Dragon of Dragons Award 2023
Michael Dudok de Wit
Michael Dudok de Wit (1953) was born and received education in the Netherlands. He went to university in Geneva, Barcelona and Farnham in the UK, where he directed his first film, ‘The Interview’. Since 1980 he has lived in London. He has directed and animated many award-winning productions for the commercial sector and television.
In 1992 he created the short film ‘Tom Sweep’ followed by an Oscar-nominee and César Award winner, ‘The Monk and the Fish’. His most famous short film ‘Father and Daughter’ was honoured with a Grand Prix in Annecy, the Academy Award, BAFTA, a Grand Prix of Animafest in Zagreb and many other distinctions. It was also screened and awarded at the Krakow Film Festival.
In 2006 de Wit directed ‘The Aroma of Tea’, a short film made using exclusively tea. His most recent work is ‘The Red Turtle’, a feature film coproduced by world-famous Studio Ghibli from Japan. It was nominated to the Academy Awards (2017) and won Un Certain Regard, a special award of Cannes festival, among many other honours. Additionally, Michael Dudok de Wit illustrates books and teaches master classes on animation, creativity and related topics at artistic schools and universities in the UK and abroad.
Michael Dudok de Wit’s distinctive line, protagonist and time
A distinctive line and an equally distinctive protagonist are two characteristic features of Michael Dudok de Wit’s animation. His films are also distinguished by their economical style, precision and pursuit of excellence. Out of his six pictures, as many as three received Oscar nominations and one of them (‘Father and Daughter’, 2000) was a winner in its category. Apart from the distinction granted by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, Dudok de Wit has also won César and BAFTA awards, prizes in Cannes, Ottawa and Hiroshima as well as a nomination to the European Film Awards. In 2001 he was presented with the FICC Jury Award at the Krakow Film Festival and this year his collection of honours will grow to include the Dragon of Dragons.