The sixth annual Cartoon Movie in Potsdam, Germany, paid tribute March 13, 2004 to A. Film, Folimage and Pathé Europe for significantly contributing to the success of the European feature animation industry. The event, set up by Cartoon in partnership with the European Media programme as a movie version of its successful Cartoon Forum meeting for animated series, brought together some 420 participants to focus on the fast-growing sector for European animated feature films.The tribute first went to Karsten Killerich of Danish studio A. Film for the companys wide collaboration in the production of European feature films. A Film has produced well-known feature films such as HELP! IM A FISH and JUNGLE JACK. The company has just started pre-production of its 3D animated feature THE UGLY DUCKLING AND ME, in co-production with Magma Film (Ireland) and Futurikon (France) and is in post-production on TERKEL IN TROUBLE for Nordisk Film, Denmark. Both of these projects were presented during this years Cartoon Movie. A Film is also making ASTÉRIX AND THE VIKINGS for M6 France and has worked on other films, including JESTER TILL, THE THREE WISE MEN, EL CID THE LEGEND, EIGHT CRAZY NIGHTS, KARLSSON ON THE ROOF, CHRISTMAS CAROL THE MOVIE, PETTSON AND FINDUS and FREE JIMMY.French studio Folimage Valence Production received an award for having created and produced LA PROPHÉTIE DES GRENOUILLES entirely in-house. The Folimage Studio, established in 1984, is run by its co-directors Jacques-Rémy Girerd and Patrick Eveno. Girerd has written and directed numerous award winning shorts and television series. When planning the production of its first feature film (which has already attracted 835,000 box office entries in France), Folimage decided to take on the challenge of producing the film entirely in-house including all the animation.The third Tribute went to Pathé Europe (U.K./France) for its work in developing a European strategy for production and distribution, and as an exhibitor of European animation films. As well as being one of the most important independent film producers in Europe, Pathé is also a key player in cinema and video distribution in France and the U.K. A European leader in cinema distribution through its subsidiary Euro Palaces, the company has released several European animated feature films. Following CHICKEN RUN (Pathé U.K.) and THE MAGIC ROUNDABOUT (Pathé France/U.K. with a release planned for 2005), Pathé has now also invested in RENAISSANCE (Method Films/Millimages) and WHY I DID (NOT) EAT MY DAD (Les Armateurs).An additional special Tribute was also given to Professor Klaus Keil, the departing gm of Medienboard Berlin-Brandenburg, for his support of Cartoon Movie since its original conception.The opening night screening this year was of BACK TO GAYA from Ambient Entertainment the first German-produced 3D CGI feature film. It was the first of 12 recently completed features to be shown, several of them already having enjoyed considerable success in their home markets and now seeking wider distribution.With the European Union set to increase from 15 to 25 countries on May 1, Cartoon Movie presented projects from the new member states Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland, Czech Republic, Slovakia, Slovenia, Hungary, Cyprus and Malta. In addition, Bulgarian producers were invited as their country enjoys a bi-lateral relationship with the European Media organization. Four of the 11 projects presented at the initial concept stage were from these 11 countries. A total of 40 projects presented this year at Cartoon Movie.
