Chico & Rita conquers European Film Awards

The musical story between two musicians in pre-Castro Cuba, Chico & Rita (read the review), has won the animated feature film, beating the two French films A Cat in Paris (Alain Gagnol and Jean-Loup Felicioli) and Rabbi's Cat (Joann Sfar).

 "Viva Europe!" was the comment of Javier Mariscal, whereas co-director Fernando Trueba (Oscar for Belle Epoque) dedicated this film to the musician Bebo Valdes, whose soundtrack infuses the film. The third director, Tono Errando, observed that assembling the film, which took 6 years and involved 5000 people, was a great pleasure.

The award was presented by Irene Jacob (after a mistaken announcement and presentation of Sylvie Testud). The European Academy Animated Feature Film of 2010 was the Oscar-nominated The Illusionist (Sylvain Chomet).

Although the European Film Awards do not influence Oscar voters, it seems that Chico & Rita, which is also in the running for the 2012 Oscars, may solidify its chances of at least securing a place among the five nominees.

Chico & Rita will be released in the US by GKIDS in early 2012.

The 24th European Film Awards took place this year in Berlin.