In the Spotlight

Honorary Cristal for Jennifer Lee and Michel Ocelot

The Annecy Festival is thrilled to honor not one, but two great names in animation: Jennifer Lee and Michel Ocelot, who will each receive an Honorary Cristal this year.

Jennifer Lee, Oscar-winning Director and Creative Director of Walt Disney Animation Studios will receive an Honorary Cristal on Friday 17^th June 2022. "As the creative head of the near-century old Walt Disney Animation Studios, and Writer and Director of the Frozen films, Jennifer Lee is a model for all young women (and men) with aspirations of pursuing a career in animation film. Her accomplishments are exceptional in terms of scriptwriting, directing and creatively leading Disney Animation. We can confirm that there is a before and after Jennifer Lee in the way that women creators are perceived in our industry. Therefore, Annecy would like to highlight her remarkable contribution." Marcel Jean, Artistic Director

Michel Ocelot, the Magician of the Imagination, Director of Kirikou and Dilili in Paris, will receive an Honorary Cristal during the screening of his latest film The Black Pharaoh, the Savage and the Princess, on Tuesday 14^th June 2022. "By creating the character Kirikou in 1998, Michel Ocelot gave the impetus needed to launch the animation feature film industry in France. Today it’s an entire community of animation filmmakers, producers and artists who are indebted to him. By honoring him today, the Festival acknowledges the role he played in the actual development of Annecy." Marcel Jean, Artistic Director

Masaaki Yuasa, parrain du Mifa Campus

Every year, the International Animation Film Market (Mifa) dedicates a full day to young animators and students. An iconic personality from the world of animation brings support to this Mifa Campus, and in so doing transmits inspiration and encouragement to those attending. Esteemed Japanese Director Masaaki Yuasa has accepted to be the patron of this new edition, to be held on Friday 17^th June. In an hour-long presentation, director Yuasa will describe his journey, his influences and he will share his rich filmography experience of more than twenty series and feature films.