Recognizing that the works presented at Cartoon Movie could indeed earn as much as 50 million dollars in the U.S. theatrical marketplace, the Cartoon organizers determined that it would be worthwhile to pursue another delegation for next year's Cartoon Movie. However, this time they will focus on U.S. distributors who want to release theatrical features in art film cinemas. Cartoon Movie producers need not write off main stream American distributors right away though due to the need for potential Oscar nominees.

Fritz Meier, Catherine Winder and Ron Diamond. © AWN, Inc.

As a newcomer to the world of European animation what most impressed me was the quality and variety of the films presented. The organizers of Cartoon Movie did an outstanding job of presenting a wide array of films that fit the varying needs of the distributors. The films themselves were a joy to watch and represented the high quality of European animation. I found that the open atmosphere of Cartoon Movie helped foster work that is expressive, bold and innovative. This supportive environment provided an incredible opportunity for productions to find the right distributor for their product. It was a wonderful experience to meet with so many different people from so many countries all sharing their love and enthusiasm for animation.

Fritz Meier
DreamWorks Animation Development

Cartoon Movie was a well-organized, truly impressive event. The basic underlying philosophy behind the conference was that of collaboration. Cartoon Movie provides an opportunity for producers to pitch projects and spend time together with distributors and financiers in a casual yet professional atmosphere. By getting these various parties together, it is inevitable that strategic relationships, critical to getting a project off the ground, will be forged. This approach has been instrumental in building the animated television business in Europe and I believe that it will, over time, have the same positive affect on their movie industry.

Personally, Cartoon Movie was a beneficial experience in that it provided me with a clear overview of the European animation industry. It also gave me insights into how the development and story process works in Europe in comparison to that in North America. I believe these insights will be beneficial in doing business together in the future. Finally and most importantly, I got to meet many talented individuals with whom I have begun to build, what I hope to be long-term relations.

Catherine Winder
Vice President Production, Fox Feature Animation

Ron Diamond is the co-founder and co-publisher of Animation World Network. He also serves as executive producer and founder of Los Angeles-based Acme Filmworks, an animation commercial production company.