Folimage, YLE, and 9 Story Win 2018 Cartoon Tribute Awards

Cartoon Forum wrapped its 29th edition today in Toulouse, France, but not before handing out Cartoon Tribute trophies to Finland’s YLE as Broadcaster of the Year, Ireland’s 9 Story Distribution International as Investor/Distributor of the Year, and France’s Folimage as Producer of the Year.

Cartoon Forum brings together animated series development teams with broadcasters, producers and financiers looking for new ideas, projects and collaboration opportunities. This year’s event featured presentations on 86 original projects from across Europe. The annual awards recognize outstanding achievements, companies or personalities that have had a positive and dynamic influence on TV animation industry over the last year.

Finnish public broadcaster YLE airs more than 3,000 hours of programming per year aimed at an audience of 2-12 year-olds. YLE is a proactive partner in animated TV series co-production and, alongside a recently approved 25 percent cash rebate for domestic and foreign investments, is one of the keys to Finland’s new animation revival. Two recent productions in which YLE has participated are Gigglebug, from Gigglebug Entertainment, and Albi the Snowman, from Hima Light. Other nominees in the category included Deakids (Italy), Hopster (U.K.), and Netflix (U.S.), and TF1 Unité Jeunesse (France).

9 Story Distribution International is the distribution arm of Ontario’s 9 Story Media Group, with headquarters in Manchester and Dublin. The outfit represents more than 2,700 half-hours of animated and live-action programming with titles including Almost Naked Animals and Daniel’s Tiger Neighborhood. Other nominees for Best Investor/Distributor of the Year included Connectoon (Italy), Gaumont Distribution TV (France) and Miam! Animation (France).

Founded in 1981 by Jacques-Rémy Girerd, Folimage is based in Bourg-les-Valence, in France’s Rhone-Alpes region. The production studio is run by Reginald de Guillebon and Pierre Meloni, and owned by the Hildergarde Group. Folimage productions include Alain Gagnol and Jean-Loup Felicioli’s Oscar-nominated animated feature, A Cat in Paris; Aunt Hilda, directed by Benoît Chieux and Jacques-Rémy Girerd; and TV series Hilltop Hospital. Akkord Film Produktion (Germany), Anima Kitchent Media (Spain), Ink and Light (Finland/Ireland) and the The Illuminated Film Company U.K.) also received nominations for Producer of the Year.

Source: CARTOON Forum