A Town Called Panic
What better time than the holiday season to dive into the wonderful world of toys? Cinema has always loved to use its magic to fulfill an eternal childhood dream: seeing toys come to life. Naturally showcasing animated films, this series takes us at the frontiers of imagination, fantasy, and dreams through movies where toys are very well alive, albeit in different ways. By turns strange, amusing, wonderful, or unsettling, these toy stories inevitably lead us to reflect on our own humanity, while always managing to strike a chord deep within us.
Preceded by short film Mes petits bébés by Justin Lemay, presented by the filmmaker
Facing the camera, during a candid interview, some toys tell us their story. They explain how they met their dad or mom, how their parents eventually moved in together, and how everyone lives together amid a certain amount of chaos.
The adventures of Cowboy, Indian, and Horse, who find themselves in all sorts of escapades around the world after Horse’s birthday preparations don’t go as planned. The first stop-motion feature film presented at the Cannes Film Festival, it has achieved cult status thanks to its distinctly Belgian sense of absurd humor, its deliberately DIY style, and its amphetamine-fueled pace.
Stéphane Aubier and Vincent Patar
Stéphane Aubier and Vincent Patar are Belgian film directors and screenwriters. In 2009, they wrote and directed the animated film A Town Called Panic. It premiered at the 2009 Cannes Film Festival and was the first stop-motion film to be screened at the festival. In 2013, they co-directed with Benjamin Renner the film Ernest & Celestine, which received widespread critical acclaim. It won three Magritte Awards, including for Best Film and Best Director. It also won the César Award for Best Animated Film, and received a nomination in that same category at the Academy Awards.
