Secret of Kells, Tomm Moore & BAC Films Win at Cartoon Movie
By amoody
Created 03/09/2009 - 00:00
The 2009 winners of the Cartoon Movie Tributes were announced Thursday in front of the 620 participants in Lyon.
Best European Director: Tomm Moore (Ireland) for THE SECRET OF KELLS
Best European Distributor: BAC Films (France)
Best European Producer: Cartoon Saloon (Ireland)/Les Armateurs (France)/Vivi Film (Belgium) for THE SECRET OF KELLS
For his first feature film, Tomm Moore sets the story in 9th Century Ireland where myth, legend and history collide. The whole visual style of the film is inspired by ancient Celtic art and illuminated medieval manuscripts. Moore was awarded The Directors Finders Series 2008 by the Screen Directors Guild of Ireland and America. Moore is now working on its second feature, SONG OF THE SEA.
BAC Films, amongst France's top independent distributors, has been particularly involved in distributing European animation features. In 2008, the company successfully released NIKO & THE WAY TO THE STARS (700,000 admissions in France), and DRAGON HUNTERS. In 2009, they are planning LASCARS, ROUND DA WAY, A CASE FOR FRIENDS and JASPER, while recent acquisitions include JOURNEY TO SATURN and THE SANDMAN AND THE LOST SAND OF DREAMS.
THE SECRET OF KELLS is a true European film. When two Irish men, Paul Young and Tomm Moore presented a very creative and singular project at Cartoon Movie 2001, its graphical virtuosity and originality totally charmed French producer Didier Brunner (Les Armateurs) who chose to bet on the film. Belgian producer Viviane Vanfleteren later joined the group and the whole team collaborated, together with the Hungarian studio Kecskemet, to make this project come to life.
The aim of the Cartoon Movie Tributes is to reward outstanding achievements, companies or personalities that have had a positive and dynamic influence on the European animation feature film industry.
