European Animation Awards Postpones 2019 Edition, Citing Financial Difficulties

The 2019 edition of the European Animation Awards (EAA) has been postponed until 2020. The organizers cite financial difficulties as the reason for why the third edition of the European Animation Awards, also known as the Emiles, will not take place in December as had been previously announced.

“The financial difficulties are caused by a combination of an unexpected absence of support from Creative Europe Media and several industry sponsors,” the EAA board said in a statement.

The organizers, led by EAA president (and Aardman co-founder) Peter Lord, make clear that this is a temporary situation and that they intend to continue the awards. “We believe that the Emile awards are much needed, and we will not let it end. The EAA are simply taking a small step back, learning from previous editions, to take time to build a stronger event, complete with a more formidable network.”

People that had purchased a membership to the organization for 2019 will have their membership extended to 2020. The organization says that new memberships are welcome, and memberships purchased before the end of the year will count for 2020.

At the 2018 edition, the Danish Cartoon Network series The Heroic Quest of the Valiant Prince Ivandoe dominated the television side, winning four of the seven Emile Awards for broadcast production, while Nora Twomey and Cartoon Saloon’s The Breadwinner did the same on the feature film side, winning four awards.