Awards

Migrations Wins Cartoon d'Or. Every year since 1991, the organization CARTOON, with the support of the MEDIA program of the European Union, selects one European short animated film as the "Cartoon d'Or," or "best European animation film." This year's winner, announced at the Cartoon Forum in Corboda, Spain (September 22-26), is Migrations by Constantin Chamski (France). The 4-minute CGI film is distributed by France-based Heure Exquise! where it was also produced. This year's other nominees were L'arme du Crocodile by Eric Blesin (Belgium), El Carminante by Debra Smith (UK), Jolly Roger by Mark Baker (UK), Le Cyclope De La Mer by Philippe Julien (France), and Saltkvernen by Pjotr Sapegin (Norway). Migrations joins prestigious company as previous Cartoon d'Or winners are: L'enfant Au Grelot (Charlie's Christmas) (1998) by Jacques-Remy Girerd (France), La Vielle Dame Et Les Pigeon (1997) by Sylvain Chomet (France), Quest (1996) by Tyron Montgomery (Germany), The Wrong Trousers (1994) by Nick Park (UK), The Village (1993) by Mark Baker (UK), Manipulation (1992) by Daniel Greaves (U.K.) and Creature Comforts (1991) by Nick Park (UK).

The Cartoon Forum was profiled by Heikki Jokinen in the October 1997 issue of Animation World Magazine.

ASIFA-Hollywood Announces The 27th Annual Annie Award Nominees. Antran Manoogian, President of the International Animated Film Society, ASIFA-Hollywood, has announced the nominees for the 27th Annual Annie Awards, ASIFA-Hollywood's honoring of the best in animation. The Iron Giant leads the list of nominees with fifteen nominations, including best feature. The final winners will be presented with their awards at the Annie Awards Ceremony to be held at the Alex Theatre in Glendale, California on Saturday, November 6, at 7 pm. For more information about the event and tickets call (818) 842-8330. View the complete list of nominees.

Also visit the first ever 27th Annual Annie Awards Showcase. See Quicktime movie clips and read more about all of your favorite animation in this extensive site.

Matita Film Festival Announces Awards. The 2nd Matita International Animation Film Festival was held September 23 - 26 in Guardiagrele, Italy. The jury consisted of Jury President Giulio Cingoli (producer and director), Milan, Italy; Piotr Dumala (director, animator, and teacher at the Film School of Lodz), Warsaw, Poland; Ruth Lingford (director, animator, and teacher at the Royal College of Arts and National Film & Television School of London), London, UK; Laura Ruggeri (student at the International Academy of Image, Lanterna Magica), L'Aquila, Italy; Alessandro Russo (Cecchi Gori Group), Rome, Italy; and Annick Teninge (General Manager of Animation World Network), Los Angeles, USA. The Jury's notes follow in quotes.

The following awards were handed out:

AUTHOR SECTION:

Grand Prize:
Arthur by Guionne Leroy, K.E.E.N. Productions, Bruxelles, Belgium, 1998. "The film features an optimist view of life, a most beautiful animation and the desire to see a sequel."

Billy's Balloon by Don Hertzfeldt, Bitter Films Productions, Goleta, CA, USA, 1998. "For the cheeky and provocative take on the typical child's film and representational world."

Honorable Mentions:
The Canterbury Tales by Aida Zyablikova, Ashley Potter, Dave Antrobus, Mic Graves and Joanna Quinn, Right Angle Productions, Abergwaun, Wales, U.K., 1998. "For the extraordinary ability to exploit graphic skill in an art form, especially in the third episode by Joanna Quinn."

T.R.A.N.S.I.T. by Piet Kroon, The Illuminated Film Co. Ltd., Richmond, England, U.K., 1997. "For the skillful evocation of the Twenties and the romantic plot superbly developed through effective uses of flashback."

STUDENT SECTION:

Grand Prize:
Mum by Nicholas Peterson, California Institute of the Arts (CalArts), Valencia, CA, USA, 1999. "For the maturity of its cinematographic style, and the yet defined professionalism which characterizes its narration."

Honorable Mentions:
One Eye by Liana Dognini, National Film & Television School, London, England, U.K., 1997. "For its painful, simple decency meant to portray love between parents and a daughter."

The Fairy With Seven Heads by Andrea Kiss, Hungarian Academy of Crafts & Design/Studio Exist, Budapest, Hungary, 1998. "For the courage to resort to a traditional fable in order to reaffirm the urgency of self consciousness in love."

AUDIENCE AWARDS:

Author Section:
Gogwana by Deiniol Morris, AAARGH! Animation, Cardiff, Wales, U.K., 1998.

Student Section:
Sandland by Heiko Lueg, Filmakademie Baden-Wurttemberg, Ludwigsburg, Germany, 1999.

The Animated Castles Announces Winners. The fourth edition of The Animated Castles film festival took place September 29 - October 3 in Rome, Italy. Here are this year's winners:

Grand Prize "I Castelli Animati":
Au Bout Du Monde by Konstantin Bronzit, Russia.

Special Jury Prize:
Europe & Italy by Bruno Bozzetto, Italy.

Prize For The Best Debut Short Film:
Migrations by Constantin Chamski, France.

Prize For The Best European Short Film:
3 Misses by Paul Driessen, Netherlands.

Special Audience Prize:
Au Bout Du Monde by Konstantin Bronzit, Russia.

Special Mentions:
Jolly Roger by Mark Baker, Great Britain.
Once Upon A Time Near The Sea by Alexey Kharidity, Russia.
The Exciting Life Of A Tree by Bill Plympton, USA.

BAFTA Announces Children's Awards Nominees. The British Academy of Film and Television Arts (BAFTA) has announced the nominees for the 4th Annual BAFTA Children's Awards. The Awards "honour the variety, richness and excellence of British television for the young audience." This year's Animation category nominees are: The Bear (Channel 4/TV Cartoons Ltd.), BYBS (S4C/Griffilms), The First Snow Of Winter (BBC1/Hibbert Ralph Entertainment), and Spot (BBC1/King Rollo Films). Additionally, two of the four nominees for the Children's Feature Film are animated: A Bug's Life (Pixar/Disney) and The Rugrats Movie (Nickelodeon/Klasky-Csupo). The awards ceremony will be held Sunday, November 7, 1999 at the Park Land Hilton in Central London.

The Bear was featured, with a QuickTime movie clip and more, in "The Oscar Short List" in the April 1999 issue of Animation World Magazine.