Cartoon Forum Ends On A Triumphant Note

The 17th edition of the Cartoon Forum celebrated this year in Pau came to a successful close last weekend with over 750 participants and 59 projects that will make up the next batch of animation television series produced in Europe.
Since 1990 the Cartoon Forum has sought to advance the production, distribution and financing of European animation for TV. The festival proceeded in meeting that goal this year: 25 projects (42% of the total) have obtained €100 million in financing in the short term.
The five projects that aroused the most interest at the event were 'Pocket Rockets' (Millimages, Toons'N' Tales and Millimages UK); 'Bingo Bongo' (Lobster, JetMedia and Sofidoc); 'Jeremy' (Futurikon); 'High Spy' (Alphanim) and 'The Annoying Thing' (League of Good People and Castelrosso Films). Irish projects 'Jo & Jack' (Ikandi Productions) and 'Garth' ( Kavaleer Productions) were also well received.
In addition, the Cartoon Forum celebrated for the first time this year the Cartoon Tributes, awards to honour companies contributions to the development of European animation. Danish producer A.Film, Spain's Icon Animation and the BBC Children's television channels CBeebies and CBBC were voted by the event’s participants Producer of the Year, Investor of the Year and Broadcaster of the Year, respectively.
During the closing ceremony on Saturday September 23, the Cartoon d’Or 2006 — the only prize which rewards the best European animated shorts — was awarded to British director Joanna Quinn for 'Dreams and Desires – Family Ties', which was selected as a finalist after having won the Special Jury Prize at Cartoon d’Or partner festival Annecy 2006.
The event’s organisers have announced that Girona will host the Cartoon Forum in 2007 September 19-22.
(DS/SP)