The European Association of Animation Film has announced this week the nominees selected for the Cartoon Movie Tributes 2009.

The winners will be announced at the Centre de Congrès in Lyon on 7 March.

The nominees are:

Best European Director of the Year

* Thorbjørn Christoffersen, Craig Frank and Kresten Vestbjerg Andersen (Denmark) for «Journey to Saturn»
* Jacques-Rémy Girerd (France) for «Mia and the Migoo»
* Tomm Moore (Ireland) for «The Secret of Kells»

Best European Distributor of the Year

* BAC Films (France)
* Intersonic (Slovak Republic)
* Lusomundo (Portugal)

Best European Producer of the Year

* Anima Vitae / Cinemaker (Finland) / Ulysses (Germany) / A. Film (Denmark) / Magma Films (Ireland) for «Niko & the Way to the Stars»
* Crone Film (Denmark) / Sola Media (Germany) for «Sunshine Barry and the Disco Worms»
* Kandor Graphics / Perro Verde Films / Green Moon (Spain) for «The Missing Lynx»
* Cartoon Saloon (Ireland) / Les Armateurs (France) / Vivi Film (Belgium) for «The Secret of Kells»

The organisers of Cartoon Movie also announced that the Danish film «Journey to Saturn» has been chosen to open the event on Wednesday 4 March. Produced by A. Film and directed by Thorbjørn Christoffersen, Craig Frank and Kresten Vestbjerg Andersen, this unconventional CGI animation tells with adult humour the space journey of an incompetent crew of Danish astronauts. Based on the classic Danish graphic novel by Claus Deleuran the film was released last September in Denmark.

Cartoon Movie 2009 is organised with the support of the Media Programme of the European Union, CNC (Centre Nationale du Cinématographie), the Rhône Alpes Region, Greater Lyon and in collaboration with the Cluster Rhône Alpes Imaginove (Lyon).