SPENCER is now in production
In Production January 2021
- ALLAH IS NOT OBLIGED by Zaven Najjar, producer: EAVE graduate Paul Thiltges is in production. The first film adaptation of the Ivorian novel Allah Is Not Obliged is revolving around a child soldier in Liberia in the 1990s. The plot: Birahima, a ten-year-old Guinean orphan, falls under the influence of Yacouba, a boy who is fascinated by the world of the child soldiers of the NPFL (National Patriotic Front of Liberia), linked to rebel Charles Taylor, a hero of the civil war that the region will be engrossed in for eight long years. Under the auspices of Colonel Papa Le Bon, the preteen will learn all about this life of garrisons, propaganda, religious ceremonies, drugs and weapons handling, while befriending other child soldiers. Leaping from one misadventure to the next, Birahima flits between different militias and takes part in acts of violence. The feature-length animated project, which was presented in 2018 at Cartoon Movie in Bordeaux, at CEE Animation in Trebon and at the MIA 2019 in Rome, is financed by three countries: France (Special Touch Studios), Luxembourg (Paul Thiltges Distributions) and Belgium (Lunanime and Need Production). ALLAH IS NOT OBLIGED will unfurl a very graphic, colourful and striking visual universe, which, while not turning a blind eye to the full-on violence inherent in this world, will steer clear of descending into gratuitousness. On the Luxembourgish side, studio La Fabrique d’Images will handle the majority of the animation, storyboarding, decor, lay-out and compositing work, while the audio post-production will be overseen by Studio Philophon.
- SPENCER by Pablo Larrain, producer: EAVE graduate Jonas Dornbach starts shooting. In this biographical drama on Princess Diana, Kristen Stewart will be Diana, Princess of Wales. The UK-German-Chilean production from Shoebox Films, Komplizen Film and Larrain’s own Fabula will start shooting early next month in Germany, doubling for Norfolk in South-East England. Further casting details will be announced shortly. Spencer being her family name, the story fittingly follows the iconic royal’s decision to divorce her husband, Prince Charles, ending her route to eventually becoming Queen. The story is set in the days around Christmas at the Sandringham estate, Queen Elizabeth’s private home, where Diana will come to terms with her failing marriage and her overall unhappiness, ultimately setting her on a path that would change perceptions of the royal family forever. The film was financed through international pre-sales at last summer’s virtual Cannes Marché du Film, where it was represented by FilmNation. Producing are Paul Webster for Shoebox Films, Jonas Dornbach and Janine Jackowski for Komplizen Film, and Pablo and Juan de Dios Larrain for Fabula
- DELTA by Michele Vannucci, producer: EAVE graduate Giovanni Pompili is in production. The film depicts a clash between poachers and fishermen in the Po Delta National Park. Osso wants to protect the river from the irresponsible fishing activities engaged in by the Florian family, who have fled the Danube. Standing alongside the Florian family, we find Elia who was born on these lands. Swept away by blind violence and a thirst for revenge, the two will go head-to-head, discovering who they really are in a duel which boasts no heroes. Shooting will last around six weeks, unfolding in the Po Delta area in Emilia-Romagna and the Veneto, and in Romania’s Danube Delta region. DELTA is produced by Matteo Rovere on behalf of Groenlandia and by for Kino Produzioni in league with Rai Cinema. The film has enjoyed the support of the Emilia-Romagna region and the Emilia-Romagna Film Commission.
Page published 29 January 2021.
