files/pictures/picture-35.jpgDESPICABLE ME director Pierre Coffin won the Best Director prize at Cartoon Movie, reports
Variety . Frenchman Coffin directed the hit film with American Chris Renaud. The film grossed $527 million worldwide and began the partnership between Universal Studios-based producer Illumination Ent. and Paris-based animation house Mac Guff.
StudioCanal was awarded the Best Distributor award. The French firm released SAMMY'S ADVENTURES in the U.K., France and Germany this past year and the Ben Stassen's film went on to gross Euros 50 million ($68.3 million) worldwide. The distributor is set to release SAMMY'S ADVENTURES 2, Michel Ocelot's TALES OF THE NIGHT and KIRIKOU AND MEN AND WOMEN, and Les Armateurs' ERNEST AND CELESTINE.
France 3 Cinema earned the prize for Best Producer. In 2010, the French company produced 14 animated projects, including THE ILLUSIONIST, SAMMY ADVENTURES 2 and A CAT IN PARIS.
A CAT IN PARIS' directing team of Alain Gagnol and Jean-Loup Felicioli were given the Rhone-Alpes Personality of the Year Award. Produced at Folimage, the film has grossed approximately $3 million and will be released in the States by GKids, which released the Oscar-nominated SECRET OF KELLS.
