Exquisitely handcrafted stop-motion short
captures hearts worldwide as non-profit marks the progress of its
first U.S. location and advocates for more inclusive workforce
“Robert got his first job at the age of 47…But he’s always been
amazing…He was just waiting for the world to be.” That’s the simple
truth of ‘47,’ the inspirational animated short about the lifelong
journey of a man with Down syndrome, which won the prestigious
Silver Film Lion and three other awards at last week’s Cannes Lions
Festival of Creativity, and will be celebrated tonight at a
fundraising screening event at the French Embassy’s Villa Albertine
at the historic Payne Whitney mansion in New York City.
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the full release here:
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“Robert got his first job at the age of
47…But he’s always been amazing…He was just waiting for the world
to be.” That’s the simple truth of ‘47,’ the inspirational animated
short about the lifelong journey of a man with Down syndrome, which
won the prestigious Silver Film Lion and three other awards at last
week’s Cannes Lions Festival of Creativity, and will be celebrated
tonight at a fundraising screening event at the French Embassy’s
Villa Albertine at the historic Payne Whitney mansion in New York
City. (Graphic: Business Wire)
“We are overjoyed by the world’s reaction to ‘47’ and what our
film represents to people with disabilities,” said Sylvie Giret,
U.S. CEO of Café Joyeux, the French-based not-for-profit
café-restaurants committed to employing people with intellectual
and developmental disabilities (IDD), which launched its first U.S.
location in midtown Manhattan and screened the film for its crew
members and their families earlier this year.
Around seven million people in the U.S. live with developmental
disabilities, such as Down syndrome and autism, and approximately
75 to 80 percent are without employment.
Café Joyeux’s Co-Founder Yann Bucaille-Lanrezac said, “Our film
humanizes what many people with Down syndrome and autism
experience, while celebrating their potential and capabilities
quite beautifully, and we hope it makes a difference in people’s
lives in the same way our cafés do.”
‘47’ follows ‘Robert,’ a boy with Down syndrome on a personal
odyssey. Guided by his mother’s love, symbolized by a yellow scarf
that turns into a sail, he journeys down a river fraught with
rejection, exclusion, and bullies; until the age of 47, when he
finally reaches safe harbor at Café Joyeux and discovers a world
that embraces his extraordinary abilities. The film’s credits
reveal a montage of actual Café Joyeux crew members in Manhattan
reacting to getting their job offers, along with a
behind-the-scenes look at the creation of ‘47.’
Made By and For the IDD Community
‘47’ was co-created by people with — or connected to — Down
syndrome. Sujeet Desai, a multi-talented American musician with
Down syndrome plays the film’s soundtrack “Carry On” on piano,
alongside Grammy-winning rock band FUN’s lead singer Nate Ruess.
José Omar Davila, a skillful Venezuelan orchestra conductor with
Down syndrome, created the film’s sound effects and sound design.
Zombie Studios art director Bruno Jacob and his daughter Luna, who
has Down syndrome, designed the film’s main character ‘Robert.’
Global health marketing agency Klick Health wrote the script and
led the project, teaming up with audio production company Canja
Audio Culture and animation house Zombie Studio. Canja traveled to
Desai’s hometown of Buffalo, NY to record him playing the piano in
a local sound studio and directed Davila’s production remotely.
About 130 artists at Zombie Studio worked in production and
post-production to bring to life the stop-motion animation (with
handmade characters and sets). Among the many puppets they created
were 11 versions of Robert, ranging in age from five to 47 and
height from 10 to 20 centimeters (only three versions were included
in the final film). The puppets were made of steel and aluminum,
coated in foam and silicon, and then finished with 3-D printed
resin. Zombie also handcrafted eight miniature sets, such as Café
Joyeux’s trademark storefront and interior, and around 400 props,
including tiny croissants, cakes, coffee cups, and chairs).
“When we heard the real-life story of the crew member ‘Robert’
is based upon, we were so touched that we just had to capture the
optimism and perseverance of this community,” said Klick Health
Chief Creative Officer Rich Levy. “We are in awe of Café Joyeux and
hope our film inspires others to be as accepting and inclusive,
recognizing that we are all unique and deserve to reach our full
potential.”
Zombie Studio Director Paulo Garcia said, “We had a sensitive
and inspiring story to tell in a playful way. Our goal as a
producer was to create an animation with simplicity and elegance in
an aesthetic design. All that combines with the empathetic content,
bringing the viewer closer to the experience of the IDD community
and giving everyone a glimpse of their lives.”
“This project has been one of the most impactful we’ve ever
undertaken,” added Filipe Resende, Founder and Music Director of
Canja Audio Culture. “Having Sujeet and José Omar collaborate on
this project was truly incredible. Their talent and enthusiasm were
evident from the very beginning, and their involvement added a
layer of authenticity and depth that resonates deeply.”
To watch ‘47,’ please visit
https://us.cafejoyeux.com/pages/47-film. To support and experience
the joy of Café Joyeux, visit its first U.S. location at Lexington
Avenue and East 52nd Street in New York.
About Café Joyeux
Café Joyeux is a non-profit 501(c)3 organization committed to
promoting the inclusion of people with Intellectual and
Developmental Disabilities. We empower them through meaningful,
vocational training and employment opportunities in our
café-restaurant and beyond.
When Yann and Lydwine Bucaille opened the first Café Joyeux in
France in 2017, their objective was to open hearts and change our
society's perceptions of disabilities by creating spaces which
promote inclusion.
As of 2024, Café Joyeux operates 24 cafe-restaurants across
France, Portugal and Belgium, along with the launch of the first
American café in New York City this past year. Nearly 250
individuals with IDD now have access to meaningful careers,
innovative vocational training programs focusing on autonomy, and
countless everyday encounters with the guests who visit our
restaurants. We treat each of them as ordinary employees, and we
turn their differences into strengths.
A French inspired care for aesthetics and elegance, prime
locations, homemade seasonal recipes conceived by Michelin star
chefs, and high hospitality standards are at the heart of our
model. We bring both pride and dignity to our employees, and we
also inspire companies and individuals that themselves become
Ambassadors of Inclusion.
A world pioneer in the field of DEI - Diversity, Equity and
Inclusion - the US is a natural place for Café Joyeux to
thrive.
There are over 8 million people with IDD in this country that
can’t access meaningful jobs or any job at all, and our goal is to
welcome as many of them as possible in the Café Joyeux community,
directly or indirectly. The bar is high, yet the overwhelming wave
of support and incredible generosity that Café Joyeux has so far
received from corporations and individuals gives us hope that a
more inclusive society is possible, one cup of joy at a time!”
View source
version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20240627392995/en/
For more information, interviews, and images:
Café Joyeux US +1 (347) 503-5095 or
media.us@cafejoyeux.com
Klick Health Marisa McWilliams, Director of
Communications, Klick Health +1 (416) 214-4977 or pr@klick.com
Zombie Studio Giovanna Ricci +55 11 96246-5238 or
giovannaricci@comunicacao.marketing
Canja Audio Culture Fernanda Albanus +1 (813) 709-6814 or
hello@canja.audio