Irish Animations Draw Attention at Cartoon Movie | The Irish Film & Television Network

The two day forum, which runs from March 2nd until March 4th gives producers the opportunity to pitch their animation project in order to speed up financing, find cross-border partners and interest international distributors and sales agents. There are over 700 participants from 35 countries and 210 buyers including 95 distributors attending the event which takes place in Lyon, France.

The Irish projects taking part at the forum include the concept of ‘Little Caribou’, a feature film debut for Barley Films which will be represented by Barry O’Donoghue. The feature is an environmentally themed story about a young Inuit sister and brother living inside the Arctic Circle who one day discover some very unusual creatures when an ancient iceberg visits their bay. Another Irish concept being pitched includes Darragh O’Connell and Jeremy Shipp’s ‘Nightglider’. The Brown Bag Films feature has already received €30,000 from the Irish Film Board.

Magma Films are journeying to Cartoon Movie with two projects in tow, namely ‘Niko: A Family Affair’ [see IFTN report here] and ‘Legends of Valhallah – Thor’. The former is a follow up to the successful feature ‘Niko and the Way to the Stars’ and is to be directed by Kari Juusonen (The Flight Before Christmas) whilst the latter marks Magma films first foray in 3D feature animation, it is to be produced by Moe Honan (Niko and the Way to the Stars), Hilmar Sigurdsson (Anna and the Moods) and Emely Christians.

Finally, ‘Santa’s Apprentice’, a co-production by Cartoon Saloon, Gaumont - Alphanim and Avrill Stark Entertainment will be discussed and pitched at the event in the Completed Films section. ’Santa’s Apprentice’, directed by Luc Vinciguerra, sees Santa having to retire against his wishes and thus having to train his replacement. He must find an orphan of a pure heart to take on his role and, to further complicate matters, the child must be a boy called Nicholas. The film’s Irish producers are Cartoon Saloon’s Paul Young (Song of the Sea) and Ross Murray (The Secret of Kells). Background animation was carried out in Cartoon Saloon under the supervision of Marco Martin and the Weinstein Company has already bought the UK and North American distribution rights for the feature.

Since the first Cartoon Movie forum in 1999, over 156 films have raised finance of €1.2 billion at the forum. Cartoon Movie takes place in Lyon, France March 2nd - 4th. For a full list of the projects being pitched visit http://www.cartoon-media.eu/index.php

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