The official website for GKIDS, Annecy, and Variety co-organized “Animation Is Film” announced on Oct. 26 that Mamoru Hosoda and Studio Chizu’s new BELLE (Ryū to Sobakasu no Hime, literally “The Dragon and the Freckled Princess”) anime film won the Special Jury Prize.

Jonas Poher Rasmussen’s documentary “Flee” took the grand prize while Florence Miailhe’s “The Crossing” won the audience award.

The AIF festival hosted the West Coast premiere of Hosoda’s BELLE along with the world premiere of the English dub for Poupelle of Chimney Town on October 23. Hosoda also held an in-person Q&A session with the screening.

Tickets are now on sale for ANIMATION IS FILM 2021! #AnimationIsFilm returns to the TCL Chinese 6 Theatres in Hollywood on Oct. 22-24.

Check out the full line-up and get tickets: https://t.co/nBPbGdSsXg pic.twitter.com/c8Tzp75Txy

— Animation Is Film (@AnimationIsFilm) September 22, 2021

The Deer King (U.S. premiere), Fortune Favors Lady Nikuko (Los Angeles premiere), and My Hero Academia THE MOVIE: World Heroes’ Mission (North American premiere) will also screen on October 24.

The anime feature premiered this year at Cannes, where it reportedly received a 14-minute standing ovation.

The festival took place at the TCL Chinese 6 Theatres in Los Angeles from October 22 to 24.

Hosoda collaborated on the film with high-profile artists, including Disney veteran Jin Kim and a team from Ireland’s Cartoon Saloon.

GKIDS will begin screening the film in English and in Japanese with English subtitles in the U.S. on January 14.

Source: Cartoon Brew