Anticipation is certainly building for Irish animated film ‘The Breadwinner’. In the same week that Canada’s Guru Studios came aboard the film, GKIDS and SVP Distribution have also signed up to Exec Produce, which commenced animation production last month.
This is the first time that GKIDS, who previously partnered with Cartoon Saloon for ‘The Secret of Kells’ and ‘Song of the Sea’, are producing and financing a film as well as distributing.
The film comes from Kilkenny-based animation studio Cartoon Saloon, who were nominated for Oscars for their feature films ‘The Secret of Kells’ and ‘Song of the Sea’ with ‘The Breadwinner’ already one of the more anticipated films of 2017. The film has also been slated for an autumn release which will launch it right into the 2018 Oscar season.
Based on the internationally acclaimed children’s novel by Deborah Ellis, ‘The Breadwinner’ tells the story of Parwana, a 12 year old girl growing up in Afghanistan in 2001. When her father is arrested, Parwana dresses as a boy in order to work and provide for her family. Together with her best friend Shauzia, she risks discovery to try to find out if her father is still alive.
‘The Breadwinner’ is a co-production between Aircraft Pictures Canada, Luxembourg’s Melesine Productions and Cartoon Saloon in association with Angelina Jolie’s Jolie Pas Productions. Funding comes from the Irish Film Board, the BAI and RTÉ in Ireland.
The film is being directed by Nora Twomey, who co-directed the Oscar nominated animated film ‘The Secret of Kells’. The screenplay is co-written by Anita Doron and Deborah Ellis.
IFTN Filmography: The Breadwinner
IFTN Directory: Cartoon Saloon