A crisis at the César Awards is creating a rift in the animation industry in France
One proposal, formulated in an open letter from the French Union of Animation Producers (SPFA), is to create a branch dedicated to animation and visual effects, unlike the Oscars, currently Césars has nothing of the kind. This branch, the union says, should be as well represented on the new board as the other branches, which translates into a share of around 10% of the seats. (The letter was republished in its entirety, in French, by The films français.)
This proposal was closed in another open letter signed by a wide range of leading figures in the animation (and live action) industries, including Jérémy Clapin (I have lost my body), Michael Ocelot (Kirikou and the Enchantress), Rémi Chayé (Long road to the north), Hip Damian (The fantastic story of Marona) and Sébastien Laudenbach (The girl without hands) Read the letter in French here.
While both groups agree that around 10% of board seats should be reserved for animation representatives, the latter group of filmmakers totally disagrees with the idea of a dedicated branch, which they believe effectively ghettoize their medium. . They want a portion of the members of the current directors, producers and technical branches to be reserved for people in their industry. They also see vfx as a different sector, which must be represented in the technical branches.
"We want to state, once again, that animation is not a genre," says your letter. “It is simply another way of creating cinema. The two were born together… Today, the links between the media are multiplying, for example, we see a growing number of directors with experience in live action working in animation and vice versa. "
The letter notes that the existing branches are defined in terms of profession (directors, producers, writers, etc.) and suggests that a dedicated animation branch would harm all directors, producers, writers and others who work in the sector, who do not they do are less qualified than their real action counterparts.
“The reform of the César Academy is a crucial, fundamental moment in our campaign: giving animation the place it deserves, in the heart of cinema. We ask to be treated as equals ".
The Césars currently have awards for best animated film and short film (but not for vfx). All members of the Academy's ten branches vote for the winners. In February I have lost my body It was named the best animated film. In his acceptance speech, director Jérémy Clapin touched on this broader theme: “Animation is not a genre. It is a cinematic technique. But it is the bad relationship of cinema. You who are for inclusion: don't forget about us ".
(Top image: "I lost my body".)
