This year, the Annecy Festival gave its Honorary Award to Isao Takahata, to celebrate his career and contribution to animation. Acclaimed filmmaker, this master of animation has created a number of master works including Grave of the Fireflies, Pompoko and My Neighbours the Yamadas. Along with Hayao Miyazaki and the Tokuma Shoten company, he also founded studio Ghibli, producer of such international successes as Princess Mononoke, Spirited Away and The Wind Rises.

Festival Artistic Director, Marcel Jean, refers to him as follows: "Filmmaker of an exceptional scale, Mr Takahata is also a great humanist whose work has become a reference for those who believe in the greatness of animation as a cinematic art form."

His latest film, The Tale of the Princess Kaguya, screened in his presence at the Festival opening ceremony.