Milka Taps 'Amelie' Director for First Pan-European Christmas Ad

Milka engaged the services of French director Jean-Pierre Jeunet ("Amelie") to bring a whimsical flavor to its first pan-European Christmas ad campaign.

The spot, by Wieden & Kennedy Amsterdam, is once again set in the brand's fictional Alpine town of Lilaberg and revolves around a little boy who's so excited about Christmas, he builds a time machine to try and speed things along.

His family, seeing him set the date for Christmas Eve, sets about trying to make Christmas come early -- hastily cutting down a tree, wrapping gifts and, of course, taking all the Milka chocolates out of the Advent calendar. It's a cute idea (although we're wondering what happened when actual Christmas arrived).

The film rolls out across Europe from today and in the lead up to Christmas will air in over 13 markets including Germany, France, Austria and Poland.

Jeunet said in a statement: "In order to make effective work I need to start with a good story -- something that I like, that touches me, that makes me laugh. Something that I can add my own twist and style to in order to make it even better. And this was the case in creating The Time Machine. I have to say the story is perfectly tailored; a Christmas tale rich in atmosphere, a little boy with a gift for inventing things, a surreal machine, and emotion. Basically everything I am fond of. Collaborating with Milka and W&K Amsterdam has been a real pleasure, and I think it's palpable through the film. It's actually one of my favourite ads I've ever made."