Claude Barras

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Claude Barras Claude Barras 2017 (cropped).jpg
Claude Barras

Claude Barras (born 1973) is a Swiss director, producer, and writer.

Contents

Barras was born in Sierre, Switzerland. He studied illustration and computer graphics at Emile Cohl School in Lyon and 3D infographics at ECAL. He then received a degree in anthropology and digital images from Lumiere University. He works as a freelance illustrator in Geneva.

After his studies, Barras and his friend Cédric Louis co-founded Hélium Films. Under this production company, they’ve co-produced and sometimes co-directed multiple animated short films. Many of their films, like Land of the Heads (2008), have received awards and critical acclaim at numerous festivals.

Throughout his career, Barras directed several short films, including The Genie in a Ravioli Can (2006). Barras' first full-length animated feature, My Life as a Courgette (2016), was presented at the Director's Fortnight of the Cannes Film Festival and received numerous awards at film festivals around the world. Switzerland submitted the film as a foreign-language entry for the 89th Academy Awards. It was nominated for Best Animated Feature Film of the Year but did not win.

Filmography

In addition to directing, Barras has co-produced many of his films. He has also co-produced several other films, not by him. This includes La femme canon (2017), Birdz (2016), Imposter (2014), Un enfant commode (2013), and Monsieur l’assassin X (2012).

Feature films

YearTitleTechniqueProducerLengthNotes
2016 My Life as a Courgette stop-motionRita Productions / Blue Spirit Productions / Gebeka Films / KNM66m
2024 Savages stop-motionNadasdy Film / Haut et Court / Paniques!80m
tbdYou’re Not The One I Expectedstop-motionFrane TV Distribution / Helium FilmstbdAdapted from Ce N’est Pas Toi Que J’attendais by Fabien Toulmé [1]

Short films

YearTitleTechniqueProducerLengthNotes
2012Chambre 69stop-motionHelium Films / RTS3m
2010Zucchinistop-motionHelium Films / Rita Productions / RTS3mPilot for My Life as a Courgette
2008Land of the Headsstop-motionHelium Films / TSR / ONF / Animateka Lubjiana5mCo-directed with Cédric Louis
2010 Audience Award – Slovenia, Australian International Film Festival 2009
2007Sainte Barbestop-motionHelium Films / TSR / ONF8mCo-directed with Cédric Louis
2007Animatou2D animationStudio GDS / Schwizgebel / RTS Radio Télévision Suisse / Studio GDS / Luyet6m
2006The Genie in a Ravioli Canstop-motionHelium Films / TSR7m
2005Ice Floe2D animationHelium Films / TSR6m35sCo-directed with Cédric Louis
2002Stigmates2D animationAtelier Zérodeux3m30s
1999Casting Queen3D animationEcal / Barrabas2m45s
1998Mélanie2D animationEcal / Barrabas4m22s

Accolades

YearAwardCategoryNominated workResultRef.
2006Animatou, International Animation Film FestivalKodak Audience Prize, Best Short FilmThe Genie in a Ravioli CanWon [2]
Australian International Film Festival Golden Spotlight Award, Best Short FilmWon [2]
Curtocircuíto«Kodak 35 mm» Award for the Best Short Film shot on 35 mmWon [2]
Encounters Short Film and Animation FestivalNew Talent AwardWon [2]
Festival du Film Romand in GenevaSpecial MentionWon [2]
Solothurn Film Festival Audience Award SSA/SuissimageWon [2]
2007European Youth Film Festival of FlandersBest Short FilmWon [2]
2015 Annecy International Animation Film Festival Gan Foundation Aid for Distribution for a Work in Progress Award My Life as a Courgette Won [3]
2016 Angoulême Francophone Film Festival Valois de DiamantWon [3]
Annecy International Animation Film Festival Audience AwardWon [3]
Cristal Award for Best FeatureWon [3]
Cannes Film Festival Directors' Fortnight Nominated [3]
Delémont-HollywoodPrix OpaleWon [3]
European Film Awards Best Animated Feature Film Won [3]
Festival de l'écrit à l'écranAudience AwardWon [3]
Golden Globe Awards Best Animated Feature Film Nominated [3]
International Young Audience Film Festival Ale Kino!Teacher's Jury PrizeSpecial mention [3]
Kinderfilmfestival/Institut PitangaChildren's Jury PrizeWon [3]
Lux Film Prize Lux PrizeNominated [3]
Melbourne International Film Festival Audience AwardWon [3]
Monstra Lisboa Animated Film FestivalAudience AwardWon [3]
Grand PrixWon [3]
San Sebastian International Film Festival Audience Award for Best European FilmWon [3]
Zurich Film Festival Best Children's FilmWon [3]
2017 Academy Awards Best Animated Feature Nominated [3]
Anifilm Best Animated Feature Film for Children - International CompetitionWon [3]
César Awards Best Animated Film Won [3]
Lumière Awards Best Animated FilmWon [3]
Prix Walo Best Film ProductionWon [3]
Swiss Film Award Best Fiction FilmWon [3]
Trophées Francophones du CinémaBest DirectorWon [3]
Best ScreenplayWon [a] [3]
World Festival of Animated Films ZagrebMr. M – Feature Film Audience AwardWon [3]
2018 British Academy Film Awards Best Animated Film Nominated [3]
2024 Annecy International Animation Film Festival Cristal Award for Best Feature Savages Nominated [4]
Locarno Film Festival Locarno Kids Award la MobiliareWon [5]

Notes

  1. Awarded alongside Germano Zullo, Morgan Navarro, and Céline Sciamma.

References

  1. "You're Not the One I Expected | Cartoon Movie". Cartoon. Retrieved 2022-11-24.
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 "Le Génie De La Boite De Raviolis". Swiss Films. Retrieved 2 July 2024.
  3. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 "Ma vie de Courgette". Swiss Films. Retrieved 2 July 2024.
  4. Goodfellow, Melanie. "Sarah Snook Picture 'Memoir Of A Snail', Terry Gilliam Set For Annecy With 'Transformers One', 'Despicable Me 4′,'Inside Out 2' & 'Moana 2' – Full Lineup". Deadline. Retrieved 2 July 2024.
  5. "Claude Barras to Receive the Locarno Kids Award la Mobiliare at Locarno77". Locarno Film Festival. Retrieved 2 July 2024.