The Holland Animation Film Festival 2010: Chico and Rita steal the show

It won't be out on general release in the UK until 19 November, but already the hotly-anticipated animation feature film Chico and Rita is garnering international attention, most recently as the recipient of the Grand Prix at the Holland Animation Film Festival 2010.

A collaboration between Oscar-winning director Fernando Trueba (Belle Epoque) and Spain’s most successful designer, Javier Mariscal, the film tells the story of a 1940s jazz pianist and talented singer as they chase their dreams - and each other - around the major cities of the world. Announcing the results of the competition the judging panel stated: 'The jury is unanimous in its decision to award the best feature animation to a film which transports us back to a lively, vibrant time in the history of jazz. It’s a classical love story that bridges different continents and moments in time, using music to weave a nostalgic web of memories and to bring a beautiful and melancholic story to a unified whole.'

Now in its 14 edition, the Holland Animation Film Festival brings together animation in all its aspects from feature films and commercials to music videos and educational films. The 2010 Festival, which ran from 3 - 7 November in Utrecht, featured lectures, workshops and exhibitions, a Night of Animated Bad Taste, an artist in residence and a cartoon art fair. 

As well as presenting awards in all the major categories, the HAFF prizes also include a section for short films uploaded to the Festival's YouTube page by anyone. This year's Web Animation Competition went to Silver Junkie:Maria, by Belgian visual artist Gitte Le Bruyn.

Follow the link to HobSoft for a behind-the-scenes look at the making of Chico & Rita.

Follow the link to the HAFFTube page for entries for the Web Animation Competition.