Annecy 2009
Mike and Tim at Annecy
Hello all. June has been a very busy month for Mike and I, and it started off with a bang: the Annecy International Animation Film Festival. “Q&A” had it’s European premiere at this prestigious annual event which takes place in some of the most breathtaking scenery I can imagine. The festival draws top animators and animation fans from all over the world to a town set beside a giant blue lake at the foot of the Alps. There were parties every afternoon and evening, film screenings all over town and a general spirit of friendliness among the people we met.
We were pleased to have several of our New York friends there to share the good times: the Krause brothers, Erin Kilkenny, Signe Baumane, Amid Amidi, Jen Oxley & Tone Thyne, PES and Bill Plympton. We also met some of our personal animation heroes: Cordell Barker, Nick Park, Adam Elliot and Paul Fierlinger to name a few.
Mike and I enjoyed watching “Q&A” in Le Grand Salle, the festival’s “center stage”. Compared with American audiences, there was a lot less laughter from the mostly French crowd. But as we learned, a quiet audience may be enjoying the film just as much as a boisterous audience. There were plenty of comments that indicated the film had really made an impact. People remarked on the warmth and unusual honesty they saw in Sarah as a mother, as well as the exceptional intelligence and curiosity of Joshua. I was slightly surprised to be approached several times during the week for drawings of Joshua by boys about the age he would have been when the recording was made. Up till now we’ve had plenty of positive feedback from adults, but we will be extremely pleased if this turns out to be a film that kids really enjoy too.
Outside of the more formal events, there was a lot of fun to be had in Annecy. A party sponsored by Autodesk at an upscale bowling alley on Tuesday night turned into one of the most furious dance floors I’ve ever seen. Bill Plympton and the inimitable Nancy Phelps continued the tradition of Annecy Plus: an outdoor screening of films with live music during the intermissions, free-flowing beer and a small, chatty crowd. There were parties thrown by the Danish, the Finnish, the Belgians, parties on boats, parties in gardens, parties in swanky hotels. There was always something to do.
Truly, all good things must come to an end. We were worn out and ready to return by the end of our stay but had a terrific time and would be thrilled to return any time they’ll have us!
Many thanks to Brett Thompson, our friend and President of ASIFA-Atlanta, for sharing most of these photos.
Tim, Will Krause and the always enthusiastic Brett Thompson enjoy some sunshine
Mike and Tim at a directors interview (photo by Alexandre Dubosc)
Bill, Nancy, Signe and the band at Annecy Plus
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Mike
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Brett W. Thompson
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David Levy
