^{Credit: The Violinist (Robot Playground Media, TV ON Producciones, Altri Occhi)}

Cartoon Contender recently spoke with Raúl García, the co-director of the animated epic, The Violinist. Winning the Cristal Award for Best Film at the 2026 Annecy International Animation Film Festival, The Violinist tells a gripping love story spanning eight decades. Even as our leads find themselves separated by class, war, and time, music provides an unbreakable link. We discuss the film's ambitious production across multiple countries, García's collaboration with co-director Ervin Han, and whether The Violinist will be in the running for the Best Animated Feature Oscar this year.

Watch our conversation here:

The Violinist makes its North American debut at TIFF this week. 

Nick Spake is the Author of Bright & Shiny: A History of Animation at Award Shows Volumes 1, 2, and 3. Available Now!