Vive les ‘Animateuses’

The Annecy organizers have taken a step to atone for the animation “boys’ club” and its history of marginalizing women by boldly dedicating this year’s edition to the heroines of the medium. Receiving this year’s Honorary Cristal is Florence Miailhe ( First Sunday in August, Conte de quartier), whose particular “film painting” style and poetic storytelling have earned her awards and acclaim for more than 20 years.

This is also the first year the festival has an exclusively female jury: Director Marge Dean, producer Valerie Schermann and film critic Guillemette Odicino ( features); director Isabel Herguera, producer Bonnie Arnold and director Niki Lindroth von Bahr ( shorts); president/ CEO of the Society for the Development of Cultural Enterprises Monique Simard, CinemaChile executive director Constanza Arena and Tricky Women Festival CEO Waltraud Grausgruber ( TV/commissioned); and filmmaker/educator Stacey Steers, festival curator Marina Kozul and Zorobabel co-founder Delphine Renard ( graduate/off-limits) perform the 2015 honors.