20th May 2021
The 2021 Feature Films Official Selection is Revealed!
With this announcement, all the works for this 2021 Festival edition are now disclosed!
Don’t wait any longer, check out the list of Feature Films in competition, including the Official and Contrechamp:
Feature films in competition – Official:
My Sunny Maad by Michaela PAVLÁTOVÁ – France, Czech Republic
"My Sunny Maad is the first feature film by a female director awarded the Cristal for a Short Film in 2012. It is a touching story full of nuances and subtlety about a Western woman’s experience of living in Afghanistan. Without doubt one of the most eagerly awaited films of the year!"
The Ape Star by Linda HAMBÄCK – Denmark, Norway, Sweden
"A film that follows the grand tradition of cinema for young audiences, from the north of Europe."
Snotty Boy by Marcus ROSENMÜLLER, Santiago LOPEZ JOVER – Germany, Austria
"This Austrian feature film is a pleasant surprise; a funny movie that takes a biting look at reality."
You Animal! The Nimfa Dimaano Story by Avid LIONGOREN – Philippines
"One of the selection’s special surprises. A fun and funny film tackling adult topics, with complex characters and a scathing depiction of social differences."
Poupelle of Chimney Town by HIROTA Yusuke – Japan
"An absolutely astonishing, profoundly original futuristic work coming to us from Studio 4°C."
Jiang Ziya: The Legend of Deification by LI Wei, CHENG Teng – China
"A spectacular action and adventure work, another lush example of the artistic ambitions and high technical feats of Chinese animation.”
The Deer King by ANDO Masashi, MIYAJI Masayuki – Japan
"Production IG studio’s most recent production, a film impatiently awaited by animation fans. This is a complex, expansive and ambitious work. Among others, Masachi Ando is known for having worked alongside Hayao Miyazaki and Satoshi Kon."
Flee by Jonas POHER RASMUSSEN – Denmark, France, Norway, Sweden
"A highly-anticipated feature film coming to us after its incredible success early this year at Sundance.”
Lamya’s Poem by Alex KRONEMER – Canada, USA
"A movie which belongs to the introductory geopolitical sphere, quite present in animation cinema the recent years with such films as The Breadwinner. Lamya’s Poem is the first animation feature directed by Alex Kronemer, already the scriptwriter of Bilal: A New Breed of Heroes, selected out of competition at Annecy 2015."
Josée, The Tiger and the Fish by TAMURA Kotaro – Japan
"A juicy rom-com produced by Bones that holds pride of place at the Festival’s opening session.”
Marcel Jean, Artistic Director
Feature films in competition – Contrechamp:
Mount Fuji Seen from a Moving Train by Pierre HÉBERT – Canada
"A living legend in film-stock engraving and animated explorations combining documentary and multi-disciplinary experimentations, Pierre Hébert has gifted us today with a major work inspired by pioneer Robert Breer."
Archipelago by Félix DUFOUR-LAPERRIÈRE – Canada
"This film signals the return of a filmmaker with a strong artistic touch, just two years after treating us to Ville Neuve, also competing in the Contrechamp section. What we have here is a visually sumptuous essay, reminiscent of the spirit of Chris Marker."
Cryptozoo by Dash SHAW – USA
"Cryptozoo comes to us following rave reviews at Berlin and Sundance. This feature film spins its magic between poetry, science-fiction and political philosophy. With it, Dash Shaw has shown himself to be a rightful heir to René Laloux."
Chicken of the Mound by CHEN Xi – Germany, China
"This movie will astound many! The director entices us into a world thronging with robots, a mix between David O’Reilly and Matrix."
Climbing by KIM Hye-mi – South Korea
"Climbing follows a female character obsessed with mountain climbing and performance, forced to face her own personal demons. Here is a film that flickers between intrigue, mystery and nightmare.”
Absolute Denial by Ryan BRAUND – United Kingdom
"A one-man work that once again describes how an artificial intelligence can overtake its creator.”
Bob Spit – We Do Not Like People by Cesar CABRAL – Brazil
"This film was to have been part of the Annecy 2020 selection. Unfortunately, this stop-motion documentary dedicated to the famous artist Angeli could not be completed on time due to the pandemic. We are so very happy to be able to present it to you this year.”
My Uncle José by Ducca RIOS – Brazil
"A political and historical work made for young viewers. A beautiful example of the creativity that has courageously survived in Brazilian animation through these very tough times.”
City of Lost Thing by YEE Chih-Yen – Taiwan
"This work entices us into a city awash with plastic bags and other discarded items. What we have here is an original piece, with a strong musical underpinning.”
Marcel Jean, Artistic Director
The other major announcement: Gan Foundation Award for Distribution now part of the official competition!
The Fondation Gan pour le Cinéma has been backing the Annecy International Animation Film Festival for 15 years. In 2021 this partnership will grow even stronger: the Gan Foundation Award for Distribution will now reward a feature film from the official competition.
The 20,000 € endowed prize will be awarded to the French distributor of the film chosen by the Fondation and will enable the winner to conduct one or more specific promotional operations for the film’s theatrical release.
This prize should help audiences and films find one another, above and beyond the Festival. For over 30 years the Fondation Gan has been rewarding ambitious and unique feature films, both live shoot and animation, so far honoring over 200 eminent filmmakers.
See you from 14th to 19th June to follow the competition! Remember to get your accreditations to be able to attend!