The major European animation networking and pitching platform Cartoon Movie is expecting nearly 750 delegates from 40 countries in Lyon from March 4-6, 2015. Sixty projects from 17 European countries have been selected, including 10 from the Nordic region. Spearheading the Nordic slate is Moomins on the Riviera by Xavier Picard, vying for Best European Director of the Year.
The adaptation of Tove Jansson’s beloved characters was presented at Cartoon Movie 2014 as works in progress. Since then, the French/Finnish film backed by Nordisk Film & TV Fond has been sold to more than 40 territories by sales agent Indie Sales, nominated this year for European Distributor of the Year.
Another completed Nordic animated film screening in Lyon is Karsten Kiilerich’s Albert based on Ole Lund Kirkegaard’s bestselling children’s books. The Danish CGI movie produced by M&M Productions and A Film Production is opening domestically on February 28.
Most Nordic projects such as the Danish/Swedish Get Santa and Norwegian Ella Bella Bingo & the Bicycle Thief target pre-school kids, except two titles eyeing at the young adult/adult audience: the Norwegian/Swedish/French project in development The Tower, set in a refugee camp, and Iceland’s concept project Red Waters, based on an opera by Bardi Johannsson and Ann Zeidel. According to Cartoon Movie organisers, the trend for young adult/adult-oriented animated projects continues to rise across Europe and represent around 30% of all titles presented in Lyon.
For more information, check: www.cartoon-media.eu