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Annecy Winner Arco Opens in France, Showcasing Ugo Bienvenu’s Debut

Backed by Natalie Portman, the 2D fable from Diaphana positions a new French animation voice for awards season.

Overview

  • The feature arrives in French cinemas on 22 October after a Cannes special screening and a Cristal win at Annecy.
  • Set in 2075, the tale pairs Iris with a time‑traveling boy named Arco to explore climate peril and accelerating technology without revealing key twists.
  • Ugo Bienvenu directs and co‑writes his first feature, drawing on a hand‑drawn aesthetic critics compare to Miyazaki and Moebius.
  • Production comes from Remembers and MountainA France with Sophie Mas and Natalie Portman, co‑produced by France 3 Cinéma, and international sales are handled by Goodfellas.
  • Bienvenu says the film was made entirely in Paris over five years with roughly 300 collaborators and extensive storyboards, and early French reviews are strongly favorable.