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Claude Barras (born 1973) is a Swiss director, producer, and writer.
Barras was born in Sierre, Switzerland. He studied illustration and computer graphics at Emile Cohl School in Lyon and 3D infographics at ECAL. He then received a degree in anthropology and digital images from Lumiere University. He works as a freelance illustrator in Geneva.
After his studies, Barras and his friend Cédric Louis co-founded Hélium Films. Under this production company, they’ve co-produced and sometimes co-directed multiple animated short films. Many of their films, like Land of the Heads (2008), have received awards and critical acclaim at numerous festivals.
Throughout his career, Barras directed several short films, including The Genie in a Ravioli Can (2006). Barras' first full-length animated feature, My Life as a Courgette (2016), was presented at the Director's Fortnight of the Cannes Film Festival and received numerous awards at film festivals around the world. Switzerland submitted the film as a foreign-language entry for the 89th Academy Awards. It was nominated for Best Animated Feature Film of the Year but did not win.
In addition to directing, Barras has co-produced many of his films. He has also co-produced several other films, not by him. This includes La femme canon (2017), Birdz (2016), Imposter (2014), Un enfant commode (2013), and Monsieur l’assassin X (2012).
| Year | Title | Technique | Producer | Length | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| tbd | Sauvages! | stop-motion | Nadasdy Film / Haut et Court / Paniques! | 80m | Still in production[1] |
| 2022 | You’re Not The One I Expected | stop-motion | Frane TV Distribution / Helium Films | 90m | Adapted from Ce N’est Pas Toi Que J’attendais by Fabien Toulmé[2] |
| 2016 | My Life as a Courgette | stop-motion | Rita Productions / Blue Spirit Productions / Gebeka Films / KNM | 66m |
| Year | Title | Technique | Producer | Length | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2012 | Chambre 69 | stop-motion | Helium Films / RTS | 3m | |
| 2010 | Zucchini | stop-motion | Helium Films / Rita Productions / RTS | 3m | Pilot for My Life as a Courgette |
| 2008 | Land of the Heads | stop-motion | Helium Films / TSR / ONF / Animateka Lubjiana | 5m | Co-directed with Cédric Louis 2010 Audience Award – Slovenia, Australian International Film Festival 2009 |
| 2007 | Sainte Barbe | stop-motion | Helium Films / TSR / ONF | 8m | Co-directed with Cédric Louis |
| 2007 | Animatou | 2D animation | Studio GDS / Schwizgebel / RTS Radio Télévision Suisse / Studio GDS / Luyet | 6m | |
| 2006 | The Genie in a Ravioli Can | stop-motion | Helium Films / TSR | 7m | |
| 2005 | Ice Floe | 2D animation | Helium Films / TSR | 6m35s | Co-directed with Cédric Louis |
| 2002 | Stigmates | 2D animation | Atelier Zérodeux | 3m30s | |
| 1999 | Casting Queen | 3D animation | Ecal / Barrabas | 2m45s | |
| 1998 | Mélanie | 2D animation | Ecal / Barrabas | 4m22s |
