The Best Film prize went to Luxembourg at the Annecy International Animation Film Festival, which awarded prizes to 3 co-productions...

At its "Cristal" awards ceremony on Saturday evening, the International Animation Film Festival honoured 3 Luxembourg co-productions: Le Petit Nicolas, What are we waiting for to be happy? triumphed by winning the Cristal for Feature Film, while My Love Affair with Marriage and Blind willows, sleeping woman each leave with a mention from the Jury!

Le petit Nicolas - What are we waiting for to be happy? was co-produced by Lilian Eche and Christel Henon (Bidibul Productions) and directed by Amandine Fredon and Benjamin Massoubre, based on the work by René Goscinny and Jean-Jacques Sempé.

The film is a co-production between France and Luxembourg and is the first animated feature film based on the adventures of Petit Nicolas, in which Jean-Jacques Sempé's drawings come to life for the very first time thanks to the magic of 2D hand-drawn cartoons. The set design, layout and colours were provided by Studio 352 in Contern, with compositing and special effects by the Onyx Lux 3D studio in Luxembourg. Philophon Studios in Bettembourg did the sound editing, sound effects and mixing, while the film's music was recorded at the Philharmonie de Luxembourg.

My Love Affair with Marriage was co-produced by Raoul Nadalet and directed by Signe Bauman

The film is a co-production between Latvia, the United States and Luxembourg. The Luxembourg producer worked for several months with his sound team - Loïc Collignon (mixer) and Pierre Vedovato (sound designer) - on this film with its high-quality creative and musical content, working closely with the New York director to create a unique sound of the highest standard.

Blind willows, sleeping woman was co-produced by Pierre Urbain and David Mouraire (Doghouse Films) and directed by Pierre Földes.

The film is a co-production between France, Luxembourg, Canada and the Netherlands. The team at the Doughouse studio produced a large part of the film's animation, using a mixed 2D/3D technique. Based on live-action filming and the inlaying of 3D heads onto the actors' heads, the animator drew inspiration from each scene shot in live action to create the most realistic animation possible, under the guidance of the director. Sound post-production was handled by Michel Schllings of Studios Philophon.

These 3 new awards once again honour the work of all the professionals in the Luxembourg animation sector!

The Marché International du Film d'Animation (MIFA) - which took place from 14 to 17 June as part of the Festival of the same name - welcomed animation professionals and enthusiasts from 106 countries, including Luxembourg, which was represented for the 21st time.^e This time with a promotional stand including 15 Luxembourg animation companies (production, studios, service providers) as well as ALPA/XR (the new association of producers of animation and immersive experiences) and representatives of the Lëtzebuerger Filmfong.

During the traditional "Speed Dating" meetings, BTS (Lycée des Arts et Métiers) and Bachelor (University of Luxembourg) students had the opportunity to present their talents and artistic know-how to Luxembourg animation studios with a view to a possible internship or recruitment. These two courses were also present at the Marché du Film with a promotional stand provided by Filmfong.

Filmfong also organised its French-language animation co-production meetings in collaboration with SODEC - Société de développement des entreprises culturelles (Canada), Wallonie Bruxelles Images (Belgium), the Office Fédéral de la Culture and Swiss Films (Switzerland). These meetings are an opportunity for producers to network, discuss potential collaborations and advance their current projects. This year, 23 producers took part in 55 meetings spread over three sessions on 15 and 16 June.

p.m. This year, 6 Luxembourg co-productions were part of the official selection:

3 feature films in the Official Competition

Le petit Nicolas - What are we waiting for to be happy?
My Love Affair with Marriage 
Blind willows, sleeping woman

1 feature film in the "Séance Evénement" section

Ernest and Célestine, the trip to Charabia co-produced by Stéphan Roelants (Melusine Productions) and directed by Jean-Christophe Roger and Julien Chheng.

1 feature film in the "Work in Progress" section

Nina and the Hedgehog Tales co-produced by David Mouraire and Pierre Urbain (Doghouse Films) and directed by Alain Gagnol & Jean-Loup Felicioli.

1 immersive work (XR) presented in the MIFA pitches

Melancholia (This is my heart) directed by Nicolas Blies & Stéphane Hueber-Blies and co-produced by a_BAHN.