Gkids Aquires North America Rights To Annecy Winning Feature “My Life As A Zucchini”

Gkids Aquires North America Rights To Annecy Winning Feature “My Life As A Zucchini”

August 31st, 2016

Jerry Beck

GKIDS announced today that it has acquired North American distribution rights to My Life As A Zucchini (original French language title “Ma vie de Courgette”), the debut feature from Swiss director Claude Barras, based on a script from Céline Sciamma (director/writer of “Girlhood” and “Tomboy”).

My Life As A Zucchini is the official Swiss submission for the “Best Foreign Language” category for the 2017 Academy Awards. GKIDS will qualify the film for awards consideration this fall followed by national theatrical release in 2017.

My Life As A Zucchini made its critically acclaimed world premiere earlier this year in the Director’s Fortnight section at the 2016 Cannes Film Festival. It went on to win both the Grand Prize (Cristal) and the Audience Award at the 2016 Annecy International Animation Film Festival. My Life As A Zucchini also beat out 350 features to win the Audience Award – Best Feature at the Melbourne International Film Festival. My Life As A Zucchini will make its North American premiere at this year’s 2016 Toronto International Film Festival, in the TIFF Kids section.

SYNOPSIS
After his mother’s sudden death, Zucchini is befriended by a police officer, Raymond, who accompanies him to his new foster home, filled with other orphans his age. At first he struggles to find his place in this at times strange and hostile environment. But with Raymond’s help and his newfound friends, Zucchini eventually learns to trust and love, as he searches for a new family of his own. Brought to life through striking character designs and expressive stop-motion animation, the story soars with laughter, sorrow, and joy, and stands as a testament to the resilience of the human heart. Beginning with its debut at Cannes, the film has stirred up an overwhelming response on the festival circuit, taking home top jury and audience prizes at Annecy, Melbourne and Angoulême, as it prepares to melt hearts in North America with its premiere at Toronto.

My Life As A Zucchini is produced by RITA Productions, Blue Spirit Productions, Gebeka Films and KNM, in coproduction with the RTS – Radio Télévision Suisse, SRG-SSR, France 3 Cinéma, Rhône Alpes Cinéma and Helium Films, with international sales handled by Indie Sales.

Author
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Jerry Beck

Writer, cartoon producer and author of more than 15 books on animation history. A former studio exec with Nickelodeon and Disney; currently on the faculty at both CalArts in Valencia and Woodbury University in Burbank, California.