ANNECY– Alexandre Espigares’ upcoming “White Fang” has won the Anney Festival’s Gan Foundation Prize, its most important industry plaudit.
Screened in Annexe’s Work in Progress section for feature films, “White Fang” is a co-production between France’s Superprod and Luxembourg Bidibul Productions and “Little Miss Sunshine” producer Big Beach.
Directed by Alexandre Espigares, who won an Academy Award Oscar for short film “Mr. Hublot,” “White Fang” is written by Dominique Monfrey, Philippe Lioret and Serge Frydman, based on Jack London’s classic novel. UTA Independent Film Group represents U.S. sales; Wild Bunch Distribution will distribute “Fang” in France.
“We are proud to receive this award from Gan Foundation which has been supporting cinematographic creation with great taste and attention for the last 30 years,” said Superprod head Clement Calvet, adding that the prize money will support the distribution of “White Fang” in France.
Related Stories
Simon Rouby’s “Adama” snagged the André-Martin Award for best French Feature. Produced by France’s Naia Productions and Pipangaï Production, “Adama” turns on the odyssey of a 12-year-old boy from Africa to a Europe engulfed in the horror of WWI. “Adama” took Annecy’s Gan Foundation Work in Progress prize in 2014.
Popular on Variety
Alberto Vázquez’s “Decorado” and Joanna Rytel’s “Moms on Fire” will go home with Festivals Conexion Awards. Premiering at Cannes’ Directors Fortnight, Vázquez’s short “Decorado” is a co-production between Spain’s Uniko and France’s Autour de Minuit. Vázquez – an on-the-rise Spanish talent- also competes in Annecy competition as the co-director of “Psiconautas.” Vázquez is now developing his second feature, “Unicorn Wars,” to be produced by “Decorado’s” producers.
Produced by Sweden’s Altofilm, Rytel’s “Moms on Fire” is a stop-motion tale about commonly accepted standards of good motherhood. It took a best short Teddy at 2016’s Berlin Festival.
Annexe’s Fipresci Award went to Michelle Kranot and Uri Kranot “How Long, Not Long,” produced by the Dansk Tegnefilm 2 APS and The Animation Workshop and turning on xenophobia, nationalism and intolerance.
Jac Clinch’s “The Alan Dimension” took Junior Award for a best graduation short film. A product of the U.K.’s National Film and Television School, “Dimension” centres on a man with powers to foresee mankind’s feature and his own breakfast. It was selected for Cannes’ Cinéfoundation Selection. Also produced by Autour de Minuit, along with France’ Schmuby Productions, David Coquard-Dassault’s “Peripheria” scooped the André-Martin award for a French short film.
Junior Jury Award for a short film went to “Blind Vaysha,” directed by Theodore Ushev, and a visual poem inspired by Federico García Lorca.
Other early Annecy prizes went to Pierre Grillère and Romain Peyronet’s “3/4 oz” – the Canal Creative Aid award,- and Peter Coudyzer’s “Beast!” which won best original music for a short.
Annecy’s official selection prizes will be announced at the Festival’s closing ceremony on June 18.
2016 ANNECY INTL. ANIMATION FESTIVAL NON-OFFICIAL AWARDS
FESTIVALS CONNEXION JURY DISTINCTION
“Moms on Fire,” (Joanna Rytel, Sweden)
FESTIVALS CONNEXION AWARD
“Decorado,” (Alberto Vázquez, France, Spain)
JUNIOR JURY AWARD FOR A GRADUATION FILM
“The Alan Dimension,“ (Jac Clinch, U.K.)
JUNIOR JURY AWARD FOR A SHORT FILM
“Blind Vaysha,” (Theodore Ushev, Canada)
FIPRESCI AWARD
“How Long, Not Long,” (Michelle Kranot, Uri Kranot, Denmark)
ANDRÉ-MARTIN AWARD FOR A 2015 FRENCH FEATURE FILM
“Adama,” (Simon Rouby, France)
ANDRÉ-MARTIN AWARD FOR A FRENCH SHORT FILM
“Peripheria,” (David Coquard-Dassault, France)
GAN FOUNDATION AWARD FOR DISTRIBUTION
“White Fang,” (Alexandre Espigares, France, Luxembourg)
SACEM BEST ORIGINAL MUSIC AWARD FOR A SHORT FILM
“Beast!” (Pieter Coudyzer, Belgium)
CANAL CREATIVE AID AWARD FOR A SHORT FILM
“3/4 oz,” (Pierre Grillère, Romain Peyronnet, France)
