"The Violinist," Singapore-European co-production, wins top prize at Annecy festival

The animated feature film "La Violoniste" (The Violinist), a collaborative effort between studios in Singapore, Spain, and Italy, has secured the highest honor at the Annecy International Animation Film Festival. The film clinched the Cristal for Best Feature Film, the festival's most prestigious award.

"La Violoniste" chronicles the intertwined destinies of Fei and Kai, childhood friends in 1930s colonial Singapore. Both harbor dreams of achieving global fame as violinists. However, their aspirations are tragically interrupted by the ravages of war and the Japanese occupation in 1941, which separates them.

While several Swiss productions were in contention, none ultimately received a distinction at this year's festival. The festival, recognized as one of the animation industry's most significant gatherings, took place from June 21 to 27. The 2027 edition is set to spotlight Colombian animation.

Other notable awards included the Audience Award and Jury Prize for the Franco-Belgian film "Le Corset," directed by Louis Clichy. Clichy, who previously co-directed "Asterix: The Domain of the Gods," presented his first solo feature, known for its distinctive line-and-ink drawing style. The Cristal for Best Short Film was awarded to American director Dan Hertzfeldt for "Paper Trail." The French short film "Dieu est timide" by Jocelyn Charles received both the jury and audience awards in the same category.