May 22, 2023

Among the animation features on the move in Cannes "Marché du Film" "Proud Princess", "Robotia", "Norbert"

At this year's Cannes Film Festival, several animated films have attracted attention, including Peter Sohn's Elemental, Pablo Berger's Robot Dreams, Sébastien Laudenback and Linda's Chicken from Chiara Malta.

Meanwhile, in Marché du Film, a number of upcoming animated titles are making waves. US indie distributor Neon won the right to shoot Robot Dreams and Sony Pictures Classics won the right to shoot The Piano Player.

Below we will look at some of the other animated deals announced at Cannes last week.

Global distributor All Rights Entertainment has picked up the Czech animated feature "The Proud Princess", adapted from author Bozena Nemcova's fairy tale "Punished Pride." Directed by Radek Beran (the little man) and David Lisy (The Spy Cat), the film is produced by Luminar Film using animation from Pfx (Diplodokus, The Websters).

Montreal/Madrid-based distributor Pink Parrot Media has ended sales of Unstable, an animated musical comedy co-produced by Canadian CarpeDiem and UK-based Cantilever Productions. In the United States, Viva Pictures acquired the rights to distribute films directed by Benoit Godbaut (Racetime, The Bottanix). Pink Parrot has also acquired worldwide sales rights for the animated comedy of 2 children and a family. Norbert is the feature debut of José Corral (Down by Love) and is produced by Captain Araña (Ozzy). Bottanix is written by Marie-France Landry, directed by Benoit Godbaut and produced by Carpediem Film & TV. (Source: Deadline).

Spanish distributor Filmax is a Spanish-Argentine anime co・produced by Spain's Dibulitoon Studio (Yoko) in collaboration with Argentina's Malabar Producciones (Minimalitos) and Costa Rica's Tropics Creative. Co・directed by Ego Caside and editor Diego Lucero. (Source, deadline).

The London-based film Constellation sells Growcodile by Joost Vanden Bosch and Eric Verkerk. The film is produced by Fantabulous, a recent joint venture between distributor KMBO (The Amazing Maurice) and Fabrique dÍmages (Stitch Head). The two filmmakers are longtime collaborators and have worked together on numerous short stories, series and films, including Skunk Fu!, testing in time, and INKT. It is adapted from children's books Crocodile came in! By Paul van Lunn. (Source: Variety).