Press release from Icon Film Distribution
Acclaim for Australian feature Mary and Max continues as the film is selected In Competition for France’s Annecy International Animation Film Festival in June.
Mary and Max is one of only 9 feature films selected for the prestigious festival, known as “the Cannes of Animation”. Producer Melanie Coombs and writer/director Adam Elliot will travel to France for the screening. In addition, director Adam Elliot has been invited to join the Short Film Jury for the Festival.
Mary and Max was the first Australian film ever to open the Sundance Film Festival, was awarded a Jury Prize at the Berlin Film Festival, and now in national release through Icon Film Distribution, it is the highest-grossing Australian film this year.
In 2003 Harvie Krumpet was awarded three prizes at Annecy. These awards ensured that the film was eligible for the Academy Awards, resulting in Adam and Melanie winning the Best Short Animation Oscar!
Annecy also selected Harvie Krumpet in their top 100 animated films of all time. "France has a grand tradition and long love affair with Adam’s short films, and so we are thrilled to be selected for this prestigeous festival”, said Producer Melanie Coombs.
Adam says " For some odd the reason my humour tickles the fancy of the French and so I’m looking forward to showing them Mary and Max, who they’ve been longing to meet.”
Gaumont has acquired the rights to Mary and Max for the French-language territories and while there for the Festival, Adam and Melanie commence the French leg of their world-wide publicity tour in advance of the release in France.
Annecy runs Monday 8 to Saturday 13 June this year.