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Ukrainian Breakthrough: Mom Hurries Home Animated Series Made It to the Pitching of Annecy International Animated Film Festival

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• 21.04.2017

Mom Hurries Homeanimated series (Glowberry, FILM.UA Group) has been selected for participation in MIFA, one of the most important international animation pitchings to take place under the aegis of Annecy International Animated Film Festival (France) between June 13 and 16.  

It is necessary to note that Mom Hurries Home series hasn’t simply pushed ahead in a fierce competition but also became the first ever Ukrainian participant in the pitching. This is a remarkable event both for the project and for the Ukrainian animation industry in general: participation in MIFA pitching means recognition of the series’ significant potential, original idea and high artistic level. 

The international festival in Annecy has been around for more than half a century. During this time it has become a signature event in the world of animation. The grand prix of the festival, Le Cristal d’Annecy, is comparable to the Academy Award by its significance.

Only during the last decade the festival welcomed Wes Anderson (Fantastic Mr Fox), Henry Selick (Coraline) and other international animation celebrities.

MIFA market, which takes place in the framework of the festival as its important part, brings together partners for financing, distribution and co-production from all over the world. During the trip to Annecy, a world animation capital in June, producers of the project Mom Hurries Home will be able to meet potential partners for co-production and establish international cooperation. 

“We are very pleased to have made it to MIFA projects short list,” says Olga Cherepanova, director of Glowberry publishing house. “Not only because it is one of the most prestigious pitching platforms for animation in Europe, but also because the festival’s commission first of all evaluates creative approach and originality of project business idea. It is with great pleasure that we’ll present the creative work of our Ukrainian expert team in Europe. We hope that this trip will provide new prospects for our project’s international development.”

Participation in the festival’s pitching is an important but not the first step in the project’s international recognition. Before, Mom Hurries Home was selected for participation in Animation Production Day business forum to take place under the aegis of animated film festival in Stuttgart (ITFS) on May 4-5. It is a major European business platform where projects from all over the world try to get to, because more than a third of forum participants strike co-production deals on the spot.  

Media Resources Management was the company responsible for applying to these and other events. 

FYI: Mom Hurries Home is a series continuing a successful brand: a book with the same title was published in Ukrainian in 2010 and very soon became popular among children and their parents. An interactive version of the book for Android and IOS enjoys immense success and has been downloaded over 50,000 times. The book  this summer will be published in China. Mom Hurries Home is an animated series for children and adults alike who believe in miracles and magic which can happen right on the familiar city streets and even in the comfort of one’s own home. Lyosha’s mom and dad always hurry home to their son Lyosha (Lesyk in Ukrainian) and find themselves in magic adventures and surprising situations. But they still make it to the family dinner on time. As for their stories, they inspire Lyosha and his friends for their own new games and adventures. The series is produced by Animagrad studio.

Glowberry publishing house became a part of FILM.UA Group in 2016.