Per \u201cHidari\u2019s\u201d team, Japanese animation is still highly recognized across the world for its unique visual language, which gives it the distinct flare. \u201cWe wanted to create an entertainment piece that no one has seen before, by merging this world of Japanimation and the technique of stop-motion animation. To do so, breathing life into wood (through wooden puppets animated in stop motion) mirrored both our artistic intentions and the anecdotes surrounding Jingoro Hidari\u2019s life.\u201d The project goes beyond live-action and 2D animation to craft a one-of-a-kind look, with a lot of potential for memorable action sequences.<\/p>\n

\t\t\t\t\t\t\"\"<\/p>\n

\t\t\t\t\t\u2018Hidari\u2019<\/p>\n

\n\t\u201cBataille,\u201d Vergine Keaton (France, Canada, Italy, Belgium) <\/p>\n

\n\tProducers: Iliade et films, Les Astronautes, Embuscade Films, Altara Films, Umedia<\/p>\n

\n\tLanguage: French; Genre: Drama; Artistic technique: 2D animation; Completion: 2028<\/p>\n

\n\tOn a cold winter morning, a battle rages in the surroundings of a small town in the Italian Renaissance. As the military tactics gradually go awry, two movements oppose each other: the desire to win and the desire to live. Written and directed by Annecy-nominated artist Vergine Keaton, \u201cBataille\u201d draws from Renaissance art to transform a single conflict into a universal allegory.<\/p>\n

\n\t\u201cBeyond the grand scale,\u201d said Keaton, the film \u201cdissects group dynamics (hierarchy, power, submission) and transcends history to focus on the intimate. And in doing so, \u2018Bataille\u2019 weaves a tapestry of individual stories.\u201d\u00a0 With French singer-songwriter Pomme taking part in the project, which is backed by France\u2019s CNC National Film Board, \u201cBataille\u2019s\u201d distinctive style and universal message have all that it takes to charm international buyers at this year\u2019s showcase.\u00a0<\/p>\n

\t\t\t\t\t\t\"\"<\/p>\n

\t\t\t\t\t\u2018Bataille\u2019<\/p>\n

\n\t\u201cLes chiens ne font pas des chats,\u201d Alain Gagnol<\/a> (France, Canada, Belgium)<\/p>\n

\n\tProducers: J\u00e9r\u00f4me Duc-Maug\u00e9 (Parmi les lucioles films), Brice Garnier (Ka\u00efbou Production Inc.), C\u00e9dric Iland (UMEDIA)<\/p>\n

\n\tLanguage: French; Genre: Drama; Artistic technique: 2D animation with 3D elements; Completion: 2027<\/p>\n

\n\tJules and Lola\u2019s life has taken a sad turn after their parents\u2019 death, but their routine is disrupted by their grandmother Jeanne, who turns up with a very special mission: to find a missing teenager. Thanks to their grandmother, they discover an extraordinary family legacy within themselves.\u00a0With a star-studded French cast including Josiane Balasko as Jeanne, Golshifteh Farahani as Sunny, Philippe Katerine as Bono, Prune Bozo as Lola and Ethan Maury Tragherset as Jules, the latest film from Oscar-nominated writer-director and French animation veteran Alain Gagnol (\u201cA Cat in Paris\u201d) explores the bond between animals and humans, as the latter discover that cats and dogs can actually speak.\u00a0<\/p>\n

\n\t\u201cI like to think that the world doesn\u2019t stop at what our eyes can perceive,\u201d, added Gagnol, as he shared details about a story playing with our imagination and moving across genres, from fantasy to road-movie to slapstick to poetry. \u201cI wanted to address a family audience, as I\u2019m convinced that the children\u2019s perception of a film becomes richer with time. But above all, for this new film, I wanted to make them laugh!\u201d<\/p>\n

\n\tKMBO distributes in France, with Playtime handling international sales. \u201cLes chiens ne font pas des chats,\u201d has already received support from Eurimages, and is set for completion in 2027.<\/p>\n

\t\t\t\t\t\t\"\"<\/p>\n

\t\t\t\t\t\u2018Les chiens ne font pas des chats\u2019<\/p>\n

\n\t\u201cWasted Chef,\u201d Takayuki Hirao (Japan)<\/p>\n

\n\tProducers: CLAP Co., Ltd. Japan<\/p>\n

\n\tLanguage: Japanese; Genre: Drama; Artistic technique: 2D\/3D animation; Completion: 2027<\/p>\n

\n\tA young chef chasing a lost flavor lands in a ruined city without taste. Saved by Kasumi, his cooking awakens forgotten memories. But a dark force threatens to erase all desire \u2014 making his quest the last hope to save both worlds. The project, first revealed by \u201cPompo: The Cinephile\u201d and \u201cGyo: Tokyo Fish Attack\u201d director Takayuki Hirao in 2024 at the New Chitose Airport International Animation Festival, Hokkaido, Japan, is a completely original film reuniting the \u201cPompo\u201d team.\u00a0<\/p>\n

\n\tRyoichiro Matsuo, Yunosuke Uno and Kosuke Arai produce for CLAP studio, which teased \u201cWasted Chef\u201d as \u201ca unique yet classic Japanese animation that challenges a new genre, combining cooking and science fiction.\u201d Although few details have been made public yet, Crunchyroll previously reported<\/a> that Hirao\u2019s collaborators Shingo Adachi (character design) and Kenta Matsukuma (music) are working with the director again, after their successful collaboration on \u201cPompo.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n

\t\t\t\t\t\t\"\"<\/p>\n

\t\t\t\t\t\u2018Wasted Chef\u2019<\/p>\n

\n\t\u201cInsectario,\u201d Sof\u00eda Carrillo (Mexico, Spain)<\/p>\n

\n\tProducers: Pimienta Films, Inicia Films; Language: Spanish<\/p>\n

\n\tGenre: Drama, Comedy; Artistic technique; Completion: 2028<\/p>\n

\n\tIn a world where insects have gone extinct, Lexi preserves specimens in a collection for her uncle, Dr. Krause, an entomologist. After removing the pin from a rare Attacus atlas moth, she takes it home to hide her mistake, only to discover it has come back to life.<\/p>\n

\n\t\u201cInsectario\u201d itself is brought to the big screen by established Mexican filmmaker Sof\u00eda Carrillo.\u201cSof\u00eda is one of the most distinctive and vibrant voices in animation in Mexico,\u201d said Pimienta Films\u2019 Nicolas Celis, producer of Alfonso Cuar\u00f3n\u2019s \u201cRoma.\u201d \u201cHer work stands out for its visually striking style, imbued with an unsettling and deeply emotional poetics.\u201d<\/p>\n

\n\tThe two-time Ariel Awards winner and Guillermo del Toro\u2019s \u201cPinocchio\u201d team member makes her feature debut with this ambitious, narratively unique and sensitive film, already selected for Ventana Sur and the Quirino Awards Co-Production Forum, and backed by Mexican National Fund, Spain and Ibermedia Next.<\/p>\n

\t\t\t\t\t\t\"\"<\/p>\n

\t\t\t\t\t\u2018Insectario\u2019<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"The Annecy Animation Showcase comes back to Cannes\u2019 March\u00e9 du Film for yet another year, shedding light on…\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":408056,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[27],"tags":[179419,179420,10532,93,61,60,179421,270,179422],"class_list":{"0":"post-408055","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-movies","8":"tag-alain-gagnol","9":"tag-annecy-animation-showcase","10":"tag-cannes-film-festival","11":"tag-entertainment","12":"tag-ie","13":"tag-ireland","14":"tag-marche-du-film","15":"tag-movies","16":"tag-sofia-carrillo"},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/408055","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=408055"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/408055\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/408056"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=408055"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=408055"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=408055"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}