One year after merging with the promotion org TV France International, Unifrance is preparing a series of strategic events in key markets across Europe, the U.S., China and Japan to fast-track the global distribution of local series and movies.
The French film and TV advocacy banner will host trade shows bringing together French sales outfits and international distributors in Paris in January, Biarritz (Southwestern France) in September, as well as in Roma in April, Madrid in June, Berlin in November, New York in March and Yokohama in December. The 13th edition of MyFrenchFilmFestival, the online fest dedicated to French movies will be held in January and February.
While the French box office has suffered a decline due to the pandemic, Unifrance highlighted the recent critical success of French productions at major festivals, for instance Julia Ducournau’s Palme d’Or winning “Titane,” as well as the series “Call My Agent!” winning an International Emmy,...
The French film and TV advocacy banner will host trade shows bringing together French sales outfits and international distributors in Paris in January, Biarritz (Southwestern France) in September, as well as in Roma in April, Madrid in June, Berlin in November, New York in March and Yokohama in December. The 13th edition of MyFrenchFilmFestival, the online fest dedicated to French movies will be held in January and February.
While the French box office has suffered a decline due to the pandemic, Unifrance highlighted the recent critical success of French productions at major festivals, for instance Julia Ducournau’s Palme d’Or winning “Titane,” as well as the series “Call My Agent!” winning an International Emmy,...
- 6/22/2022
- by Elsa Keslassy
- Variety Film + TV
Ben Stassen’s nWave Studios is set to produce “The Inseparables,” a 25 million animated feature based on an original idea by Joel Cohen and Alec Sokolow, the Oscar-nominated writers of “Toy Story.”
The feature is being jointly produced by nWave Studios in Belgium, Octopolis in France and A Contracorriente Films in Spain.
Cohen and Sokolow penned the feature with Cal Brunker, Bob Barlen, Matthieu Zeller and Jérémie Degruson.
Degruson, who previously directed some of nWave Studios’ biggest animated hits “The House of Magic,” “Bigfoot Junior” and Bigfoot Family,” is on board to helm “The Inseparables.”
The animated buddy movie follows the misadventures of Don, a runaway puppet with a boundless imagination and, DJ Doggy Dog, an abandoned stuffed animal toy in need of a friend, as they cross paths in Central Park and pair up against all odds for an epic adventure of friendship in New York City.
The movie...
The feature is being jointly produced by nWave Studios in Belgium, Octopolis in France and A Contracorriente Films in Spain.
Cohen and Sokolow penned the feature with Cal Brunker, Bob Barlen, Matthieu Zeller and Jérémie Degruson.
Degruson, who previously directed some of nWave Studios’ biggest animated hits “The House of Magic,” “Bigfoot Junior” and Bigfoot Family,” is on board to helm “The Inseparables.”
The animated buddy movie follows the misadventures of Don, a runaway puppet with a boundless imagination and, DJ Doggy Dog, an abandoned stuffed animal toy in need of a friend, as they cross paths in Central Park and pair up against all odds for an epic adventure of friendship in New York City.
The movie...
- 5/12/2022
- by Elsa Keslassy
- Variety Film + TV
International projects need to spend part of their budget in Belgium.
Brussels-based Belga Film Fund is looking for international film and TV projects in which to invest the €30m it says it has raised this year through the Belgian tax shelter.
“We are putting together a line-up of projects that will be shot in 2022 but will benefit from the funds we will collect this year,” explained company founder and general manager Fabrice Delville.
He said Belga is open to applications for funding before its next funding deadline ends on December 6th.
“Our support is spend-related. We ask for the project to spend money in Belgium,...
Brussels-based Belga Film Fund is looking for international film and TV projects in which to invest the €30m it says it has raised this year through the Belgian tax shelter.
“We are putting together a line-up of projects that will be shot in 2022 but will benefit from the funds we will collect this year,” explained company founder and general manager Fabrice Delville.
He said Belga is open to applications for funding before its next funding deadline ends on December 6th.
“Our support is spend-related. We ask for the project to spend money in Belgium,...
- 11/26/2021
- by Geoffrey Macnab
- ScreenDaily
The International Union of Cinemas (Unic) has unveiled its annual report highlighting recent developments within Europe’s theatrical industry during the pandemic. The org looks at 43,000 screens across 38 territories for its study.
This year’s findings, presented during exhibition trade show CineEurope, show that European movie theaters suffered a 70.4% year-on-year drop to €2.6 billion ($3 billion) in box office revenue in 2020. In terms of admissions, there was an annual drop of 68.4% to 430 million tickets sold.
Unic estimates that as much as €4.5 billion ($5.2 billion) were lost in other revenues for the European industry.
European theaters were on a path of steady growth when they were hit by the pandemic, having increased by 34% between 2000 to 2019 during the last two decades. 2019 was a particularly strong year as European cinemas grossed over €8.8 billion at the box office and attracted more than 1.34 billion cinema-goers.
While cinemas were shut down for most of the year and U.S.
This year’s findings, presented during exhibition trade show CineEurope, show that European movie theaters suffered a 70.4% year-on-year drop to €2.6 billion ($3 billion) in box office revenue in 2020. In terms of admissions, there was an annual drop of 68.4% to 430 million tickets sold.
Unic estimates that as much as €4.5 billion ($5.2 billion) were lost in other revenues for the European industry.
European theaters were on a path of steady growth when they were hit by the pandemic, having increased by 34% between 2000 to 2019 during the last two decades. 2019 was a particularly strong year as European cinemas grossed over €8.8 billion at the box office and attracted more than 1.34 billion cinema-goers.
While cinemas were shut down for most of the year and U.S.
- 10/5/2021
- by Elsa Keslassy
- Variety Film + TV
“Mister Crocodile,” “Corgi, A Royal Family” and “Piggy Builders” are among 84 TV series animated projects set to unspool at the 2021 Cartoon Forum which takes place in Toulouse, southern France, over Sept. 20-23 in an entirely in-person format.
21 countries from Europe will introduce animated projects at pitching sessions and industry networking, the backbone of Cartoon Forum’s activities. The 84 projects were selected from 141 submissions.
Targeting children and produced by France’s The Magical Society, “Mister Crocodile” is penned by Simon Nicholson and Joann Sfar and based on Sfar’s graphic novel. The series depicts the friendship between a girl and a crocodile, who asks to be her pet.
One of the most anticipated titles at the Forum, “Corgi, A Royal Family” is produced by France’s Studio Redfrog and Belgium’s nWave Studios, the company behind Ben Stassen’s “A Turtle’s Tale: Sammy’s Adventures,” “The House of Magic,” “Fly Me to the Moon...
21 countries from Europe will introduce animated projects at pitching sessions and industry networking, the backbone of Cartoon Forum’s activities. The 84 projects were selected from 141 submissions.
Targeting children and produced by France’s The Magical Society, “Mister Crocodile” is penned by Simon Nicholson and Joann Sfar and based on Sfar’s graphic novel. The series depicts the friendship between a girl and a crocodile, who asks to be her pet.
One of the most anticipated titles at the Forum, “Corgi, A Royal Family” is produced by France’s Studio Redfrog and Belgium’s nWave Studios, the company behind Ben Stassen’s “A Turtle’s Tale: Sammy’s Adventures,” “The House of Magic,” “Fly Me to the Moon...
- 9/6/2021
- by Emilio Mayorga
- Variety Film + TV
While U.S. blockbusters deserted screens in 2020, French animated features had 10-year record-breaking performance at the local box office last year, according to a study conducted by the Cnc (National Film Board) and unveiled on the opening day of Annecy Film Festival.
As French theaters were shut down for most of the year due to the pandemic, only 25 animated films were released in local cinemas last year. But the few local animated pics that were released, such as “Bigfoot Family,” “Josep” and Joann Sfar’s “Little Vampire,” represented 32.7% of all admissions for animated films in France in 2020, the highest level within the last decade.
“Bigfoot Family” was directed by Ben Stassen and Jérémie Degruson. The 3D-animated film is the sequel to “Son of Bigfoot,” and was written by Bob Barlen and Cal Brunker (“Escape From Planet Earth”). “Josep,” meanwhile, is directed by Aurelien Froment (known as Aurel) and charts the life of Josep Bartolí,...
As French theaters were shut down for most of the year due to the pandemic, only 25 animated films were released in local cinemas last year. But the few local animated pics that were released, such as “Bigfoot Family,” “Josep” and Joann Sfar’s “Little Vampire,” represented 32.7% of all admissions for animated films in France in 2020, the highest level within the last decade.
“Bigfoot Family” was directed by Ben Stassen and Jérémie Degruson. The 3D-animated film is the sequel to “Son of Bigfoot,” and was written by Bob Barlen and Cal Brunker (“Escape From Planet Earth”). “Josep,” meanwhile, is directed by Aurelien Froment (known as Aurel) and charts the life of Josep Bartolí,...
- 6/14/2021
- by Elsa Keslassy
- Variety Film + TV
Mamoru Hosoda, the Oscar-nominated director of “Mirai,” has attracted a prestigious international creative team for his anticipated music-filled film, “Belle,” whose first trailer is being unveiled by Studio Chizu. On top of revealing exclusive new images, the trailer also features the very first track of the film.
Mixing reality and fantasy, “Belle” follows Suzu, a 17-year-old high school student living in a rural village with her father. For years she has only been a shadow of herself. One day, she enters “U,” a virtual world of 5 billion members on the Internet. There, she is not Suzu anymore but Belle, a world-famous singer. She soon meets with a mysterious creature. Together, they embark on a journey of adventures, challenges and love, in their quest of becoming who they truly are.
Represented in international markets by Charades, “Belle” will bring together a crew of Japanese and international talents, the first of its...
Mixing reality and fantasy, “Belle” follows Suzu, a 17-year-old high school student living in a rural village with her father. For years she has only been a shadow of herself. One day, she enters “U,” a virtual world of 5 billion members on the Internet. There, she is not Suzu anymore but Belle, a world-famous singer. She soon meets with a mysterious creature. Together, they embark on a journey of adventures, challenges and love, in their quest of becoming who they truly are.
Represented in international markets by Charades, “Belle” will bring together a crew of Japanese and international talents, the first of its...
- 4/1/2021
- by Elsa Keslassy
- Variety Film + TV
Studio Chizu is unveiling the first teaser and poster for Mamoru Hosoda’s highly anticipated animated feature “Belle,” the revered Japanese director’s follow-up to the Oscar-nominated film “Mirai.”
Paris-based sales company Charades is representing the film in international markets and will kick off sales at the virtual European Film Market. Nippon Television handles sales for Asia.
Hosoda’s ninth feature, “Belle” follows Suzu, a 17-year-old high school student living in a rural village with her father. For years she has only been a shadow of herself. One day, Suzu enters “U,” a virtual world of five billion online members, and she becomes Belle, a world-famous singer. Belle soon meets with a mysterious creature with whom she embarks on a journey of adventures and love in their quest of becoming who they truly are.
“’Belle’ is the movie that I have always wanted to create and I am only able...
Paris-based sales company Charades is representing the film in international markets and will kick off sales at the virtual European Film Market. Nippon Television handles sales for Asia.
Hosoda’s ninth feature, “Belle” follows Suzu, a 17-year-old high school student living in a rural village with her father. For years she has only been a shadow of herself. One day, Suzu enters “U,” a virtual world of five billion online members, and she becomes Belle, a world-famous singer. Belle soon meets with a mysterious creature with whom she embarks on a journey of adventures and love in their quest of becoming who they truly are.
“’Belle’ is the movie that I have always wanted to create and I am only able...
- 2/17/2021
- by Elsa Keslassy
- Variety Film + TV
The Brussels-based company’s ‘Bigfoot Family’ recently sold to Netflix.
An animated feature based on the story of Don Quixote is in production at Brussels-based animation studio nWave Pictures, scripted by two of the screenwriters behind Toy Story.
Alec Sokolow and Joel Cohen have written the feature, which will be directed by Jérémie Degruson and has a budget between €15m ($18m) and €20m ($24m).
The original screenplay first surfaced more than 10 years ago, titled Q, but nWave founder and filmmaker Ben Stassen told Screendaily that it will be renamed.
“It’s about a puppet theatre in New York City where...
An animated feature based on the story of Don Quixote is in production at Brussels-based animation studio nWave Pictures, scripted by two of the screenwriters behind Toy Story.
Alec Sokolow and Joel Cohen have written the feature, which will be directed by Jérémie Degruson and has a budget between €15m ($18m) and €20m ($24m).
The original screenplay first surfaced more than 10 years ago, titled Q, but nWave founder and filmmaker Ben Stassen told Screendaily that it will be renamed.
“It’s about a puppet theatre in New York City where...
- 2/12/2021
- by Geoffrey Macnab
- ScreenDaily
Sony Pictures International Productions (Spip) is joining forces with Ben Stassen, a veteran Belgian animation director and producer, and his producing partner Matthieu Zeller on “Chickenhare and the Hamster of Darkness,” an ambitious 3D-animated adventure film based on the Dark Horse comics.
Stassen and Benjamin Mousquet will direct “Chickenhare and the Hamster of Darkness,” whose screenplay was written by Dave Collard, based on “Chickenhare,” the graphic novels penned and illustrated by Chris Grine and published by Dark Horse comics.
“Chickenhare and the Hamster of Darkness” is being produced by Caroline van Iseghem and Stassen at nWave Pictures, and Matthieu Zeller at Octopolis, who are rolling off the success of “Bigfoot Family,” one of France’s highest grossing films at home and abroad — across 51 territories — in 2020.
The film is co-produced by Spip. Sony Pictures Entertainment France will distribute the film and have home entertainment and digital rights in France.
The family...
Stassen and Benjamin Mousquet will direct “Chickenhare and the Hamster of Darkness,” whose screenplay was written by Dave Collard, based on “Chickenhare,” the graphic novels penned and illustrated by Chris Grine and published by Dark Horse comics.
“Chickenhare and the Hamster of Darkness” is being produced by Caroline van Iseghem and Stassen at nWave Pictures, and Matthieu Zeller at Octopolis, who are rolling off the success of “Bigfoot Family,” one of France’s highest grossing films at home and abroad — across 51 territories — in 2020.
The film is co-produced by Spip. Sony Pictures Entertainment France will distribute the film and have home entertainment and digital rights in France.
The family...
- 2/8/2021
- by Elsa Keslassy
- Variety Film + TV
Rolling off the Oscar-nominated animated feature “Mirai,” Paris-based sales company Charades is set to reteam with Japanese auteur Mamoru Hosoda on his next directorial outing, “Belle.”
“Belle” follows a fruitful collaboration between Charades, Hosoda and his production company Studio Chizu. “Mirai” world premiered at Cannes’ Directors’ Fortnight in 2018 and was acquired by GKids for the U.S. In addition to being Oscar-nominated, “Mirai” also earned a Golden Globe nomination and received the Annie Award for best animated feature.
Hosoda’s ninth project, “Belle” follows a teenage girl who lives between modern-day Japan and a virtual world called “U.” As with some of Hosoda’s previous work, which includes “Digimon: The Movie” and “Summer Wars,” “Belle” will explore how technology impacts lives and relationships. Hosoda will also tackle familiar themes such as youth, family bonds and friendship to create a story about courage and hope in difficult times.
“I’ve been...
“Belle” follows a fruitful collaboration between Charades, Hosoda and his production company Studio Chizu. “Mirai” world premiered at Cannes’ Directors’ Fortnight in 2018 and was acquired by GKids for the U.S. In addition to being Oscar-nominated, “Mirai” also earned a Golden Globe nomination and received the Annie Award for best animated feature.
Hosoda’s ninth project, “Belle” follows a teenage girl who lives between modern-day Japan and a virtual world called “U.” As with some of Hosoda’s previous work, which includes “Digimon: The Movie” and “Summer Wars,” “Belle” will explore how technology impacts lives and relationships. Hosoda will also tackle familiar themes such as youth, family bonds and friendship to create a story about courage and hope in difficult times.
“I’ve been...
- 12/15/2020
- by Elsa Keslassy
- Variety Film + TV
Charades, the Paris-based sales company behind the Oscar-nominated “Mirai” and “I Lost My Body,” has locked a raft of deals on “Dogtanian and the Three Muskehounds,” a 3D animated feature inspired by Alexandre Dumas’ 19th-century classic D’Artagnan novels.
Budgeted in the region of $10 million, the family-skewing film is a reboot of the popular 1980s TV series “Dogtanian and the Three Muskehounds,” which aired in more than 100 countries and on 150 networks.
Charades launched the film at the AFM and closed Central Partnership (Russia), Ex-Yugoslavia (Blitz), Baltics (Acme), Turkey (Tanweer), Middle East (Empire International), Israel (Forum), Greece (Odeon) and South Africa (Empire Entertainment). The company is in negotiations to pre-sell the film to France, Germany, Australia/New Zealand and Poland.
“The project is in line with our DNA: a strong IP, a very solid studio and of course there is an emotional attachment to the brand as the TV series was...
Budgeted in the region of $10 million, the family-skewing film is a reboot of the popular 1980s TV series “Dogtanian and the Three Muskehounds,” which aired in more than 100 countries and on 150 networks.
Charades launched the film at the AFM and closed Central Partnership (Russia), Ex-Yugoslavia (Blitz), Baltics (Acme), Turkey (Tanweer), Middle East (Empire International), Israel (Forum), Greece (Odeon) and South Africa (Empire Entertainment). The company is in negotiations to pre-sell the film to France, Germany, Australia/New Zealand and Poland.
“The project is in line with our DNA: a strong IP, a very solid studio and of course there is an emotional attachment to the brand as the TV series was...
- 11/18/2020
- by Elsa Keslassy
- Variety Film + TV
Europe’s biggest nation of moviegoers, France, saw its theaters reopen with a bang on June 22 and managed to sell between 850,000 and 900,000 admissions through Sunday.
It’s roughly 50% less than an average week in June, but considering the dearth of fresh releases, the heat wave, which plagued most of the country last week, and fears of a second wave of Covid-19, it’s an “outstanding result that is beyond our most optimistic forecast,” said Eric Marti at Comscore France. Theaters had been shutdown for more than two months.
The admission tally is particularly strong since not all theaters were open during the first part of the week. Indeed, only about 60% of theaters had reopened on Monday and Tuesday, and by Wednesday there were 85% of them, said Marti. Today, most of France’s 2,040 cinemas and 5,700 screens are active.
“As many as 660,000 admissions were sold between Wednesday and Sunday, when almost all the venues had reopened,...
It’s roughly 50% less than an average week in June, but considering the dearth of fresh releases, the heat wave, which plagued most of the country last week, and fears of a second wave of Covid-19, it’s an “outstanding result that is beyond our most optimistic forecast,” said Eric Marti at Comscore France. Theaters had been shutdown for more than two months.
The admission tally is particularly strong since not all theaters were open during the first part of the week. Indeed, only about 60% of theaters had reopened on Monday and Tuesday, and by Wednesday there were 85% of them, said Marti. Today, most of France’s 2,040 cinemas and 5,700 screens are active.
“As many as 660,000 admissions were sold between Wednesday and Sunday, when almost all the venues had reopened,...
- 6/29/2020
- by Elsa Keslassy
- Variety Film + TV
France is getting ready to reopen cinemas on June 22 after a three-month shutdown, with plans in place to cap admissions to 50% of auditorium capacities.
The limitations in France aren’t as strict as in Germany, Norway or the Czech Republic, where theaters reopened with a 50 to 100-person capacity per screen.
Securing a percentage of auditorium capacity rather than a hard, fixed number was a big win for exhibitors as it will allow them to reopen auditoriums of all sizes on day one, explained Jocelyn Bouyssy, who runs Cgr Cinemas, the country’s second biggest multiplex chain.
On top of the 50% cap in France, there will need to be an empty seat on each side in between each patron; however, groups that aren’t necessarily people living in the same household will be able to sit together.
The guidelines also recommend that patrons wear a mask during their whereabouts in the cinemas,...
The limitations in France aren’t as strict as in Germany, Norway or the Czech Republic, where theaters reopened with a 50 to 100-person capacity per screen.
Securing a percentage of auditorium capacity rather than a hard, fixed number was a big win for exhibitors as it will allow them to reopen auditoriums of all sizes on day one, explained Jocelyn Bouyssy, who runs Cgr Cinemas, the country’s second biggest multiplex chain.
On top of the 50% cap in France, there will need to be an empty seat on each side in between each patron; however, groups that aren’t necessarily people living in the same household will be able to sit together.
The guidelines also recommend that patrons wear a mask during their whereabouts in the cinemas,...
- 6/19/2020
- by Elsa Keslassy
- Variety Film + TV
Charades has scored a raft of pre-sales on Ben Stassen’s 3D animated feature “Bigfoot Family,” one of the biggest features competing at Annecy’s online film festival.
Directed by Stassen and Jérémie Degruson, “Bigfoot Family” (previously titled “Bigfoot Superstar”), is the sequel to “Son of Bigfoot” which was released internationally in 2017 and grossed more than $50 million worldwide.
Budgeted at more than $20 million, “Bigfoot Family” will be widely released by Francois Clerc’s Apollo Films in France on August 5. The movie was produced by Brussels-based nWave Pictures and stars Pappy Faulkner, Lindsay Torrance and Chris Parsons. “Bigfoot Family” is based upon an original story by Stassen, and was written by Bob Barlen and Cal Brunker (“Escape From Planet Earth”).
Over the last few months, Charades has pre-sold the anticipated film to most territories, including Germany (Splendid), Spain (Tripictures/A Contracorriente), Israel (Forum), Switzerland (Impuls), South Korea (Isu C&e), Greece (Odeon...
Directed by Stassen and Jérémie Degruson, “Bigfoot Family” (previously titled “Bigfoot Superstar”), is the sequel to “Son of Bigfoot” which was released internationally in 2017 and grossed more than $50 million worldwide.
Budgeted at more than $20 million, “Bigfoot Family” will be widely released by Francois Clerc’s Apollo Films in France on August 5. The movie was produced by Brussels-based nWave Pictures and stars Pappy Faulkner, Lindsay Torrance and Chris Parsons. “Bigfoot Family” is based upon an original story by Stassen, and was written by Bob Barlen and Cal Brunker (“Escape From Planet Earth”).
Over the last few months, Charades has pre-sold the anticipated film to most territories, including Germany (Splendid), Spain (Tripictures/A Contracorriente), Israel (Forum), Switzerland (Impuls), South Korea (Isu C&e), Greece (Odeon...
- 6/17/2020
- by Elsa Keslassy
- Variety Film + TV
One delight every year at Annecy is its showcase of new films by established talent, on-the-rise directors and names near off the radar. France has all three in 2020:
“Bigfoot Family” (Ben Stassen, Jérémie Degruson, nWave Pictures, Octopolis)
Probably the biggest box office bet of any title in main competition at Annecy this year. Sold by Charades, directed by pioneering 3D cineaste Ben Stassen, an Annecy regular, and Jérémie Degruson, and fruit of their one-stop-shop studio in Belgium, a tiny tot skewing comedy marking a follow-up to 2018’s “Son of Bigfoot,” which grossed a significant $50 million worldwide.
“The Blossom Crown” (Raphaël Penasa, U.S., France)
One of the most talked-up of Digital Experience pitches at Mifa this year mixing genre and gender as the viewer is invited to share the memories of central character Nigel, in which he discovers that his sibling is a transgender girl, and explore his ancient family home.
“Bigfoot Family” (Ben Stassen, Jérémie Degruson, nWave Pictures, Octopolis)
Probably the biggest box office bet of any title in main competition at Annecy this year. Sold by Charades, directed by pioneering 3D cineaste Ben Stassen, an Annecy regular, and Jérémie Degruson, and fruit of their one-stop-shop studio in Belgium, a tiny tot skewing comedy marking a follow-up to 2018’s “Son of Bigfoot,” which grossed a significant $50 million worldwide.
“The Blossom Crown” (Raphaël Penasa, U.S., France)
One of the most talked-up of Digital Experience pitches at Mifa this year mixing genre and gender as the viewer is invited to share the memories of central character Nigel, in which he discovers that his sibling is a transgender girl, and explore his ancient family home.
- 6/15/2020
- by John Hopewell
- Variety Film + TV
France’s 2020 Annecy festival and accompanying Mifa market won’t be the first such events to go completely online this year, but certainly stand out as one of Europe’s largest to do so. The prestigious animation gathering, which normally draws toon heavyhitters from all over the world, will stream June 15-30.
While platforms and broadcasters fight over available content, with kids and family one of the tentpoles of subscriber retention, the market for animation has never been more demanding — both in quality and audience expectation.
One big challenge in making the transition to online is the inability to stream many of the key titles from Annecy’s Official and Contrechamp competitions in their entirety due to licensing rights and other contractual conditions.
However, several studios and key sales agents have confirmed to Variety that they are planning alternative means of promoting their upcoming content while still entertaining eager Annecy badge-holders.
While platforms and broadcasters fight over available content, with kids and family one of the tentpoles of subscriber retention, the market for animation has never been more demanding — both in quality and audience expectation.
One big challenge in making the transition to online is the inability to stream many of the key titles from Annecy’s Official and Contrechamp competitions in their entirety due to licensing rights and other contractual conditions.
However, several studios and key sales agents have confirmed to Variety that they are planning alternative means of promoting their upcoming content while still entertaining eager Annecy badge-holders.
- 6/12/2020
- by Jamie Lang
- Variety Film + TV
The new animation opuses by Joann Sfar, Rémi Chayé, Mariusz Willczynski and the duo composed of Ben Stassen and Jérémie Degruson will headline the online event unspooling 15–30 June. Forced this year to reinvent itself online as a result of the ongoing health crisis (read our news), the Annecy International Animated Film Festival (running 15 - 30 June) - the biggest event of its kind - has unveiled a tantalising selection of 20 titles for its two feature film competitions, The Official and Contrechamp.Out of the 76 original candidates, artistic director Marcel Jean has chosen ten titles which will battle it out for The Official’s 2020 Cristal. Shining bright among them is Little Vampire by France’s Joann Sfar, who already triumphed in Annecy in 2011 with The Rabbi’s Cat. The filmmaker’s new opus was produced by Aton Soumache on behalf of The Magical Society (a company born out of Mediawan...
Annecy 2020, the world-class French animation festival, is going online this year due to the pandemic. The official selections for feature films and Vr works were revealed on Monday.
There are 20 features competing in the two categories (Official and Contrechamp) from France, Japan, South Korea, Russia, Chile, Mauritius, and Egypt. Standouts from the Official category include Takashi Yamazaki’s “Lupin the 3rd: The First,” the latest in the popular “gentleman thief” heist franchise, which GKids picked up for theatrical release this year; “Calamity: A Childhood of Martha Jane Cannary,” the biopic about Martha (Calamity) Jane’s empowering journey West in 1863, from French director Rémi Chayé (“The Long Way North”); and “The Nose or the Conspiracy of Mavericks,” an experimental drama about Stalin’s reign of terror from Russian director Andrey Khrzhanovsky.
The Official competition also includes Seven Days War” (Japan), an anime about young adult social rebellion from Yuta Morano; “Bigfoot...
There are 20 features competing in the two categories (Official and Contrechamp) from France, Japan, South Korea, Russia, Chile, Mauritius, and Egypt. Standouts from the Official category include Takashi Yamazaki’s “Lupin the 3rd: The First,” the latest in the popular “gentleman thief” heist franchise, which GKids picked up for theatrical release this year; “Calamity: A Childhood of Martha Jane Cannary,” the biopic about Martha (Calamity) Jane’s empowering journey West in 1863, from French director Rémi Chayé (“The Long Way North”); and “The Nose or the Conspiracy of Mavericks,” an experimental drama about Stalin’s reign of terror from Russian director Andrey Khrzhanovsky.
The Official competition also includes Seven Days War” (Japan), an anime about young adult social rebellion from Yuta Morano; “Bigfoot...
- 5/18/2020
- by Bill Desowitz
- Indiewire
Films by Joann Sfar, Rémi Chayé, Takashi Yamazaki and Andrey Khrzhanovsky to compete for festival’s Crystal award.
The Annecy International Film Festival has unveiled the 20 works that will compete in its main feature-length competition and Contrechamp competition, aimed at works by emerging talents.
The French lakeside animation festival and industry event will run online June 15 to 30, following the cancellation of its 2020 physical edition due to the Covid-19 pandemic.
French filmmaker Joann Sfar’s comedy Little Vampire and Japanese animator Takashi Yamazaki’s adventure tale Lupin III: The First will be among the 10 feature animations competing for the Crystal award...
The Annecy International Film Festival has unveiled the 20 works that will compete in its main feature-length competition and Contrechamp competition, aimed at works by emerging talents.
The French lakeside animation festival and industry event will run online June 15 to 30, following the cancellation of its 2020 physical edition due to the Covid-19 pandemic.
French filmmaker Joann Sfar’s comedy Little Vampire and Japanese animator Takashi Yamazaki’s adventure tale Lupin III: The First will be among the 10 feature animations competing for the Crystal award...
- 5/18/2020
- by 1100388¦Melanie Goodfellow¦0¦
- ScreenDaily
France’s 2020 Annecy Festival, the highest-profile animation gathering in the world, has unveiled its main Feature Film competition and major Contrechamp sidebar.
There are no U.S. titles in either section: America’s presence, both studios and global platforms, will most likely make itself felt when Annecy announces its work in progress and screening events sessions from later this week.
The difficulties of transferring online a lineup with even works from prominent European animation auteurs, plus such Japanese franchise installments such as “Lupin III; the First” was seen Monday when the Annecy Festival confirmed that not all of the films in official competition and Contrechamp may be screened online in their entirety.
“In the event that certain films cannot be offered to all festivalgoers, we have requested the producers provide a minimum 10-minute extract or produce a short documentary presentation,” the festival said in a statement Monday.
Made up in...
There are no U.S. titles in either section: America’s presence, both studios and global platforms, will most likely make itself felt when Annecy announces its work in progress and screening events sessions from later this week.
The difficulties of transferring online a lineup with even works from prominent European animation auteurs, plus such Japanese franchise installments such as “Lupin III; the First” was seen Monday when the Annecy Festival confirmed that not all of the films in official competition and Contrechamp may be screened online in their entirety.
“In the event that certain films cannot be offered to all festivalgoers, we have requested the producers provide a minimum 10-minute extract or produce a short documentary presentation,” the festival said in a statement Monday.
Made up in...
- 5/18/2020
- by John Hopewell and Jamie Lang
- Variety Film + TV
In today’s film news roundup, “The Queen’s Corgi” finds a home, the Overlook Film Festival is postponed and the California Film Commission adjusts its tax credit rules due to the coronavirus.
Acquisition
Freestyle Digital Media has acquired North American rights to the animated family comedy feature “The Queen’s Corgi,” and plans to make it available on DVD and to rent and own on digital platforms on April 21.
“The Queen’s Corgi” centers on the monarch’s favorite dog, Rex, who lives a life of luxury in Buckingham Palace before he gets lost from the palace and winds up in a London dog’s home surrounded by tough strays.
Directed by Vincent Kesteloot and Ben Stassen, “The Queen’s Corgi” features the voices of Leo Barakat as Rex, Jo Wyatt and Dino Andrade. The script was written by Rob Sprackling and Johnny Smith and produced by Stassen.
Caleb Ward, director of acquisitions for Freestyle Digital Media,...
Acquisition
Freestyle Digital Media has acquired North American rights to the animated family comedy feature “The Queen’s Corgi,” and plans to make it available on DVD and to rent and own on digital platforms on April 21.
“The Queen’s Corgi” centers on the monarch’s favorite dog, Rex, who lives a life of luxury in Buckingham Palace before he gets lost from the palace and winds up in a London dog’s home surrounded by tough strays.
Directed by Vincent Kesteloot and Ben Stassen, “The Queen’s Corgi” features the voices of Leo Barakat as Rex, Jo Wyatt and Dino Andrade. The script was written by Rob Sprackling and Johnny Smith and produced by Stassen.
Caleb Ward, director of acquisitions for Freestyle Digital Media,...
- 3/28/2020
- by Dave McNary
- Variety Film + TV
Charades, the Paris-based sales company behind the Oscar-nominated “I Lost My Body” and “Mirai,” has closed a raft of deals on high-profile animated features, including “Little Nicholas” and “Marona’s Fantastic Tale.”
Anca Damian’s “Marona’s Fantastic Tale,” which world premiered in competition at last year’s Annecy Film Festival and was nominated at the European Film Awards, portrays a dog who, reflecting back on her life, reminisces about her different homes and owners after being hit by a car.
Set for a North American release later this year with Gkids, “Marona’s Fantastic Tale” has been acquired by Japan (Riskit), Spain (Pack Magic), the Baltics (Scanorama), Taiwan (Sky Digi), China (Legend Film), Poland (New Horizons), South Korea (Challan), Sweden (Triart) and Netherlands (Windmill). Damian’s followup to “Crulic: The Path to Beyond,” “Marona’s Fantastic Tale” is made with a range of styles, from expressionistic sketches to crayon drawings.
Anca Damian’s “Marona’s Fantastic Tale,” which world premiered in competition at last year’s Annecy Film Festival and was nominated at the European Film Awards, portrays a dog who, reflecting back on her life, reminisces about her different homes and owners after being hit by a car.
Set for a North American release later this year with Gkids, “Marona’s Fantastic Tale” has been acquired by Japan (Riskit), Spain (Pack Magic), the Baltics (Scanorama), Taiwan (Sky Digi), China (Legend Film), Poland (New Horizons), South Korea (Challan), Sweden (Triart) and Netherlands (Windmill). Damian’s followup to “Crulic: The Path to Beyond,” “Marona’s Fantastic Tale” is made with a range of styles, from expressionistic sketches to crayon drawings.
- 2/22/2020
- by Elsa Keslassy
- Variety Film + TV
‘Black Christmas’ (Photo credit: Universal).
With Disney/Fox’s Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker invading cinemas this Thursday no distributor was brave – or foolish – enough to launch potentially lucrative titles last weekend.
So, no one could blame cinemagoers for ignoring the new releases which had flopped or under-performed in the Us or the UK, while Universal/Blumhouse’s horror movie Black Christmas was D.O.A here and globally.
Paramount’s family comedy Playing with Fire fared best among the newcomers, but that’s not saying a lot as the top 20 titles generated $10.4 million, down 16 per cent on the previous frame according to Numero.
The Walt Disney Animation Studios’ Frozen II continued its reign, raking in nearly $3.7 million in its third weekend, propelling the total to $22.8 million. The sequel co-directed by the original’s Chris Buck and Jennifer Lee has amassed $1.03 billion worldwide, ranking as the seventh biggest animated release of all time.
With Disney/Fox’s Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker invading cinemas this Thursday no distributor was brave – or foolish – enough to launch potentially lucrative titles last weekend.
So, no one could blame cinemagoers for ignoring the new releases which had flopped or under-performed in the Us or the UK, while Universal/Blumhouse’s horror movie Black Christmas was D.O.A here and globally.
Paramount’s family comedy Playing with Fire fared best among the newcomers, but that’s not saying a lot as the top 20 titles generated $10.4 million, down 16 per cent on the previous frame according to Numero.
The Walt Disney Animation Studios’ Frozen II continued its reign, raking in nearly $3.7 million in its third weekend, propelling the total to $22.8 million. The sequel co-directed by the original’s Chris Buck and Jennifer Lee has amassed $1.03 billion worldwide, ranking as the seventh biggest animated release of all time.
- 12/15/2019
- by The IF Team
- IF.com.au
Ari Aster’s ‘Hereditary’ follow-up ‘Midsommar’ also out this weekend.
This weekend in the UK will see Spider-Man: Far From Home try to light up this year’s summer box office with a blockbuster opening session.
The Marvel film, released by Sony Pictures (which retains ownership of the Spider-Man franchise), follows the recent success of fellow Marvel title Avengers: Endgame, which has taken a goliath £88.3m in the UK, making it the country’s fifth highest-grossing release of all time.
Disney put Endgame back into cinemas last week (including some bonus content featuring the cast and crew) to capitalise on...
This weekend in the UK will see Spider-Man: Far From Home try to light up this year’s summer box office with a blockbuster opening session.
The Marvel film, released by Sony Pictures (which retains ownership of the Spider-Man franchise), follows the recent success of fellow Marvel title Avengers: Endgame, which has taken a goliath £88.3m in the UK, making it the country’s fifth highest-grossing release of all time.
Disney put Endgame back into cinemas last week (including some bonus content featuring the cast and crew) to capitalise on...
- 7/5/2019
- by Tom Grater
- ScreenDaily
Jack Whitehall voices a disgraced doggie who ends up joining a canine fight club in this mirthless animated caper
These are indeed the misadventures of one of Her Majesty’s pluckier canine companions. Much of the action thus takes place in and around a functionally rendered Buckingham Palace, complete with photorealistic Liz and Phil in union-jack slippers. And yet this is not a homegrown animation. The credits reveal that most of the key personnel – headed by directors Vincent Kesteloot and Ben Stassen – are Belgian. Is there no one on this side of the North Sea who could digitise a few poop gags? Or would that leave the animators facing charges of treason?
Since Fly Me to the Moon (2008), Stassen’s Brussels-based nWave studio has generated cheap and cheerful product for harassed parents to make do with if the latest Pixar has sold out. The Queen’s Corgi script, by Gnomeo & Juliet...
These are indeed the misadventures of one of Her Majesty’s pluckier canine companions. Much of the action thus takes place in and around a functionally rendered Buckingham Palace, complete with photorealistic Liz and Phil in union-jack slippers. And yet this is not a homegrown animation. The credits reveal that most of the key personnel – headed by directors Vincent Kesteloot and Ben Stassen – are Belgian. Is there no one on this side of the North Sea who could digitise a few poop gags? Or would that leave the animators facing charges of treason?
Since Fly Me to the Moon (2008), Stassen’s Brussels-based nWave studio has generated cheap and cheerful product for harassed parents to make do with if the latest Pixar has sold out. The Queen’s Corgi script, by Gnomeo & Juliet...
- 7/5/2019
- by Mike McCahill
- The Guardian - Film News
Cannes — Produced by Cottonwood Media and Studiocanal, written by “Ice Age 2’s” Gerry Swallow, and directed by Academy Award nominated Samuel Tourneux (“Only Pidgeons Go To Heaven”), $25 million animated feature “Around the World” had sparked offers from “from all over the world” by Wednesday evening at Cannes, said Anne Cherel, Studiocanal head of international current movies sales.
Weighing offers, Studiocanal looks to close 70%-80% of major territories by the end of the market, she added.
That looks set to make “Around the World” one of this year’s Cannes Film Market hits.
Studiocanal will distribute “Around the World” directly in France. It will also release the film, based on Jules Vernes’ timeless literary classic, in its direct distribution territories of Germany, the U.K. and Australia/New Zealand, unless it receives offers for the territories which it can’t refuse, Cherel said.
That may be possible. One of the biggest...
Weighing offers, Studiocanal looks to close 70%-80% of major territories by the end of the market, she added.
That looks set to make “Around the World” one of this year’s Cannes Film Market hits.
Studiocanal will distribute “Around the World” directly in France. It will also release the film, based on Jules Vernes’ timeless literary classic, in its direct distribution territories of Germany, the U.K. and Australia/New Zealand, unless it receives offers for the territories which it can’t refuse, Cherel said.
That may be possible. One of the biggest...
- 5/16/2019
- by John Hopewell and Jamie Lang
- Variety Film + TV
Ever wondered what the life of a Royal Corgi would be like? Why not find out with a new trailer from Lionsgate UK for ‘The Queen’s Corgi’.
Directed by Ben Stassen (A Turtle’s Tale: Sammy’s Adventures, Thunder and the House of Magic) and Vincent Kesteloot (The Wild Life), written by Rob Sprackling and John R. Smith (Gnomeo and Juliet), and produced by nWave Pictures.
Voice cast includes Jack Whitehall is Rex, Ray Winstone is Tyson, Julie Walters is The Queen, Sheridan Smith is Wanda, Matt Lucas is Charlie and Tom Courtenay as The Duke of Edinburgh.
Also in trailers – Sophie Turner loses control in trailer for ‘X-Men: Dark Phoenix’
The film is released on July 5th
The Queen’s Corgi Synopsis
Rex is the Queen’s Top Dog – a spoilt little corgi who lives a life of luxury in Buckingham Palace. But when Rex winds up in a London Dog’s Home,...
Directed by Ben Stassen (A Turtle’s Tale: Sammy’s Adventures, Thunder and the House of Magic) and Vincent Kesteloot (The Wild Life), written by Rob Sprackling and John R. Smith (Gnomeo and Juliet), and produced by nWave Pictures.
Voice cast includes Jack Whitehall is Rex, Ray Winstone is Tyson, Julie Walters is The Queen, Sheridan Smith is Wanda, Matt Lucas is Charlie and Tom Courtenay as The Duke of Edinburgh.
Also in trailers – Sophie Turner loses control in trailer for ‘X-Men: Dark Phoenix’
The film is released on July 5th
The Queen’s Corgi Synopsis
Rex is the Queen’s Top Dog – a spoilt little corgi who lives a life of luxury in Buckingham Palace. But when Rex winds up in a London Dog’s Home,...
- 4/18/2019
- by Zehra Phelan
- HeyUGuys.co.uk
“The Queen’s Corgi,” the 3D animated adventure tale directed by Ben Stassen and Vincent Kesteloot, had a banner opening in France on Wednesday, scoring the country’s best first-day haul for an independent European animated film.
Written by Rob Sprackling and Johnny Smith, the pair behind “Gnomeo and Juliet,” “The Queen’s Corgi” grossed approximately €304,000 euros from 44,701 tickets on Wednesday in France. It’s this year’s fifth-highest opening day for a non-u.S. film so far in France, after “Serial (Bad) Weddings 2,” “Dragon Ball Super: Broly,” “City Hunter” and “Tanguy 2,” all of which are franchise-based pics.
Charades is representing the film in international markets. Apollo, the company launched by former Gaumont and Studiocanal exec Francois Clerc, is handling French distribution in association with TF1 Studio, and is giving the movie a wide release in France across 511 screens.
“The Queen’s Corgi” follows the adventures of Rex, the British monarch’s most beloved dog,...
Written by Rob Sprackling and Johnny Smith, the pair behind “Gnomeo and Juliet,” “The Queen’s Corgi” grossed approximately €304,000 euros from 44,701 tickets on Wednesday in France. It’s this year’s fifth-highest opening day for a non-u.S. film so far in France, after “Serial (Bad) Weddings 2,” “Dragon Ball Super: Broly,” “City Hunter” and “Tanguy 2,” all of which are franchise-based pics.
Charades is representing the film in international markets. Apollo, the company launched by former Gaumont and Studiocanal exec Francois Clerc, is handling French distribution in association with TF1 Studio, and is giving the movie a wide release in France across 511 screens.
“The Queen’s Corgi” follows the adventures of Rex, the British monarch’s most beloved dog,...
- 4/12/2019
- by Elsa Keslassy
- Variety Film + TV
Exclusive: French sales outfit Charades has boarded its first UK production in the shape of BBC Films and BFI-backed Lynn And Lucy, from first-time feature filmmaker Fyzal Boulifa and producer Camilla Bray (Oranges And Sunshine).
Written and directed by Boulifa, a two-time winner of the Illy Prize for Best Short Film at Cannes Directors’ Fortnight, Bray produces for Rosetta Productions, with Ken Loach and Rebecca O’Brien’s Sixteen Films and Paris-based Vixens on board as associate producers. The film shot for five weeks in Harlow, UK at the end of 2018.
Currently in post-production, the debut is described to us as “a study of violence and hysteria at a societal level played out through the lives of two best friends, whose relationship is tested after a tragedy.” Starring are newcomer Roxanne Scrimshaw and Nichola Burley (Andrea Arnold’s Wuthering Heights).
Pic was developed with support from BBC Films, Creative England and the BFI,...
Written and directed by Boulifa, a two-time winner of the Illy Prize for Best Short Film at Cannes Directors’ Fortnight, Bray produces for Rosetta Productions, with Ken Loach and Rebecca O’Brien’s Sixteen Films and Paris-based Vixens on board as associate producers. The film shot for five weeks in Harlow, UK at the end of 2018.
Currently in post-production, the debut is described to us as “a study of violence and hysteria at a societal level played out through the lives of two best friends, whose relationship is tested after a tragedy.” Starring are newcomer Roxanne Scrimshaw and Nichola Burley (Andrea Arnold’s Wuthering Heights).
Pic was developed with support from BBC Films, Creative England and the BFI,...
- 2/9/2019
- by Andreas Wiseman
- Deadline Film + TV
Charades, the French sales company behind Mamoru Hosoda’s Oscar-nominated “Mirai,” has acquired “Grab,” an animated feature directed by Jeremy Clapin and produced by Xilam, one of France’s leading animation companies.
“Grab” is co-written by Clapin (“Skhizein”) and Guillaume Laurant, the high-profile screenwriter of “Amélie” and “A Very Long Engagement.”
Xilam Production was created by Marc du Pontavice and is listed on the Paris stock market. Its credits include “Space Goofs,” “Oggy and the Cockroaches” and Joann Sfar’s “Gainsbourg: A Heroic Life.” Du Pontavice also produces live-action films through his banner One World Films, including “Close Enemies,” with Matthias Schoenaerts and Reda Kateb, which competed at the Venice Film Festival.
“Grab” will be delivered in the fall. Set in Paris, it follows Naoufel, a young man who is in love with Gabrielle. In another part of town, a severed hand escapes from a dissection lab, determined to find its body again.
“Grab” is co-written by Clapin (“Skhizein”) and Guillaume Laurant, the high-profile screenwriter of “Amélie” and “A Very Long Engagement.”
Xilam Production was created by Marc du Pontavice and is listed on the Paris stock market. Its credits include “Space Goofs,” “Oggy and the Cockroaches” and Joann Sfar’s “Gainsbourg: A Heroic Life.” Du Pontavice also produces live-action films through his banner One World Films, including “Close Enemies,” with Matthias Schoenaerts and Reda Kateb, which competed at the Venice Film Festival.
“Grab” will be delivered in the fall. Set in Paris, it follows Naoufel, a young man who is in love with Gabrielle. In another part of town, a severed hand escapes from a dissection lab, determined to find its body again.
- 2/8/2019
- by Elsa Keslassy
- Variety Film + TV
China’s Bona Film Group is co-financing Brad Pitt space adventure “Ad Astra,” one of several films in a strong slate of international movies the company plans to release in the Middle Kingdom over the next year.
Bona has also acquired Roland Emmerich’s war spectacular “Midway” and is investing in “A Dog’s Way Home,” the sequel to “A Dog’s Purpose.”
Sourced from New Regency, James Gray’s “Ad Astra” stars Pitt as an astronaut who travels to the edge of the universe to be reunited with his father, played by Tommy Lee Jones.
New Regency previously produced Leonardo DiCaprio-starring “The Revenant,” which it partially financed by selling off the China rights. This time, Bona is co-financing “Ad Astra” and holding on to the rights in Greater China, meaning mainland China, Taiwan, Hong Kong and Macau.
“A Dog’s Way Home” follows “A Dog’s Purpose,” whose...
Bona has also acquired Roland Emmerich’s war spectacular “Midway” and is investing in “A Dog’s Way Home,” the sequel to “A Dog’s Purpose.”
Sourced from New Regency, James Gray’s “Ad Astra” stars Pitt as an astronaut who travels to the edge of the universe to be reunited with his father, played by Tommy Lee Jones.
New Regency previously produced Leonardo DiCaprio-starring “The Revenant,” which it partially financed by selling off the China rights. This time, Bona is co-financing “Ad Astra” and holding on to the rights in Greater China, meaning mainland China, Taiwan, Hong Kong and Macau.
“A Dog’s Way Home” follows “A Dog’s Purpose,” whose...
- 12/13/2018
- by Patrick Frater
- Variety Film + TV
Jack Whitehall, Julie Walters and Ray Winstone have joined the voice cast of “The Queen’s Corgi,” an animated family comedy about the Queen of England’s beloved pet dogs.
Whitehall (“Jungle Cruise”) voices the main character, Rex, a lovable yet spoiled and mischievous short-legged puppy who starts to take the attention away from the other corgis in the Queen’s court. Walters, who will next be seen in “Mary Poppins Returns” and was also in “Paddington 2” and “Mamma Mia: Here We Go Again” earlier this year, voices the Queen. Winstone, Sheridan Smith and Matt Lucas voice the other canine-co-stars Tyson, Wanda and Charlie. Walters is also joined by Tom Courtenay as the voice of the Duke of Edinburgh.
Rounding out the voice cast are Jon Culshaw (as President Trump) and Debra Stevenson (as Melania Trump), Sarah Hadland (as Mitzy),Colin McFarlane (as Chief), Nadia Wadia (as Patmore), Iain McKee...
Whitehall (“Jungle Cruise”) voices the main character, Rex, a lovable yet spoiled and mischievous short-legged puppy who starts to take the attention away from the other corgis in the Queen’s court. Walters, who will next be seen in “Mary Poppins Returns” and was also in “Paddington 2” and “Mamma Mia: Here We Go Again” earlier this year, voices the Queen. Winstone, Sheridan Smith and Matt Lucas voice the other canine-co-stars Tyson, Wanda and Charlie. Walters is also joined by Tom Courtenay as the voice of the Duke of Edinburgh.
Rounding out the voice cast are Jon Culshaw (as President Trump) and Debra Stevenson (as Melania Trump), Sarah Hadland (as Mitzy),Colin McFarlane (as Chief), Nadia Wadia (as Patmore), Iain McKee...
- 12/5/2018
- by Brian Welk
- The Wrap
Ben Stassen of nWave Studios is set to direct his next 3D animated feature, “Bigfoot Superstar,” the sequel to “Son of Bigfoot” (pictured), which was released internationally in 2017 and grossed more than $50 million worldwide.
Paris-based company Charades, which successfuly pre-sold Stassen’s “The Queen’s Corgi” worldwide, is re-teaming with Stassen on “Bigfoot Superstar” and has acquired worldwide sales rights to the feature outside of France, Benelux, Russia and Cis. Charades will introduce the project to buyers at the American Film Market.
Budgeted at more than $20 million, “Bigfoot Superstar” is based upon an original story by Stassen, and was written by Bob Barlen and Cal Brunker.
Stassen and Jérémie Degruson will direct the film, delivery of which is scheduled for summer of 2020.
In “Bigfoot Superstar,” the complete family is now together at home, and Adam, a teenager with superpowers, has become an in-demand star. Hoping to use his celebrity status to serve his greatest cause,...
Paris-based company Charades, which successfuly pre-sold Stassen’s “The Queen’s Corgi” worldwide, is re-teaming with Stassen on “Bigfoot Superstar” and has acquired worldwide sales rights to the feature outside of France, Benelux, Russia and Cis. Charades will introduce the project to buyers at the American Film Market.
Budgeted at more than $20 million, “Bigfoot Superstar” is based upon an original story by Stassen, and was written by Bob Barlen and Cal Brunker.
Stassen and Jérémie Degruson will direct the film, delivery of which is scheduled for summer of 2020.
In “Bigfoot Superstar,” the complete family is now together at home, and Adam, a teenager with superpowers, has become an in-demand star. Hoping to use his celebrity status to serve his greatest cause,...
- 10/23/2018
- by Elsa Keslassy
- Variety Film + TV
Ever wondered what the life of one of the Queen’s Corgis would be like? Why not find out with a new teaser trailer from Lionsgate UK for the upcoming animation.
Directed by Ben Stassen (A Turtle’s Tale: Sammy’s Adventures, Thunder and the House of Magic) and Vincent Kesteloot (The Wild Life), written by Rob Sprackling and John R. Smith (Gnomeo and Juliet), and produced by nWave Pictures.
Also in trailers – Magical first look trailer arrives for Disney’s Aladdin
The film will be released in the UK in 2019.
The Queen’s Corgi Official Synopsis
Rex is the Queen’s Top Dog – a spoilt little corgi who lives a life of luxury in Buckingham Palace. But when Rex winds up in a London Dog’s Home, surrounded by tough strays, he must learn that to become a true Top Dog, you have to earn it!
The post Teaser...
Directed by Ben Stassen (A Turtle’s Tale: Sammy’s Adventures, Thunder and the House of Magic) and Vincent Kesteloot (The Wild Life), written by Rob Sprackling and John R. Smith (Gnomeo and Juliet), and produced by nWave Pictures.
Also in trailers – Magical first look trailer arrives for Disney’s Aladdin
The film will be released in the UK in 2019.
The Queen’s Corgi Official Synopsis
Rex is the Queen’s Top Dog – a spoilt little corgi who lives a life of luxury in Buckingham Palace. But when Rex winds up in a London Dog’s Home, surrounded by tough strays, he must learn that to become a true Top Dog, you have to earn it!
The post Teaser...
- 10/12/2018
- by Zehra Phelan
- HeyUGuys.co.uk
Matthieu Zeller’s production group Mzm has acquired a majority stake in nWave Studios, the thriving Brussels-based company behind Ben Stassen’s “The Son of Bigfoot” and “Sammy,” among other European animated hits.
Mzm was founded in 2016 by Zeller, a former Studiocanal executive, with the aim to produce and co-produce French and international films and TV series. Mzm, which regroups the production banners Octopolis and Bamboo Film, has joined with Belgium’s leading distribution company, Belga Films, as well as its tax-shelter arm, Belga Films Fund Holding, and regional fund Wallimage Entreprises to form a new entity, Next Wave, to complete the acquisition of nWave.
Since launching Mzm, Zeller has added two new partners: Olivier Sulpice and, most recently, Matthieu Gondinet, who just joined after working at Canal Plus for 15 years. Zeller and Gondinet had collaborated with nWave and its teams over the past years when nWave was partly owned by Studiocanal.
Mzm was founded in 2016 by Zeller, a former Studiocanal executive, with the aim to produce and co-produce French and international films and TV series. Mzm, which regroups the production banners Octopolis and Bamboo Film, has joined with Belgium’s leading distribution company, Belga Films, as well as its tax-shelter arm, Belga Films Fund Holding, and regional fund Wallimage Entreprises to form a new entity, Next Wave, to complete the acquisition of nWave.
Since launching Mzm, Zeller has added two new partners: Olivier Sulpice and, most recently, Matthieu Gondinet, who just joined after working at Canal Plus for 15 years. Zeller and Gondinet had collaborated with nWave and its teams over the past years when nWave was partly owned by Studiocanal.
- 9/20/2018
- by Elsa Keslassy
- Variety Film + TV
Lionsgate U.K. has acquired “The Queen’s Corgi,” a 3D animated adventure tale written by Rob Sprackling and Johnny Smith, the pair behind “Gnomeo and Juliet.”
“The Queen’s Corgi,” which is budgeted in the $20 million range and was directed by European animation pioneer Ben Stassen and Vincent Kesteloot (“Sammy 2”), has also sold to Eagle in Italy and TriPictures in Spain.
Produced by Stassen’s Belgian studio nWave, “The Queen’s Corgi” follows the adventure of Rex, the British monarch’s most beloved dog, who loses track of his mistress and stumbles across a fight club with dogs of all kinds confronting each other. During his epic journey to find the Queen again, Rex falls in love and discovers his true self.
One of the most ambitious animated features slated for next year from continental Europe, “The Queen’s Corgi” has managed to sell to mainstream distributors in most territories.
“The Queen’s Corgi,” which is budgeted in the $20 million range and was directed by European animation pioneer Ben Stassen and Vincent Kesteloot (“Sammy 2”), has also sold to Eagle in Italy and TriPictures in Spain.
Produced by Stassen’s Belgian studio nWave, “The Queen’s Corgi” follows the adventure of Rex, the British monarch’s most beloved dog, who loses track of his mistress and stumbles across a fight club with dogs of all kinds confronting each other. During his epic journey to find the Queen again, Rex falls in love and discovers his true self.
One of the most ambitious animated features slated for next year from continental Europe, “The Queen’s Corgi” has managed to sell to mainstream distributors in most territories.
- 6/12/2018
- by Elsa Keslassy
- Variety Film + TV
The Wolfpack director Crystal Moselle returns with skateboarder friendship story.
In its first pick-up of an American film, Charades has acquired international sales rights to Crystal Moselle’s recent Sundance Next entry Skate Kitchen.
Moselle’s first narrative feature since she announced her arrival in 2015 with Park City documentary The Wolfpack was just acquired for North America by Magnolia Pictures.
Skate Kitchen follows a Long Island teenager whose life changes when she befriends a group of female skateboarders in New York.
Rachelle Vinberg, Dede Lovelace, Nina Moran, Kabrina Adams, Ajani Russell, Jules Lorenzo and Brenn Lorenzo star alongside Elizabeth Rodriguez and Jaden Smith.
Charades negotiated the deal with UTA Independent Film Group on behalf of the filmmakers. Lizzie Nastro and Izabella Tzenkova produced the Bow and Arrow Entertainment and Rt Features presentation in association with Pulse Films and Kotva Films, along with Moselle, Julia Nottingham, Rodrigo Teixeira, Michael Sherman and Matthew Perniciaro.
Executive producers include...
In its first pick-up of an American film, Charades has acquired international sales rights to Crystal Moselle’s recent Sundance Next entry Skate Kitchen.
Moselle’s first narrative feature since she announced her arrival in 2015 with Park City documentary The Wolfpack was just acquired for North America by Magnolia Pictures.
Skate Kitchen follows a Long Island teenager whose life changes when she befriends a group of female skateboarders in New York.
Rachelle Vinberg, Dede Lovelace, Nina Moran, Kabrina Adams, Ajani Russell, Jules Lorenzo and Brenn Lorenzo star alongside Elizabeth Rodriguez and Jaden Smith.
Charades negotiated the deal with UTA Independent Film Group on behalf of the filmmakers. Lizzie Nastro and Izabella Tzenkova produced the Bow and Arrow Entertainment and Rt Features presentation in association with Pulse Films and Kotva Films, along with Moselle, Julia Nottingham, Rodrigo Teixeira, Michael Sherman and Matthew Perniciaro.
Executive producers include...
- 2/16/2018
- by Jeremy Kay
- ScreenDaily
Companies part ways after seven-year partnership.
Belgian 3D animation studio nWave Pictures has ended its seven-year relationship with Studiocanal.
It was announced during the Cannes Film Festival that nWave would buy back Studiocanal’s shares in the company. This agreement is now complete, nWave has confirmed.
The transaction was jointly negotiated between Studiocanal and nWave, ending the partnership formed in 2010 for the development, co-financing and distribution of nWave Studios’ feature films.
These included A Turtle’s Tale: Sammy’s Adventures (2010), The House Of Magic (2013) and The Wild Life (2016).
The statement adds that nWave Studios will explore new long-term partnership opportunities to expand its development, production and distribution efforts.
A source told Screen in May that Studiocanal has been slow to give the go-ahead to nWave’s projects.
“It just became impossible to work together and so we decided to part ways,” nWave CEO Ben Stassen told Screen
The final collaboration between nWave and Studiocanal is the upcoming...
Belgian 3D animation studio nWave Pictures has ended its seven-year relationship with Studiocanal.
It was announced during the Cannes Film Festival that nWave would buy back Studiocanal’s shares in the company. This agreement is now complete, nWave has confirmed.
The transaction was jointly negotiated between Studiocanal and nWave, ending the partnership formed in 2010 for the development, co-financing and distribution of nWave Studios’ feature films.
These included A Turtle’s Tale: Sammy’s Adventures (2010), The House Of Magic (2013) and The Wild Life (2016).
The statement adds that nWave Studios will explore new long-term partnership opportunities to expand its development, production and distribution efforts.
A source told Screen in May that Studiocanal has been slow to give the go-ahead to nWave’s projects.
“It just became impossible to work together and so we decided to part ways,” nWave CEO Ben Stassen told Screen
The final collaboration between nWave and Studiocanal is the upcoming...
- 6/8/2017
- by orlando.parfitt@screendaily.com (Orlando Parfitt)
- ScreenDaily
The film stars Lea Seydoux, Matthias Schoenaerts and Colin Firth.
Belga Films Fund, the tax shelter arm of the Belga Films Group, has raised over 5m Euros for Thomas Vinterberg’s Kursk.
Lea Seydoux (pictured) joined Matthias Schoenaerts and Colin Firth in the cast back in February.
The film tells the true story of the K-141 Kursk, the Russian flagship nuclear-powered submarine that sank to the bottom of the Barents Sea in August 2000. The 35m Euro project is also looking for extra funding from Belgian funds Screen Brussels, Wallimage and Screen Flanders.
The EuropaCorp-backed feature, which started production on May 10, is shooting partly at Aed Studios near Antwerp a facility which has one of the largest indoor water tanks in Europe. It will be released in Benelux by Belga Films under the terms of the output deal Belga has with EuropaCorp.
Details of the extent of Belga’s involvement in Kursk were revealed by Fabrice Delville, Founder...
Belga Films Fund, the tax shelter arm of the Belga Films Group, has raised over 5m Euros for Thomas Vinterberg’s Kursk.
Lea Seydoux (pictured) joined Matthias Schoenaerts and Colin Firth in the cast back in February.
The film tells the true story of the K-141 Kursk, the Russian flagship nuclear-powered submarine that sank to the bottom of the Barents Sea in August 2000. The 35m Euro project is also looking for extra funding from Belgian funds Screen Brussels, Wallimage and Screen Flanders.
The EuropaCorp-backed feature, which started production on May 10, is shooting partly at Aed Studios near Antwerp a facility which has one of the largest indoor water tanks in Europe. It will be released in Benelux by Belga Films under the terms of the output deal Belga has with EuropaCorp.
Details of the extent of Belga’s involvement in Kursk were revealed by Fabrice Delville, Founder...
- 5/19/2017
- by geoffrey@macnab.demon.co.uk (Geoffrey Macnab)
- ScreenDaily
Animation outfit to buy back its shares from Studiocanal.
Belgian 3D animation specialist nWave Pictures is set to end its longstanding relationship with Studiocanal.
The news was confirmed this week by company CEO Ben Stassen. The Son Of Bigfoot (aka Bigfoot Junior) is the final film that nWave is partnering on with Studiocanal. It will be released in August across Europe, including in Studiocanal’s direct-distribution territories, France, UK and Germany.
Over the last seven years, nWave and Studiocanal have partnered on projects such as A Turtle’s Tale: Sammy’s Adventures (2010) and The House Of Magic (2013) – European-originated animated features with budgets in excess of $20m that have sold around the world. However, nWave’s next feature, The Queen’s Corgi, will be made without Studiocanal support.
nWave’s model relies on greenlighting one film every year in order to keep the pipeline running and ensuring continuing work for the company’s 120 staff. The hitch, according...
Belgian 3D animation specialist nWave Pictures is set to end its longstanding relationship with Studiocanal.
The news was confirmed this week by company CEO Ben Stassen. The Son Of Bigfoot (aka Bigfoot Junior) is the final film that nWave is partnering on with Studiocanal. It will be released in August across Europe, including in Studiocanal’s direct-distribution territories, France, UK and Germany.
Over the last seven years, nWave and Studiocanal have partnered on projects such as A Turtle’s Tale: Sammy’s Adventures (2010) and The House Of Magic (2013) – European-originated animated features with budgets in excess of $20m that have sold around the world. However, nWave’s next feature, The Queen’s Corgi, will be made without Studiocanal support.
nWave’s model relies on greenlighting one film every year in order to keep the pipeline running and ensuring continuing work for the company’s 120 staff. The hitch, according...
- 5/18/2017
- by geoffrey@macnab.demon.co.uk (Geoffrey Macnab)
- ScreenDaily
"This year the wildest legend of all comes to life." Studiocanal UK has unveiled a very short teaser trailer for an animated film titled The Son of Bigfoot, produced by StudioCanal in France, and animated by nWave Pictures in Belgium. The film is aimed towards younger kids and families, and is about a boy who goes "on an epic and daring quest to uncover the mystery behind his long-lost dad, only to find out that he is none other than the legendary Bigfoot." Surprise! The voice cast hasn't been revealed yet, even though this teaser does include one voice. We've seen some low-budget horror films based around bigfoot recently (like Exists or Willow Creek), but it's interesting to see a goofy, family-friendly take on the furry forest monster. Enjoy. Here's the teaser trailer (+ poster) for Jeremy Degruson & Ben Stassen's The Son of Bigfoot, on YouTube: Teenage outsider Adam sets...
- 4/4/2017
- by Alex Billington
- firstshowing.net
Company is also raising finance for nWave’s animation feature The Queen’s Corgi.
Ambitious new financier Belga Films Fund, the Belgian tax shelter arm of the Belga Films group, has announced its latest investments and projects.
The fund, which will have collected over €10m through the tax shelter by the end of the year, is co-producing and co-financing Roman Polanski’s latest feature, D’après Une Histoire Vraie (Based On A True Story) , which stars Eva Green and Emmanuelle Seigner and is shooting in Paris this month.
The film was co-scripted by Polanski with Olivier Assayas. Wassim Beji is producing. Lionsgate is handling the film internationally. The budget is around €10m and Belga has provided €500k.
Belga is also partnering on The Queen’s Corgi, nWave’s animated feature which will start production in Brussels before the end of the year.
Queen Corby will be nWave’s second film on which Belga Films Fund has raised...
Ambitious new financier Belga Films Fund, the Belgian tax shelter arm of the Belga Films group, has announced its latest investments and projects.
The fund, which will have collected over €10m through the tax shelter by the end of the year, is co-producing and co-financing Roman Polanski’s latest feature, D’après Une Histoire Vraie (Based On A True Story) , which stars Eva Green and Emmanuelle Seigner and is shooting in Paris this month.
The film was co-scripted by Polanski with Olivier Assayas. Wassim Beji is producing. Lionsgate is handling the film internationally. The budget is around €10m and Belga has provided €500k.
Belga is also partnering on The Queen’s Corgi, nWave’s animated feature which will start production in Brussels before the end of the year.
Queen Corby will be nWave’s second film on which Belga Films Fund has raised...
- 11/11/2016
- by geoffrey@macnab.demon.co.uk (Geoffrey Macnab)
- ScreenDaily
Adding to what is already an extremely crowded animation season— at least 26 entries are vying for the five Oscar slots— a few strong indie contenders will arrive this fall.
Ever since Cannes, leading the indie pack is Studio Ghibli’s “The Red Turtle” (November 18, Sony Pictures Classics), the exquisite and compelling 2D castaway drama from Michael Dudok De Wit, director of the Oscar-winning “Father and Daughter” short. It starts screening September 8 at the Toronto Film Festival.
A man shipwrecked on a lush tropical island inhabited by crabs, turtles and birds tries to escape by building and rebuilding a raft, continually wrecked by a mysterious red turtle, which transforms into a beautiful red-headed woman who becomes his companion and soul mate. The two have a son and live happily together as a family.
“The film tells the story in a both linear and circular manner,” De Wit said in an interview with “Positif’s” Bernard Genin.
Ever since Cannes, leading the indie pack is Studio Ghibli’s “The Red Turtle” (November 18, Sony Pictures Classics), the exquisite and compelling 2D castaway drama from Michael Dudok De Wit, director of the Oscar-winning “Father and Daughter” short. It starts screening September 8 at the Toronto Film Festival.
A man shipwrecked on a lush tropical island inhabited by crabs, turtles and birds tries to escape by building and rebuilding a raft, continually wrecked by a mysterious red turtle, which transforms into a beautiful red-headed woman who becomes his companion and soul mate. The two have a son and live happily together as a family.
“The film tells the story in a both linear and circular manner,” De Wit said in an interview with “Positif’s” Bernard Genin.
- 9/8/2016
- by Bill Desowitz
- Indiewire
There have been several attempts to revisit Robinson Crusoe from the point of view of loyal sidekick Friday, but up until now, no one has tried to tell the story from the perspective of Crusoe’s parrot, dog, and goat. In comes Belgian animation studio NWave Pictures (previously behind Fly Me To The Moon, which depicted the Apollo 11 mission from the perspective of… some houseflies) with The Wild Life, the sort of uninspired international pre-sales item that usually goes straight from a basement booth at the Cannes film market to a Netflix parent’s peripheral vision. The sole interesting thing about NWave’s animation is its use of the camera, which plays to 3-D’s pop-out factor; otherwise, its movies (like Thunder And The House Of Magic and A Turtle’s Tale: Sammy’s Adventures, both directed or co-directed by founder Ben Stassen) are pap, cranked out on an...
- 9/8/2016
- by Ignatiy Vishnevetsky
- avclub.com
Belga Films Fund (Bff) has raised more than $5.6m (€5m) for Ben Stassen’s new animated feature, The Son Of Bigfoot.
The Belgian tax credit company was launched last year by production and distribution outfit Belga Films, which will release The Son Of Bigfoot in Benelux late summer 2017. The total budget is undersood to be $26m (€23m).
Studiocanal will release in France, UK, Germany and Australia/New Zealand.
Produced by Studiocanal’s nWave Pictures and Waterman Ent. (Alvin and the Chipmunks), the film centres on a teenage outsider who uncovers the truth that he is the son of the mysterious Bigfoot and as such has super powers, which he needs to save his family.
Belga fund boost
Bff founder and general manager Fabrice Delville revealed in Cannes that the fund raised a record $6.7m (€6m) in tax shelter financing during 2015 and expects to double that amount this year.
As the tax credit company expands, Belga has now...
The Belgian tax credit company was launched last year by production and distribution outfit Belga Films, which will release The Son Of Bigfoot in Benelux late summer 2017. The total budget is undersood to be $26m (€23m).
Studiocanal will release in France, UK, Germany and Australia/New Zealand.
Produced by Studiocanal’s nWave Pictures and Waterman Ent. (Alvin and the Chipmunks), the film centres on a teenage outsider who uncovers the truth that he is the son of the mysterious Bigfoot and as such has super powers, which he needs to save his family.
Belga fund boost
Bff founder and general manager Fabrice Delville revealed in Cannes that the fund raised a record $6.7m (€6m) in tax shelter financing during 2015 and expects to double that amount this year.
As the tax credit company expands, Belga has now...
- 5/19/2016
- by geoffrey@macnab.demon.co.uk (Geoffrey Macnab)
- ScreenDaily
One World Films exec joins Studiocanal, which announces expanded production role for UK CEO Danny Perkins.
Studiocanal has expanded its international film production activities with the appointment of producer Matthew Gledhill [pictured] as senior vice president, international production, and by assigning a broader production remit to UK CEO Danny Perkins.
The Paris-based film and high-end TV division of the Vivendi-owned Canal+ Group said Gledhill’s arrival on March 31 was part of the ongoing development of its international film production activities.
Gledhill, who joins from One World Films, will act as an executive producer on international feature films produced in-house by Studiocanal.
He will also oversee titles produced by Ben Stassen’s Belgian-based 3D/4D animation studio nWave Pictures, which is a subsidiary of Studiocanal. Past features by the company include Robinson Crusoe and The House Of Magic.
Gledhill produced Viggo Mortensen drama Far From Men and worked with Studiocanal chairman and CEO Didier Lupfer before, serving as a supervising...
Studiocanal has expanded its international film production activities with the appointment of producer Matthew Gledhill [pictured] as senior vice president, international production, and by assigning a broader production remit to UK CEO Danny Perkins.
The Paris-based film and high-end TV division of the Vivendi-owned Canal+ Group said Gledhill’s arrival on March 31 was part of the ongoing development of its international film production activities.
Gledhill, who joins from One World Films, will act as an executive producer on international feature films produced in-house by Studiocanal.
He will also oversee titles produced by Ben Stassen’s Belgian-based 3D/4D animation studio nWave Pictures, which is a subsidiary of Studiocanal. Past features by the company include Robinson Crusoe and The House Of Magic.
Gledhill produced Viggo Mortensen drama Far From Men and worked with Studiocanal chairman and CEO Didier Lupfer before, serving as a supervising...
- 3/30/2016
- ScreenDaily
Adding to the growing number of must-see animated films this year, “The Wild Life” is throwing its hat into the ring with a thrilling new preview trailer.
Originally called “Robinson Crusoe,” the animal-centric adventure will release nationwide on September 9th and is directed by Vincent Kesteloot and Ben Stassen.
Per the synopsis, “On a tiny exotic island, Tuesday, an outgoing parrot lives with his quirky animal friends in paradise. However, Tuesday can't stop dreaming about discovering the world. After a violent storm, Tuesday and his friends wake up to find a strange creature on the beach: Robinson Crusoe. Tuesday immediately views Crusoe as his ticket off the island to explore new lands. Likewise, Crusoe soon realizes that the key to surviving on the island is through the help of Tuesday and the other animals. It isn't always easy at first, as the animals don't speak ‘human.’ Slowly but surely, they...
Originally called “Robinson Crusoe,” the animal-centric adventure will release nationwide on September 9th and is directed by Vincent Kesteloot and Ben Stassen.
Per the synopsis, “On a tiny exotic island, Tuesday, an outgoing parrot lives with his quirky animal friends in paradise. However, Tuesday can't stop dreaming about discovering the world. After a violent storm, Tuesday and his friends wake up to find a strange creature on the beach: Robinson Crusoe. Tuesday immediately views Crusoe as his ticket off the island to explore new lands. Likewise, Crusoe soon realizes that the key to surviving on the island is through the help of Tuesday and the other animals. It isn't always easy at first, as the animals don't speak ‘human.’ Slowly but surely, they...
- 3/15/2016
- GossipCenter
Wallace and Gromit creator Nick Park directing prehistoric animated adventure.
Aardman and Studiocanal have revealed the release dates for upcoming animated adventure Early Man, directed by Nick Park. The dates are:
UK: January 26 2018France: January 31 2018Germany: March 29 2018Australia/Nz: March 29 2018
Studiocanal is co-financing and will distribute in its own territories, the UK, France, Germany, Australia and New Zealand, selling worldwide. The BFI (British Film Institute) is also a partner on the film.
Early Man continues the production partnership with Aardman and Studiocanal following the success of Shaun the Sheep Movie, directed by Mark Burton and Richard Starzak, and nominated for the Animated Film Bafta.
Early Man marks Park’s first feature film since Oscar-winning animation Wallace And Gromit: The Curse Of The Were-Rabbit in 2005.
Supported by screenwriters Mark Burton and John O’Farrell, the new film is set at the dawn of time, when dinosaurs and woolly mammoths roamed the earth, telling the story...
Aardman and Studiocanal have revealed the release dates for upcoming animated adventure Early Man, directed by Nick Park. The dates are:
UK: January 26 2018France: January 31 2018Germany: March 29 2018Australia/Nz: March 29 2018
Studiocanal is co-financing and will distribute in its own territories, the UK, France, Germany, Australia and New Zealand, selling worldwide. The BFI (British Film Institute) is also a partner on the film.
Early Man continues the production partnership with Aardman and Studiocanal following the success of Shaun the Sheep Movie, directed by Mark Burton and Richard Starzak, and nominated for the Animated Film Bafta.
Early Man marks Park’s first feature film since Oscar-winning animation Wallace And Gromit: The Curse Of The Were-Rabbit in 2005.
Supported by screenwriters Mark Burton and John O’Farrell, the new film is set at the dawn of time, when dinosaurs and woolly mammoths roamed the earth, telling the story...
- 1/8/2016
- by michael.rosser@screendaily.com (Michael Rosser)
- ScreenDaily
Us pact for StudioCanal’s 3D family adventure follows recent deal on The Commuter.
Lionsgate has picked up Us rights to 3D family adventure Robinson Crusoe from StudioCanal.
The film will be released wide in the Us by Lionsgate’s Summit Entertainment label in mid-2016 following StudioCanal’s European release.
The animated film brings to life the true story of Robinson Crusoe in 3D as seen through the eyes of his quirky companions, including his parrot Tuesday who dreams of exploring the world.
The film is directed by Ben Stassen and Vincent Kesteloot and produced by nWave Pictures.
The announcement comes on the heels of Lionsgate’s acquisition from StudioCanal of Us rights to the thrillers The Commuter, starring Liam Neeson, and Our Kind of Traitor, starring Ewan McGregor.
“Robinson Crusoe is a timeless adventure classic that has enthralled families since it was first published and the exceptional quality of Ben and Vincent’s 3D animation will help...
Lionsgate has picked up Us rights to 3D family adventure Robinson Crusoe from StudioCanal.
The film will be released wide in the Us by Lionsgate’s Summit Entertainment label in mid-2016 following StudioCanal’s European release.
The animated film brings to life the true story of Robinson Crusoe in 3D as seen through the eyes of his quirky companions, including his parrot Tuesday who dreams of exploring the world.
The film is directed by Ben Stassen and Vincent Kesteloot and produced by nWave Pictures.
The announcement comes on the heels of Lionsgate’s acquisition from StudioCanal of Us rights to the thrillers The Commuter, starring Liam Neeson, and Our Kind of Traitor, starring Ewan McGregor.
“Robinson Crusoe is a timeless adventure classic that has enthralled families since it was first published and the exceptional quality of Ben and Vincent’s 3D animation will help...
- 11/10/2015
- by andreas.wiseman@screendaily.com (Andreas Wiseman)
- ScreenDaily
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