Director: Jean-François Laguionie
Distributor: GKIDS
The Lowdown: The second GKIDS hopeful on the list, Jean-François Laguionie's "The Painting" (née "Le Tableau"), is formidable. An adventurous and creative hand-painted parable, the film (exhibited in 3D) tells a story of diversity through three castes inhabiting the titular work of art: the Alldunns (fully painted renderings), the Halfies (incomplete creations) and the Sketchies (crude charcoal outlines). What does their creator have in mind for them and what are the boundaries of their world? That's the journey the film takes and for as much as it concerns itself with the work of an artist, it has to be considered in the conversation. A bright palette and a generation-spanning spirit make it one to watch. (The film was also nominated for France's César animated feature award.)