Claude Barras (born 1973) is a Swiss director, producer, and writer.
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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
| Year | Title | Technique | Producer | Length | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2016 | My Life as a Courgette | stop-motion | Rita Productions / Blue Spirit Productions / Gebeka Films / KNM | 66m | |
| 2022 | You’re Not The One I Expected | stop-motion | Frane TV Distribution / Helium Films | 90m | Adapted from Ce N’est Pas Toi Que J’attendais by Fabien Toulmé[1] |
| 2024 | Savages | stop-motion | Nadasdy Film / Haut et Court / Paniques! | 80m |
Short films
| Year | Title | Technique | Producer | Length | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2012 | Chambre 69 | stop-motion | Helium Films / RTS | 3m | |
| 2010 | Zucchini | stop-motion | Helium Films / Rita Productions / RTS | 3m | Pilot for My Life as a Courgette |
| 2008 | Land of the Heads | stop-motion | Helium Films / TSR / ONF / Animateka Lubjiana | 5m | Co-directed with Cédric Louis 2010 Audience Award – Slovenia, Australian International Film Festival 2009 |
| 2007 | Sainte Barbe | stop-motion | Helium Films / TSR / ONF | 8m | Co-directed with Cédric Louis |
| 2007 | Animatou | 2D animation | Studio GDS / Schwizgebel / RTS Radio Télévision Suisse / Studio GDS / Luyet | 6m | |
| 2006 | The Genie in a Ravioli Can | stop-motion | Helium Films / TSR | 7m | |
| 2005 | Ice Floe | 2D animation | Helium Films / TSR | 6m35s | Co-directed with Cédric Louis |
| 2002 | Stigmates | 2D animation | Atelier Zérodeux | 3m30s | |
| 1999 | Casting Queen | 3D animation | Ecal / Barrabas | 2m45s | |
| 1998 | Mélanie | 2D animation | Ecal / Barrabas | 4m22s |
Accolades
| Year | Award | Category | Nominated work | Result | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006 | Animatou, International Animation Film Festival | Kodak Audience Prize, Best Short Film | The Genie in a Ravioli Can | Won | [2] |
| Australian International Film Festival | Golden Spotlight Award, Best Short Film | Won | [2] | ||
| Curtocircuíto | «Kodak 35 mm» Award for the Best Short Film shot on 35 mm | Won | [2] | ||
| Encounters Short Film and Animation Festival | New Talent Award | Won | [2] | ||
| Festival du Film Romand in Geneva | Special Mention | Won | [2] | ||
| Solothurn Film Festival | Audience Award SSA/Suissimage | Won | [2] | ||
| 2007 | European Youth Film Festival of Flanders | Best Short Film | Won | [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 Diamant | Won | [3] | |
| Annecy International Animation Film Festival | Audience Award | Won | [3] | ||
| Cristal Award for Best Feature | Won | [3] | |||
| Cannes Film Festival | Directors' Fortnight | Nominated | [3] | ||
| Delémont-Hollywood | Prix Opale | Won | [3] | ||
| European Film Awards | Best Animated Feature Film | Won | [3] | ||
| Festival de l'écrit à l'écran | Audience Award | Won | [3] | ||
| Golden Globe Awards | Best Animated Feature Film | Nominated | [3] | ||
| International Young Audience Film Festival Ale Kino! | Teacher's Jury Prize | Special mention | [3] | ||
| Kinderfilmfestival/Institut Pitanga | Children's Jury Prize | Won | [3] | ||
| Lux Film Prize | Lux Prize | Nominated | [3] | ||
| Melbourne International Film Festival | Audience Award | Won | [3] | ||
| Monstra Lisboa Animated Film Festival | Audience Award | Won | [3] | ||
| Grand Prix | Won | [3] | |||
| San Sebastian International Film Festival | Audience Award for Best European Film | Won | [3] | ||
| Zurich Film Festival | Best Children's Film | Won | [3] | ||
| 2017 | Academy Awards | Best Animated Feature | Nominated | [3] | |
| Anifilm | Best Animated Feature Film for Children - International Competition | Won | [3] | ||
| César Awards | Best Animated Film | Won | [3] | ||
| Lumières Award | Best Animated Film | Won | [3] | ||
| Prix Walo | Best Film Production | Won | [3] | ||
| Swiss Film Award | Best Fiction Film | Won | [3] | ||
| Trophées Francophones du Cinéma | Best Director | Won | [3] | ||
| Best Screenplay | Won[a] | [3] | |||
| World Festival of Animated Films Zagreb | Mr. M – Feature Film Audience Award | Won | [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 Mobiliare | — | Won | [5] |
Notes
References
External links
- Claude Barras at IMDb
- Rita Productions
- Swiss films Archived 2017-10-03 at the Wayback Machine