‘Smurfs’ prodco Ellipse Animation creates int’l financing role for Xilam’s Morgann Favennec

The Smurfs

Ellipse Animation, the French studio behind The Smurfs, has appointed Xilam Animation alum Morgann Favennec to the new position of VP of international financing.

Favennec’s departure from Xilam, where she served as EVP of distribution, was announced last week, with Safaa Benazzouz promoted to replace her.

At Ellipse, which is a subsidiary of the Franco-Belgian film and audiovisual production group Media-Participations, Favennec will be responsible for securing international co-production and pre-sales deals.

Morgann Favennec

The firm currently has around 20 series and films at at different stages of development, including The Marsupilamis, Dreamland, Trotro & Zaza and Komodo No Chill.

Favennec will report to managing director Caroline Audebert, working alongside her and VP of creative development and strategy Lila Honnou. She will also take part in the international development of the group’s IPs.

Starting her role on 15 September, Favennec arrives following more than six years at Xilam, which she joined in July 2017. Prior to that, she served as head of acquisitions at The Walt Disney Company from 2004 to 2006, before taking charge of youth programmes at Groupe M6. In 2013 she was appointed deputy managing director at Superights.

“Supporting the ambitious strategic direction that the company has recently taken by ensuring the financing of international projects, which show as much diversity as they do quality, is a very exciting prospect,” said Favennec.