Awards boost for Illuminated Films

The Illuminated Film Company, an independent animation company with a studio based in Acton, west London, have received two international accolades within a day of each other at awards ceremonies held in Canada and France.
The 30-minute animation film, 'War Game', picked up Best Television Special at the Annecy Animation Festival - the most important and prestigious animation event in the industry’s calender where some 1500 films were submitted for the various categories of awards.
The film was then awarded the International Student Jury Award at the BANFF Television Festival held in Canada. 'War Game' was nominated in the animation section and was selected by the jury from all nominees in both the animation and children’s sections of the competition.
These awards follow a string of successes for the half-hour animated film, including winning the Pulcinella Award for Best Production of the Year at the Cartoons on the Bay festival in Italy, the Children’s Choice Awards at the British Animation Awards and First Prize at the Cinemagic Festival in Belfast.
'War Game', which is based on the football game that took place between German and British troops in No Man’s Land on Christmas Day 1914, has sparked much interest both at home and abroad and continues to impress audiences of all ages. It has even played its part in the current celebrations of the World Cup in Korea, being specially released on video in Korea to coincide with the festivities.
The film will be broadcast by Channel Four later this year. The producer is Iain Harvey, who last year made 'Christmas Carol – The Movie', and the director is Dave Unwin, who previously worked with Iain on the award-winning 'Father Christmas'.
The Illuminated Film Company, www.illuminatedfilms.com
(GMcG)