tech

February 24, 2026

‘I like the challenge’: French animator Florence Miailhe on being nominated for an Oscar for the first time aged 70

The film-maker’s passionate and richly textured new short Papillon (Butterfly) tells the heartbreaking story of French-Jewish swimmer Alfred Nakache, who was stripped of his citizenship in Vichy France

‘I like the challenge’: French animator Florence Miailhe on being nominated for an Oscar for the first time aged 70

TL;DR

  • Florence Miailhe, at 70, is nominated for an Oscar for her hand-animated short film 'Papillon' (Butterfly).
  • The film tells the story of Alfred Nakache, a world-record-holding French-Jewish swimmer who faced discrimination and survived Auschwitz.
  • Miailhe's animation technique involves drawing directly on glass, using oils, pastels, and sand to create a richly textured and expressive visual style.
  • The film connects Nakache's ostracism to contemporary issues of nationality deprivation based on religion or community in France.
  • Miailhe emphasizes the importance of speaking up about human rights through her work.

Continue reading the original article

Made withNostr