Dutchman Michael Dudok de Wit’s debut feature The Red Turtle (La Tortue Rouge) can now claim to have won a prize at the first festival in which it screened: Cannes.
At the award ceremony last night for the festival’s Un Certain Regard category, Dudok de Wit’s film, co-produced by Studio Ghibli, won the special jury prize (which, while not the top prize in the category, is still a noteworthy achievement). It was one of 18 films competing in the Cannes sidebar, and the only animated film in the group.
Dudok de Wit’s film is next headed to Annecy, where it will be the festival’s opening night film.