For the third time, Cartoon Movie, the international event devoted to animated feature films, will take place in Bordeaux. 66 projects from 25 countries have been selected to be pitched: 28 of them are in concept, 24 in development, 7 in production and 7 in sneak preview. The Czech Republic will be represented by 3 projects by MAUR film.

The four-country coproduction Of Unwanted Things and People (Maur Film, CZ / Artichoke, SK / ZVVIKS, SI / WJTeam / Likaon, PL) won the first animated feature film pitching award at the CEE Animation Forum 2018 (formerly Visegrad Animation Forum). The success of this project was confirmed by receiving Nespresso Audience Award. The story is based on Arnošt Goldflam’s book Of Unwanted Things and People and is supported by Creative Europe MEDIA and Czech Film Fund.

“After a successful presentation in Třeboň last year, the project got not only very positive and important feedback from both the audience and jury, but also a commitment. We are working intensely on the final versions of scripts, while deeply immersed in artwork, schedules and budgets at the same time. Just to synchronise the order of applications for all kinds of national and international funds with the timetable of all filmmakers involved is a unique and tough nut to crack in the context of four countries. Nevertheless, as the film is taking shape, it’s becoming obvious that it’s not going to be just about short stories, but that we have also found an excellent key to narrate a complex and unified story, and perhaps also the unique spirit of international co-operation and collectiveness within an international construction as complex as this. But the interest shown before the start in Bordeaux is for me, even after so many years, extraordinary and very promising. I’d like to thank CEE Animation and we will try to come up to and surpass all expectations … “, Martin Vandas, producer of the film, told us.

The puppet project was also nominated for Eurimages Co-production Development Award – the cash prize of €20,000 to encourage international co-production animations from the initial stages of a project. The winner will be announced Thursday March 7th.

Martin Vandas will also present two other coproduction animated feature films: Fritzi – A Revolutionary Tale (d. Matthias Bruhn, Ralf Kukula, p. Germany / Luxembourg / Belgium / Czech Republic ) and The Crossing / Přes hranici (d. Florence Miailhe, s. Marie Desplechin, p. France / Czech Republic / Germany). For more details about all projects visit the webpage of MAUR film.

Czech animation will be also represented by Czech director and producer Martin Kotik who is bringing to Cartoon Movie his latest animated feature project Pearl.

Find all Cartoon Movie 2019 selected projects here.