
Sunday 22nd March – 13:45
Roxy cinema 1
NZ premiere
The story traces the early childhood of Belgian writer Amélie Nothomb in Japan, exploring her unique vision of the world and her relationship with her nanny, Nishio-san.
Production: France/Belgium
Winner of the Annecy Jury Award.
Nominee at the Golden Globe 2026 for Best Motion Picture – Animated.
Nominee at the Oscars 2026 for Best Animated Feature.
Family
Kids
Film
Little Amelie and the Character of Rain
By Maïlys Vallade and Liane-Cho Han

Adventure, Comedy – French original Version with English Subtitles – 77 mn
Filmmaker Bio
Maïlys Vallade is a French animation filmmaker, storyboarder, and illustrator known for her work on acclaimed animated features and shorts, including The Lighthouse Keeper (winner of the Annecy Crystal) and I Lost My Body. She directed Little Amélie or the Character of Rain (2025). Trained at EPSAA and Gobelins, she has specialized in storyboard, visual development, and animation.
Liane-Cho Han graduated from Gobelins, Paris, in 2007. He began his career as a key animator in feature films such as Lucky Luke: All in the West and The Illusionist by Sylvain Chomet. He co-directed and co-wrote his first feature film, Little Amélie or The Character of Rain, adapted from the novel by Amélie Nothomb, and produced by Ikki Films and Maybe Movies. This project was a vision he had nurtured since he was 19.