Animation Projects at 2019 CINEKID Junior Co-Production Market

Cinekid for Professionals has selected 19 children’s film and television projects-in-development and 6 works-in-progress for its Junior Co-production Market (JCM), to be held 21-23 October 2019 during the Cinekid Festival in Amsterdam. The projects will be presented to more than 300 international professionals from the children’s media industry to encourage international co-operation and to get these projects into production.

Also, in the Best Children's Film Competition, the Latvian animation feature Jakob, Mimmi and the Talking Dogs, directed by Edmunds Jansons, and produced by Atom Art (LE) competes, along with BINTI, directed by Frederike Migom and produced by Bulletproof Cupid (BE), which participated in both Script LAB and JCM 2016, and Too Far Away (JCM 2017) directed by Sarah Winkenstette, produced by Weydemann bros. (DE).

In 2019 Cinekid introduced a new Work-in-progress section to provide long-term support for projects in development. Six projects in production are selected for this session, where the production team will have the opportunity to present their work in a closed setting for potential partners. From the six projects, three have previously been selected for the Junior Co-production Market.

The Junior Co-production Market (JCM) is part of Cinekid for Professionals (CfP). It is an integrated two-day event that enables global financiers, broadcasters and producers to assess new and innovative film and television projects. The JCM reflects the high degree of interactivity and potential for finance across these sectors. All the projects will be presented in an environment designed to encourage international co-operation. The market kicks off with a public pitch of all the projects followed by a day and a half of one-to-one meetings between project representatives and potential collaborators and financiers.

At JCM three prizes will be handed out. The prestigious Eurimages Co-Production Development Award (€20,000 in cash) will be given to the best eligible film project with European co-production potential. A new addition is the Best TV Project Award (€10,000 in cash) for the Best TV project within the JCM selection. Another newly installed award is the Filmmore Post-Production Award which will be awarded to the best live-action project of the Junior Co-production Market. This prize is designed to stimulate collaboration with the Dutch Visual Effects & Post Production lab Filmmore. Granting the award, which comes with a €5,000 prize, is an invitation to start a longer and fruitful collaboration with the company.

All winners will be announced on Wednesday 23 October 2019. Discover the animation projects participating:

Film Projects

• Beluga Blues, Animated Feature Film
  Artistic director Philippe Arseneau Bussières, Screenwriter: Andrée Lambert
  Production Company: 10th Ave Productions (CA), Production Country: Canada

Synopsis: In a majestic river, a young grey beluga whale named Katak is impatiently waiting to grow up. When an expedition to save the belugas leaves without him, Katak boldly sets out on a solitary journey to the Great Ice Shelf. In his courage and innocence, he faces dangers and forms unexpected friendships on his way to meeting the grandfather he never knew; ensuring the continuance of his breed; and, above all, proving that great heroes sometimes comes in small packages.

• Nihonjin, Feature Animation Film
  Directed by Celia Catunda, Screenwriter: Rita Catunda
  Production Company: PinGuim Content (BR) /Production Country: Brazil

Synopsis: Nihonjin tells the story of Noboru, a descendant of Japanese immigrants and his relationship with the Japanese culture, through conversations with his grandfather. Hideo tells his grandson about his journey that starts with the decision to immigrate from Japan to Brazil and in this narrative the two of them overcome the distance that existed between them. 
TV Projects

• Pol the Pirate Mouse, 2D Animation
  Development executive Phil Molloy, Screenwriter: Tingue Dongelmans
  Production Company: Submarine (NL) / Production Country: The Netherlands

Synopsis: Being a city mouse, Pol has never seen the forest before. And her new woodlands friends have certainly never seen a pirate before. Especially one so small. But that didn’t stop them from joining her crew, and setting sail on the most wondrous of woodland adventures. As they travel down rivers and streams, Pol peers out from her pirate’s nest, forever on the lookout for a new discovery. To her, everything in the forest is an unknown treasure, froma lily pad to a pine cone, and her pals love helping her find ways to have fun with them. And even when they don’t manage to find something new, the journey itself can be reward enough, as Pol knows that a magical memory is also something to be treasured. That’s not to say it’s all plain sailing, especially with someone as courageous and headstrong as Pol leading the way. As with any group of kids, they are learning as much about each other as they are about themselves. But no matter how choppy the waters get, one way or another, they band together and get there in the end.

 Work-in-progress

• Coppelia, 2D Animation and Live Action
  Directed by Jeff Tudor, Steven De Beul, Ben Tesseur / Screenwriters: Tamara Bos, Jeff Tudor, Steven de Beul, Ben Tesseur
  Production Company: Submarine (NL) / Production Countries: The Netherlands, Germany, Belgium

Synopsis: In this modern fairytale, the budding love between Swanilda and Franz is jeopardised by the incredibly beautiful Coppelia. She is the creation of Dr Coppelius, a plastic surgeon who seduces the villagers with the ideal of perfect beauty. Coppelia – a modern tale for young and old, is told through a unique combination of 2D animation and live action classical ballet. With the principal dancers of the Dutch National Ballet, the set will be a virtual one, allowing us to create a rich new fantasy world in which ballet and animation interact.

• Ella Bella Bingo, Animation Feature Film
  Directed by Frank Mosvold, Atle Blakseth, Screenwriters: Frank Mosvold, Johnny Smith, Rob Sprackling
  Production Company: Kool Produktion AS (NO), Production Countries: Norway, Denmark, Germany

Synopsis: Ella Bella Bingo is organizing a circus for her very best friend, Henry, as he has never been to a circus before. Ella Bella is very excited and looks forward to being the main attraction. She is going to show everyone her fantastic magic trick. She is going to make Henry disappear. But on the very day of the circus cool kid Johnny moves into the neighborhood. He has a splendid idea of showstopper, he wants to do a bicycle stunt together with Henry. Henry is in awe of this new boy, while Ella Bella feels she is losing her best friend. This exasperates even more when Johnny offers Henry a new bike. Ella Bella cannot take it anymore and forces Henry to choose between Johnny and her. Henry does not want to hurt anyone and runs off. Henry disappears for real. Now Ella Bella has to go on a search with her very enemy, Johnny. Together they have to find Henry. She has to save the circus, but most of all her friendship. The movie is a road trip, where three kids learns the real magic of friendship.

• Mister Paper, Animation Short
  Directed by Ben Tesseur, Steven De Beul, Screenwriter: Mieke de Jong
  Production Company: Mockingbird Productions (BE) / Production Country: Belgium, Germany, Netherlands

Synopsis: Mister Paper cuts and sticks together the world that he wants. He lives in a paper house surrounded by paper nature. His sole companion is a cat. But thanks to his scissors and his childlike imagination, he is never alone. For every situation, Mister Paper creates a solution by cutting or pasting something new. He cuts a bottle when he’s thirsty and an apple when he’s hungry. Or he cuts a cow, so as to have some milk for the cat. And when the cat doesn’t feel like playing, he cuts a dog or a girl to take a walk with. Through his adventures, the world of children is brought to life in a playful, imaginative manner. A world, rooted in reality, where anything is possible and imagination is king.

• Royals Next Door, 2D Digital Animation
  Directed by Veronica Lassenius, Screenwriter: Line Langebek, Tinka Ullbro, Annike Sandelin
  Production Companies: Pikkulala (FI) / Production Countries: Finland, Belgium, Spain

Synopsis: Royals Next Door is a sitcom comedy series about a royal family that lives in a regular house! Due to extensive refurbishment of their castle (King Bob forgot to turn off a tap), they were forced to move out.

Trailer

• Sir Mouse, Animation Series
  Directed by Tom van Gestel, Screenwriter: Dirk Nielandt, Marianne Op de Beeck, Luuk Van Bemmelen, Clifford Parrot, Emma Hogan, Kristina Yee
  Production Company: Fabrique Fantastique (BE) / Production Countries: Belgium, Germany, Ireland

Synopsis: Mouse has got a sword. She’s clad in armour. She’s a knight. Dragon hasn’t got a sword. She is not clad in armour. She’s just Dragon. Knights fight dragons. But Sir Mouse and Dragon don't fight each other. They are best friends… With a modern feminist twist, Sir Mouse challenges medieval fairy tale clichés. Each episode tells the story of their unusual friendship, in which small events become big adventures. Thanks to Dragon’s unconditional patience and humble support, stubborn Sir Mouse will continue to excel in bravery.

The full list of projects selected:

Film Projects

• Beluga Blues
  Artistic director Philippe Arseneau Bussières, Screenwriter: Andrée Lambert
  Production Company: 10th Ave Productions (CA), Production Country: Canada
  Jump Out
  Written and directed by Nika Saravanja
  Production Company: Playtime Films (BE), Tico Film (IT) / Production Countries: Belgium, Italy
• Kids Cup
  Written and directed by Line Hatland
  Production Company: Medieoperatorene (NO), Production Countries: Norway, Netherlands, Finland
• Lea and the Tree of Dreams
  Directed by Katja Benrath
  Screenwriter: Vasko Scholz
  Production Company: Belle Epoque Films GmbH (DE), Production Country: Germany
• Mini-Zlatan and Uncle Darling
  Directed by Ella Lemhagen, Screenwriter: Ella Lemhagen, Janne Vierth
  Production Company: Snowcloud Films AB (SE), Production Countries: Sweden, The Netherlands
• Nihonjin
  Directed by Celia Catunda, Screenwriter: Rita Catunda
  Production Company: PinGuim Content (BR) /Production Country: Brazil
  Snot and Splash
  Directed by Teemu Nikki / Screenwriter: Ilja Rautsi
  Production Company: It’s Alive Films (FI) / Production Countries: Finland
• The Summer Dad Went Gay
  Directed by Petter Naess / Screenwriter: Endre Lund Eriksen
  Production Company: Fabelfjord AS (NO) / Production Country: Norway
• The Beanie
  Directed by Slobodan Maksimović /Screenwriter: Saša Eržen
  Production Company: Senca Studio (SI) Production Countries: Slovenia
• The Only Child
  Directed by Patrick Carr
  Production Company: Mandarin Film Productions (CN), Lunanime Belgium (BE) / Production Country: China, Belgium
• Three Friends
  Written and directed by Nursen Cetin Koreken
  Production Company: Drama Yapim Film Medya (TR) / Production Country: Turkey
• Totem
  Directed by Sander Burger / Screenwriter: Bastiaan Tichler, Sander Burger
  Production Company: Volya Films (NL) / Production Country: The Netherlands
• Winning
  Directed by Anders Hazelius, Screenwriter: Jessika Jankert
  Production Company: New Stories AB (SE) / Production Country: Sweden

TV Projects

• Art Mysteries
  Directed by Martijn Blekendaal
  Production Company: Cerutti Film (NL), Production Countries: The Netherlands, Germany
• Tumbuna Stories – Folk Tales from Papua New Guinea
  Written & directed by Katherine Reki, Ursula Ulmi
  Production Company: Ulmi Film (CH), Studio Epictus (PG) / Production Countries: Papua New Guinea, Switzerland
• Mrs. Robot
  Written & directed by Ruth Mellaerts, Boris Kuijpers
  Production Company: Hamlet (BE) / Production Country: Belgium
• Ormhildur the Brave
  Written & directed by Thorey Mjallhvit
  Production Company: Compass Films (IS) / Production Country: Iceland
• Overboard!
  Directed by Filip Pošivač, Barbora Valecká, Screenwriter: Hynek Trojánek
  Production Company: nutprodukce (CZ) / Production Countries: Czech Republic, Slovakia
• Pol the Pirate Mouse
  Development executive Phil Molloy, Screenwriter: Tingue Dongelmans
  Production Company: Submarine (NL) / Production Country: The Netherlands
  
  

Work-in-Progress

• Coppelia
  Directed by Jeff Tudor, Steven De Beul, Ben Tesseur / Screenwriters: Tamara Bos, Jeff Tudor, Steven de Beul, Ben Tesseur
  Production Company: Submarine (NL) / Production Countries: The Netherlands, Germany, Belgium
• Ella Bella Bingo
  Directed by Frank Mosvold, Atle Blakseth, Screenwriters: Frank Mosvold, Johnny Smith, Rob Sprackling
  Production Company: Kool Produktion AS (NO), Production Countries: Norway, Denmark, Germany
• Mister Paper
  Directed by Ben Tesseur, Steven De Beul, Screenwriter: Mieke de Jong
  Production Company: Mockingbird Productions (BE) / Production Country: Belgium, Germany, Netherlands
• Ready, Steady….Draw!
  Directed by Jacopo Armani, Screenwriters: Fred Neuen, Jacopo Armani
  Production Company: Doghouse Films (LU) / Production Country: Luxembourg
• Royals Next Door
  Directed by Veronica Lassenius, Screenwriter: Line Langebek, Tinka Ullbro, Annike Sandelin
  Production Companies: Pikkulala (FI) / Production Countries: Finland, Belgium, Spain
• Sir Mouse, Animation Series
  Directed by Tom van Gestel, Screenwriter: Dirk Nielandt, Marianne Op de Beeck, Luuk Van Bemmelen, Clifford Parrot, Emma Hogan, Kristina Yee
  Production Company: Fabrique Fantastique (BE) / Production Countries: Belgium, Germany, Ireland
   

The market will be held 21 to 23 October in Amsterdam, during the Cinekid Festival. The projects will be presented to more than 300 international professionals from the children’s media industry to encourage international co-operation and to get these projects into production.