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GKIDS To Release Birdboy: The Forgotten Children

GKIDS To Release Birdboy: The Forgotten Children

It first started as a Spanish graphic novel called Psychonautas by Alberto Vázquez.  A widely acclaimed short film Birdboy by Pedro Rivero & Alberto Vázquez soon followed, which described fragile but really engaging characters.

 Birdboy and his friend, Dinkie, are two mice living in an environmentally derelict society (watch the short here). A rare feature followed, Psiconautas, the Forgotten Children, directed again by Pedro Rivero & Alberto Vázquez (produced by Farruco Castromán, Carlos Juárez and Luis Tosar).

The film was released in 2016, and it really made no compromises as to its intended audience, even though feature film formats usually need to tone down "adult" elements due to their intended audience.

There is light and beauty, even in the darkest of worlds. Stranded on an island in a post-apocalyptic world, teenager Dinky and her friends hatch a dangerous plan to escape in the hope of finding a better life. Meanwhile, her old friend Birdboy has shut himself off from the world, pursued by the police and haunted by demon tormentors. But unbeknownst to anyone, he contains a secret inside him that could change the world forever.

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  Festival awards and a Spanish Goya for Best Animated Feature in 2016 followed suit.

Now US production and distribution company GKIDS (responsible for bringing A Cat in Paris, Chico & Rita, Ernest & Celestine to US audiences). announced that it has acquired the North American distribution rights for the animated feature. The film will be screened in US theaters under the short film title: BIRDBOY: THE FORGOTTEN CHILDREN.

Dave Jesteadt, President of GKIDS states: With iconic characters and a storyline that explores universal themes of hope, despair, salvation, and loss with humor and grace, Birdboy pushes the boundaries of animated storytelling in exciting new directions.

GKIDS will release the film theatrically in Fall 2017, in both its original Spanish and a new English language version.

Expect an accompanying competition campaign for the 2018 Academy Awards.

 

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