The Oscars are no small thing! Nidia Santiago has reason to be happy. Two animated short films co-produced by Tours-based production company Ikki Films are on the Oscar shortlist (1).
This shortlist has reduced to fifteen the set of short films that can be nominated, on January 23, for the prestigious ceremony. “It’s a great pride to have two films out of fifteen”partage Nidia Santiago, founder of Ikki Films.
“A valorization of our work by the profession”
One of these two short films is called Yuck!directed by Loïc Espuche. It presents Léo, a little boy on vacation at the campsite, who discovers love life between curiosity and disgust. The second is called You perceivedirected by Alexandra Ramires and Laura Gonçalves. It follows the life cycle of Percebes, a crustacean in a tourist region in southern Portugal, where the sea and urban bustle coexist.
“They are two very different films. Yuck! is general public while You perceive is aimed more at a more adult audience »presents Nidia Santiago. If she hopes that both are among the works nominated for the Oscars, being on the shortlist is already no trivial matter. “For us, it’s important. It is a valorization of our work by the profession. This means that peers saw the film and liked it. It’s rewarding”expresses the producer.
An already award-winning company
To appear on this shortlist, it was first necessary to be eligible. “Initially, there are around a hundred films in the running. It is necessary to have won certain prizes from specific festivals »details Nidia Santiago. Yuck! et You perceive were both awarded, respectively at the Chicago and Annecy festivals.
This is not the first time that the Tours-based company has produced successful animated short films. In 2017, Ikki Films co-produced Negative Spacea short film that was nominated for an Oscar the following year. Their greatest success comes a few years later, in 2023, when Granny’s Sex Life wins the César for best animated short film. “This allows us to show our partners that they were right to invest in us”comments Nidia Santiago.
Regional support
The company Ikki Films also benefits from regional support from Ciclic, a public establishment for cultural cooperation. “We have been supporting Ikki Films since 2015, when the company moved to the Centre-Val de Loire region”shares Pierre Dallois, head of the creation department at Ciclic.
Support materialized with the establishment of animation residencies intended for the production of the film, but also with a financial contribution. ” On Yuck!we contributed €47,500”says Pierre Dallois. The total cost of the twelve-minute short film amounts to more than €300,000.
An important investment which is rewarded by the promotion of the short film by peers. “If one of our films is nominated for the Oscars, we’ll have a little drink”promised Nidia Santiago.
(1) American film awards.
What is a film producer?
Many diverse professions contribute to the making of a film. Among other things, the profession of producer. “A production company is a company that will carry out a project from A to Z”resume Nidia James. “We are going to look for talent, help develop the script, seek funding, find partners to distribute the film”explains the producer. An essential role in the making of any type of film. “Without us, the authors would not be able to make a film and vice versa”shares Nadia Santiago.
