The architect of the highly regarded Annecy International Animated Film Festival, Jean-Luc Xiberras passed away on December 26, 1998. We wanted to pay tribute to him for his immense contribution to animation. Here an international selection of friends, colleagues and animators give their final thoughts on a man whose presence in animation will long linger.

Respectfully,
Annick Teninge, Ron Diamond, Dan Sarto and Heather Kenyon.
Animation World Network

I chose to salute Jean-Luc with these lines from the poet Jacques Prévert,
for Jean-Luc introduced me to the multi-colored world of animation.

Annick Teninge


School of Fine Arts
"From a box of wooden straw
Father chooses a little paper ball
And lets it fall
In front of the enthralled children
It blossoms
Multi colored
Into the big Japanese flower
Instantaneous water lily
And the children hold their breaths
Entranced
Never later in their memories
Will this flower fade
This unexpected flower
Made for them
In a minute
Before their very eyes."

- Jacques Prévert

Jean-Luc Xiberras and Annick Teninge at Annecy 98. Photo courtesy of Ron Diamond.