Leading Latin American animation house Pinguim Content has signed a deal with Los Angeles-based sales agent MultiVisionnaire Pictures to represent its award-winning children’s filme Tarsilinha in all territories outside LatAm. The two companies have collaborated on an international, English-dubbed trailer and new poster ahead of the movie’s Brazil theatrical premiere on March 17.
Tarsilinha is a 90-minute hybrid 2D/3D feature animation set in a whimsical world full of magical creatures inspired by the work of legendary Brazilian artist Tarsila do Amaral, which has been collecting accolades since its world premiere at the 2021 Shanghai International Film Festival (nominated for Best Animation Film). It then won Best Animated Feature Film from Latin America & Spain upon its LatAm premiere at Chilemonos 2021.
The film was also selected for a host of other prestigious film festivals in 2021, including the SICAF (Seoul), Florianópolis International Children’s Film Festival, Chicago International Children’s Film Festival, Kino Brasil (Prague) Cartoons on the Bay (L’Áquila, Italy) and the Children’s International Film Festival (Rio de Janeiro). Its success continues into 2022 with participation at the Belmont World Film (Boston) and Children’s International Film Festival (Melbourne & Sidney), with more to follow.
A journey of discovery and self-realization, Tarsilinha follows the fantastical adventures of an eight-year-old girl who sets off to save her mother’s memory by recovering the keepsakes from her memory box, which were stolen by a mischievous caterpillar from a surreal world full of whimsical creatures. As Tarsilinha makes her way through this parallel reality, full of danger and threats, she overcomes fears and obstacles with the help of the friends she makes along the way.
Tarsila do Amaral, one of the most ground-breaking modernists in Latin America, was deeply inspired by vernacular Brazilian folklore, handicrafts and folk art. Her work, in particular the 1924 oil painting A Cuca, provides the inspiration for the fantastical landscapes and characters in Tarsilinha. Zeca Baleiro (Achados Não Procurados) and Zezinho Mutarelli have composed a Brazilian baião-inspired score, influenced by Heitor Villa-Lobos.
Directors Kiko Mistrorigo and Celia Catunda (founders of Pinguim Content) said, “We are thrilled to team up with the experts at MultiVisionnaire who will help us take Tarsilinha on even further journeys out across the world. Tarsia do Amaral’s art represents the idea of taking different cultural influences to produce something new, unique and authentic and that’s what we wanted to do with the film too. The response so far has been amazing and we hope that many more people will now be able to enjoy it.”
Sean Haley, Managing Partner of MultiVisionnaire Pictures, said, “We always look for great storytelling with very unique execution. Tarsilinha is an excellent family film with a distinctive appeal that will win over the hearts of global audiences, for not only the artful animation inspired by Brazilian culture, but also the universal values of courage, friendship and self-discovery. We are delighted to represent the film and look forward to having success with it worldwide.”
pinguimcontent.com | multivisionnaire.com