A fresh batch of executive producers have dipped their toes into the animated waters of Wild Summon, the Oscar- and BAFTA-shortlisted short film from spouses and creative partners Karni Arieli and Saul Freed. Joining the project are Oscar-winning filmmaker Adam McKay (The Big Short, Vice, Don’t Look Up) and his HyperObject Industries producing partner Kevin Messick, as well as Guy Nattiv and Jaime Ray Newman of New Native Pictures, creators of the Oscar-winning live-action short Skins and its feature adaptation.
Produced by British duo Arieli and Freed’s Sulkybunny studio, Wild Summon is a 3D CG-animated natural history-fantasy that reimagines the life cycle of the salmon, depicting the fish as a human. With narration by Marianne Faithful and backing from the BFI, the short aims to both engage viewers with a fresh perspective on this natural phenomena, as well as inspire them to reflect on themes of survival, how humans treat our environment, and each other.
“To create a stunning, delicate, innovative and perfect piece of art like Karni and Saul have managed to do with Wild Summon, is truly capturing lightning in a bottle,” Nattiv and Newman commented to Deadline. “The film deserves as many accolades, but more importantly viewers, as humanly possible. It reminds us that we are all connected to the emotional roller coaster called life, whether we be human or fish. We are thrilled and honored to join this team and share Wild Summon with the world.”
Wild Summon premiered at Cannes, and went on to screen in competition at the Annecy International Animated Film Festival and other cinema fests worldwide, winning awards at Raindance and Fantasy Filmfest. The film qualified for Oscars consideration by exhibition and has been shortlisted for nominations for Best Animated Short. Oscar nominations will be announced January 23. The upstream epic is also one of six semifinalists in contention for the BAFTA nominations for British Short Animation. BAFTA nominations will be announced January 18.
[Source: Deadline]
