After nearly a quarter century in global kids and family entertainment, Toonz Media Group has announced the launch of a new dedicated feature film division, which will be involved in a full spectrum of activities within the group, translating its in-house created content as well as titles from other partners and third party productions to the big screen.
Veteran entertainment executive Ariel Veneziano has been named President of Toonz Feature Film Division. A leading professional in international distribution, Veneziano previously served as President of Icon Entertainment International, where he oversaw sales of the most successful independent film of all time, Mel Gibson’s The Passion of the Christ.
During his tenure at Alliance Atlantis Communication as Director of Sales and Distribution, Veneziano handled international distribution on Michael Moore’s award-winning documentary Bowling for Columbine, and America’s most watched television show, CSI: Crime Scene Investigation. He has also served as President of Gold Valley Films International, where he helped arrange partnerships with top theatrical distributors.
“Having firmly established Toonz as the worldwide leader in animation and kid’s entertainment, I feel this is the right time to launch the feature film division headed by a dynamic leader,” said P. Jayakumar, CEO of Toonz Media Group. “Post Berlin, Ariel will announce additions to his team along with new projects currently under development. He is tasked with making Toonz a global force in the feature film world.”
Veneziano added, “Toonz is a highly recognizable brand in the kids and family space, having established relationships with exceptional creators of content. I look forward to helping the group capitalize on the many opportunities in the feature film world, with an initial focus on high end animated movies for the theatrical marketplace.”
The new Toonz Feature Film Division is now in production on the animated feature Little Emma, a co-production between Toonz and Gold Valley Entertainment, China. Directed by Isabella Blanco, the family adventure is about a miniature human girl adopted by animal parents who is yearning to find the truth about her human roots.
Toonz is already involved in animated feature film productions including The Canterville Ghost, a 3D CGI adaptation of the Oscar Wilde classic of the same name. The theatrical feature is being co-produced by Toonz along with Robert Chandler’s Space Age Films (whose The Amazing Maurice was recently selected at the Sundance Film Festival) and Los Angeles-based Align Pictures U.S. Inc. The film will be distributed globally by the American film distributors Cinema Management Group (CMG).
Toonz is preparing to make further key announcements about new feature film projects in the lead up to the Cannes festival and film market in May.
