Cartoon Movie names helming noms

PARIS -- Helmers of Gallic period tale "A Monster in Paris," French 2D hands-attracted adventure "Zarafa" and Danish three dimensional comedy "Ronal the Barbarian" will compete for that Director of the season kudo at Cartoon Movie, the ecu co-production forum, which begins Wednesday in Lyon. "A Monster in Paris" marks French director Bibo Bergeron's go back to home soil after focusing on a string of DreamWorks photos, including "Shark Tale" and "The direction to Eldorado." The pic, that was created by Luc Besson's EuropaCorp, is a critical and commercial success in France, the U.K., Russia and Belgium. "Zarafa," that is helmed by Remi Bezancon and Jean-Christophe Lie, is Bezancon's first head to animation. He composed and helmed two live-action films, such as the significantly acclaimed "The Very First Day from the Relaxation of the Existence," which won three Cesar honours. "Zarafa" and "A Monster in Paris" were both nommed only at that year's Cesar honours. "Ronal the Barbarian," directed by Thorbjorn Christoffersen ("Journey to Saturn"), Philip Einstein Lipski and Kresten Vestbjerg Andersen, continues to be offered to 26 areas, including France and Germany. Cartoon Movie's Best European Distributor noms visit Benelux shingle Cineart, that has launched such arthouse game titles as "Waltz With Bashir," "Persepolis" and "The Rabbi's Cat" Pathe Distribution, in france they small-major behind Sylvain Chomet's "The Illusionist" and "Zarafa" and Romania's Transilvania Film, the distributor of "Persepolis," and "Ronal the Barbarian." Gaul's Blue Spirit Animation ("Le Tableau") and Moonscoop ("Titeuf"), and Spain's Perro Verde Films ("Facial lines") will vie for that European Producer of the season tribute. Cartoon Movie has attracted a lot more than 700 participants from 35 nations, including 185 purchasers -- a 7% increase on this past year. Acquisition executives from France's Studiocanal and Wild Bunch Distribution, the U.S.' DreamWorks Animation and Fox Searchlight, and Germany's Senator, amongst others, have registered. The big event is starting Cartoon Games, that will connect a lot more than 30 animation producers with 25 vidgames reps from Ubisof, Rovio Ing. and European Games Group, amongst others. Cartoon Movie runs through March 9. Contact the range newsroom at news@variety.com