Boutique film distributor Juno Films has picked up the U.S. rights to Four Souls of Coyote, the 2D animated Native American mythological tale submitted by Hungary as its International Film Oscar contender. Directed by Áron Gauder, the film was awarded the Annecy Cristal for best feature this summer.
Synopsis: Set in the present day, Native American protesters confront the crew of an oil pipeline project, just down the hill from the land of their ancestors. The grandfather evokes the ancient tale of their Creation myth, reminding all of us that the challenges facing humanity are universal, and that we need to find our place in the great circle of creatures.
Réka Temple, the film’s producer, told Deadline that the filmmaking team hopes that U.S. moviegoers will “connect with the story and its contemporary relevance as we face global warming, a result of rampant capitalism.”
Four Souls of Coyote was produced by award-winning Hungarian animation studio Cinemon. The creative team also included director of animation Zsolt Baumgartner and American Indian consultant Charles Cambridge, PhD, an enrolled Navaho Tribe member and expert in anthropology, archaeology, history and American Indian culture and religion.
The film’s voice cast features actors with Indigenous backgrounds, including Lorne Cardinal (Corner Gas) as Old Man Creator, rising voice-over and musical theater performer Diontae Black as Coyote, Stephanie Novak (Wasteland 3), Danny Kramer (Yu-Gi-Oh! VRAINS) and Priscilla Landham, as well as prolific cartoon voice actors Bill Farmer and Fred Tatasciore, Clé Bennett, Bob Klein, John Bentley and Karin Anglin.
The deal was negotiated by Juno Films CEO Elizabeth Sheldon and Jason Bressand for Gebeka International.
More information available at 4soulsofcoyote.com.
[Source: Deadline]
