Emmy Award-winning French animation production and distribution company Dandelooo is set to captivate audiences at this year’s Annecy Festival with three animation events. Next, let's briefly review each one of them.
Firstly, "The Upside Down River" (8 x 22’) has been selected for the Work In Progress (WIP) session. Held on Monday 10th June 2024 at 4:30 pm in the La Salle Pierre Lamy, Director Paul Leluc will lead the WIP, giving an insight into the production, concept, story andartistic and technical development of this captivating 2D animation series. With exclusive extracts highlighting the creative processes, the event will culminate with a question-and-answer session. Co-produced by Dandelooo, Vivi Film and Sparkle Animation, "The Upside Down River" is an adaptation of the children’s novel La rivière à l’envers by leading French children’s laureate Jean Claude Mourlevat, winner of the 2021 Astrid Lindgren Memorial Award (ALMA). Published by Editis Group, La rivière à l’envers has sold over one million copies in France and numerous countries including Japan, China, South Korea, Russia, Spain, and Germany.
The English version is published by UK-based Andersen Press for the English-speaking world. Targeted at 8- to 12-year-olds, the series tells the story of Tomek and Hannah's meeting on the way to the Qjar River. Hannah hopes to collect a magic drop to save her bird, while Tomek joins the adventure in search of a lost memory. Their quests follow one another, intertwine and finally complement each other.
Secondly, "Dounia The Great White North" will have an outdoor public screening scheduled for Monday 10th June at 8:00 pm at Le Pâquier d'Annecy. Created by Marya Zarif, this 50 minutes 2D winter Special is directed by André Kadi and produced by Tobo Media and Haut et Court Distribution. Aimed at 6- to 9-year- olds, "Dounia The Great White North" follows the journey of 7-year-old Dounia and her grandparents, who forced to leave Syria, finally find a new home and new friends in picturesque Canada.
Finally "Hola Frida!" is the first-ever animated feature film about Frida Kahlo’s childhood and it will be showcased with exclusive footage and music at a special screening event on Tuesday 11th June, at 11:30 am in the La Salle du Bonlieu. The event will feature French pop singer Olivia Ruiz reading a selection of Frida Kahlo’s letters. Targeted at 5- to 9-year-olds, the 75-minute feature is directed by Karine Vézina and André Kadi, and produced by Tobo Media (Canada), Du Coup Studio Production (Canada) and Haut et Court Distribution (France). Hola Frida! depicts the fictional childhood story of Mexico’s iconic artist, capturing the vibrant and imaginative world of young Frida Kahlo in Coyoacan, Mexico. Facing challenges Frida confronts them with an overflowing imagination, bringing to life the spirited journey of a little girl destined
to become a legendary artist.