Olivier Clert's 'Lucy Lost' Stuns Annecy Festival Audience
During the 2026 Annecy International Animation Film Festival, Olivier Clert, a French filmmaker, unveiled his first animated feature, 'Lucy Lost,' which is based on a novel by Michael Morpurgo. The story revolves around a young girl suffering from amnesia, discovered on a secluded island during World War I, who faces rejection from the local villagers. Clert, recognized for his work on 'Charlotte et moi,' 'Klaus,' and 'The Little Prince,' employed a 2D style influenced by Japanese animation and classic Disney. Morpurgo expressed that he wished he had seen the film prior to writing the book, especially as the war backdrop resonates with today's rising global violence. Produced by Xilam Films, 'Lucy Lost' represents a pivotal achievement for Clert, who commended the efforts of 500 collaborators.
Key facts
- Olivier Clert's 'Lucy Lost' premiered in official competition at the 2026 Annecy International Animation Film Festival.
- The film is adapted from a novel by Michael Morpurgo.
- The story is set during World War I and follows a young amnesiac girl rejected by villagers.
- Clert previously worked on 'Klaus' and 'The Little Prince'.
- The film uses a 2D animation style inspired by Japanese animation and 1970s-80s Disney.
- Morpurgo praised Clert's adaptation, saying he wished he had seen the film before writing the book.
- Clert deliberately avoided specifying good vs. bad sides in the war to make it represent all wars.
- The film was produced by Xilam Films.
- Audience members were visibly emotional, with some crying during the screening.
- Clert described the Annecy premiere as a great achievement after years of work with 500 people.
Entities
Artists
- Olivier Clert
- Michael Morpurgo
Institutions
- Festival international du film d’animation d’Annecy
- Xilam Films
- Xilam Animation
- RFI
Locations
- Annecy
- France