International Animation Film Festival 2012 

This interview was requested by Fous d'Anim following diverse questions and thoughts that appeared on their forum.

Extract from CITIA CEO Patrick Eveno's interview with Fous d'Anim.

About the selection process:

1/- Apparently this year the Annecy Festival has given up inviting an independent panel to choose the films in competition. Why make this decision and why at this particular moment?

The unquestionable competence and legitimacy of the team from the Creative Contents department at CITIA (headed by Laurent Million) led us to give them the task of choosing the films in competition from the four categories, working in close collaboration with the Festival's Artistic Director, Serge Bromberg.

It is also true to say that it was becoming more and more difficult to bring together 12 professional selectors during such a long period (10 days for the short films) in February or March. The situation had been under discussion at CITIA for a long time and the proven experience of our team was the deciding factor for our choice, which is more in keeping with the majority of well known international festivals.

2/- The decision to have an external panel was final, do you not think that by internalising the process, the Festival could be subjected to some "friendly pressure" from studios or regulars with a financial or personal interest to see their films in competition?

I will certainly vouch for the independence of this new selection panel, if the need arises. Their integrity is incontestable. The CITIA team, under my responsibility, will protect them from any pressure. There's nothing to say that this "friendly pressure" didn't exist before anyway. I remember that previously if someone was unhappy about not being selected they would blame or criticise the Festival rather than the selection committees.

About the premises:

3/- There was talk about renovations to Bonlieu, which were off then on again. It looks like the Festival will be taking place at Bonlieu after all, due to a delay in the asbestos removal work on the car park. Can you give us an update?

Annecy 2012 will be taking place at Bonlieu. In all likelihood, the work is due to begin around mid-June.

4/- Will this year's Festival be affected by this work?

No.

5/- How is the back-up plan for 2013 going?

Last autumn CITIA commissioned a study to find solutions for organising the Festival in 2013 and 2014. Technical and financial studies for the construction of temporary structures for screening and receiving the public, the press and partners have already been well defined. A number of locations have been evaluated for what they can offer and their proximity to Bonlieu. Our public partners have rallied together to meet these exceptional needs and final decisions will be made next summer depending on how the work is progressing.

About the Festival:

6/- Why has the creation of the Festival poster now become a competition that is part of a debatable system of non remuneration for the creator and graphic designer? Will this system continue?

We have merely made the consultation into a Call for Projects and we will be finalising the questions of copyrights and payment next year. It's a shame we can't allocate more money to this creative project, but it's yet another case that is affected by budget restrictions. 

7/- Will the Festival continue to develop the mainstream angle it has been concentrating on for the past few years (guest international studios, voice actors etc.) at the expense of the auteur/art-house film?

The Festival will be continuing this "mainstream" angle, as you put it, but certainly not at the expense of auteur/art-house films. It's all about balance and I really think this balance is important. Over the past few years we've been giving feature films more space, but not at the expense of other formats. We must accept the fact that the feature film is part of an economy where the marketing is decisive and the lights are brighter. However, the Festival also chooses a diverse selection of films to show (opening films, sneak previews, Work in Progress etc.).

8/- Do you think the AnnecyOFF festival, created last year (and intended to replace Annecy Plus, created by Bill Plympton), is a threat, worrying for the visibility of the Festival, or confusing for festival-goers and professionals?

All the while AnnecyOFF remained AnnecyOFF everything was fine and we looked positively on this initiative created by a teenager for teenagers and young adults. But now, AnnecyOFF has become an alternative to the Festival that creates confusion with professionals who don't know who is contacting them and for what reasons. Frankly, we also have to say that this is a private operation that has to find funding and which, like us, is looking for sponsors. This creates a risk for the visibility of our event and its credibility in the eyes of the professionals and private partners (public partners have already clearly reaffirmed their exclusive support to CITIA). All this led us to send out a message, which can still be seen on our website, warning our loyal sponsors and organisations. Moreover, and in my opinion, AnnecyOFF in no way replaces Bill Plympton's Annecy Plus.

9/- A topic or guest for Annecy 2012?

Ireland is the guest country, and the artistic project and different topics for this year's Festival will be revealed later.

10/- Will there be any changes or new trends in the Festival editorial policy?

This is always a matter for debate. Of course there are going to be changes to our editorial policy in the future for the simple reason that our environment is in constant development.

11/- When will we get to see the Annecy 2012 visual?

When part of the official selection is announced in mid-March.