"Chico & Rita" wins grand prize at Jecheon int'l film fest

Image from "Chico & Rita" [Magic Light Pictures]

Spanish animation feature "Chico & Rita" was handed the grand prize at this year's Jecheon International Music & Film Festival (JIMFF).

According to the official website of JIMFF on Tuesday, "Chico & Rita," helmed by Fernando Trueba , Javier Mariscal , Tono Errando, beat out seven other foreign features under the World Music Film Today category at the 7th annual Jecheon International Music & Film Festival.

The festivities, which were held in Jecheon of the North Chungcheong Province of South Korea for six days starting August 11, handed the jury special prize to film "When the Drum Is Beating" and Jury Special Mention to "Swell Season."

“Chico & Rita” tells the heartache and torment between Chico, a young piano player, and Rita, a beautiful singer with an extraordinary voice.

The animated feature was also invited to a number of other film festivals including Toronto International Film Festival, Telluride Film Festival and New York Film Festival and was highly recommended by international movie critics.

This year's JIMFF opened with famed director Jim Kohlberg’s picture “The Music Never Stopped” which tells the story of a Henry and Gabriel who fill in the gaps of their father and son relationship through the music of the 1960s.

A total of 101 movies from 26 countries were screened, while the fest included music performances by 50 artists including YB, DJ DOC, Gary Lucas, Winterplay, The Observatory, Superkidd and W&Whale.

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