WINNER – 2026 CANNES FILM FESTIVAL – Un Certain Regard Special Jury Prize
WINNER – 2026 ANNECY INTERNATIONAL ANIMATION FILM FESTIVAL (x3) – Jury Award, Audience Award, Gan Foundation Award for Distribution
WINNER - 2026 ANIMATION IS FILM FESTIVAL (x2) - Special Jury Prize, Audience Award
OFFICIAL SELECTION – 2026 TORONTO INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL
OFFICIAL SELECTION - 2026 NEW YORK FILM FESTIVAL
Winner of the Special Jury Prize in Cannes’ Un Certain Regard and three major prizes at Annecy, THE IRON BOY is the glorious, wildly entertaining feature directorial debut from former Pixar animator Louis Clichy (WALL-E, Up), about a regional family facing adversity, and the particular challenges dealt to its youngest son, who is unexpectedly pushed to develop a special form of resilience.
Rural France, the 1980s. On a family wheat farm suffering financial stress, 11-year-old Christophe (voiced beautifully by the director’s own son, Gary) tries hard to live up to his rigid, emotionally distant father and seemingly indefatigable older brother, even with the support of his loving mum and ever-loyal dog, Deputy. But without warning, Christophe’s body starts to tilt: on the tractor, at school, on his bike, at the dinner table. The local doctor’s answer is an orthopaedic iron brace, to be worn day and night, in order to correct his spine. Cut off from the only life he has known, Christophe eventually finds refuge (and burgeoning talent) in town, and forms a new friendship with local girl Clara that helps give him his first taste of independence and romance.
Drawn from Clichy’s own childhood and brought to life in stunning hand-painted watercolour and ink, THE IRON BOY blurs memory, imagination and music, setting the harsh realities of farm life against a child’s longing to break free. The result is a profound, funny and deeply moving film about determination, bravery and grace.
Widely heralded as one of France’s best films of the year and considered a strong contender for Best Animated Feature at the 2027 Academy Awards, THE IRON BOY is a soaring cinema experience for all ages, and simply not to be missed.