Noticias

Global Screen has sold rights for North America and China to animated movie “Tabaluga,” which previously was picked up by distributors in more than 50 territories. Sony Pictures released the film in Germany, where it grossed $3.82 million.

Viva Pictures Distribution acquired all rights for the U.S. and Canada, and Yellow Mountain Studios secured all rights for China. The releases are planned simultaneously for the end of the year.

Among distributors already on board are Signature Entertainment for U.K./Ireland, Flins & Piniculas for Spain, Voxell Baltic for Russia, Phars Filmco Motion Pictures for Middle East and Yejilim Entertainment for South Korea.

“Tabaluga” tells the story of a brave little dragon who, with the help of beautiful ice princess Lilli, finds his fire and discovers the power of love, and saves the world from a tyrannical snowman.

Julia Weber, head of theatrical sales and acquisitions at Global Screen, described “Tabaluga” as...

Fairies, dragons, a trip to the moon and the fall of the Berlin Wall are just some of the family-friendly highlights in German and European animation this year.

While the current crop of animated pics offer historical themes and adaptations of beloved books, a popular German toy line serves as the basis for one highly anticipated film. The European Film Market is buzzing with animation.

Produced by leading Hamburg-based animation house Ulysses Films, maker of recent hits like “Luis and the Aliens” and “Ooops! Noah Is Gone…” (a.k.a. “All Creatures Big and Small”), “Bayala” explores a fantasy world populated by elves, fairies, unicorns and dragons based on the hot-selling figurines manufactured by German toymaker Schleich.

The film follows two fairy princesses who embark on a journey with a dragon egg to save their magical kingdom.

“‘Bayala’ is everything that small humans aged 5 to 10 just love,” a timeless story of “fantasy,...

Munich-based world sales company Global Screen has sold its 3D animation movie “Tabaluga” to more than 50 territories, including the U.K., Spain and Russia.

The pic centers on Tabaluga, “a brave little dragon, who, with the help of beautiful ice princess Lilli, not only finds his fire and the power of love, but also succeeds in saving the world from a tyrannical snowman,” Global Screen said.

Buyers include Signature Entertainment for the U.K. and Ireland, Flins & Piniculas for Spain and Voxell Baltic for Russia. Deals also were closed with Yejilim Entertainment (South Korea), Five Stars (Israel), Filma (Turkey), Ufd (Ukraine), Pro Films (Bulgaria), Karantanija (former Yugoslavia), Lightning McQueen (Vietnam), Garsu Pasaulio Irasai (Baltics), Suraya (Malaysia), Phars Filmco Motion Pictures (Middle East) and Nos (Portugal).

In Germany, Sony Pictures released the movie on Dec. 6 and has sold 500,000 tickets to date. A sale for North America and Canada is in final negotiations.

German films have continued to perform strongly at the box office this year despite record high temperatures over the summer, usually a death knell for local cinemas, and not to mention World Cup soccer, which kept many potential moviegoers at home or in sports bars across the country.

Local pics have benefitted from a strong mix of comedy, children’s fare and drama. German productions accounted for some 11.3 million admissions in the first half of the year, compared with 10.6 million in the first six months of 2017, resulting in a 22.4% market share, up from 18.2%.

“German films have been able to increase both their revenue and market share in a difficult market environment, which is already a special achievement,” Peter Dinges, CEO of the German Federal Film Board (Ffa), tells Variety. “And with some high-profile movie launches in the second half of the year, I am extremely confident that this trend will...

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