Spanish distributor-producer Filmax has acquired international rights to Mago Production’s (Barcelona) upcoming family feature The Light of Aisha, and is introducing the CG-animated adventure, inspired by the history of Islamic Spain, to buyers at the Cannes Marché du Film.
Synopsis: Aisha, a 13-year-old girl, lives in 11th century Al-Andalus, where fireworks displays are the most popular entertainment — and the biggest passion of young Aisha, who dreams of becoming a professional rocketeer. One day, the wandering alchemist Txawir comes to town, and turns Aisha’s enthusiasm to his own purposes by convincing her to steal a banned book from the Calipha’s library. Txawir disappears with the book, for which Aisha’s father is blamed. To recover the book and save her father, Aisha embarks on an adventurous journey…
The film is the feature debut of Shadi Adib, an Iranian-born character designer, animator and director based in Germany. After receiving a master’s in animation from Tehran Art Universaity, she continued her studies at the Animationinstitut of Filmakademie Baden-Württemberg. Her student film Fuse screening in competition at more than 150 international film festivals, including the Annecy, Stuttgart and Zagreb animation fests, receiving awards from Bucheon Int’l Animation Festival and the Dresden Film Festival.
The Light of Aisha screenplay is written by Xavier Romero and Llorenç Español, and won the Best Animation Screenplay award from Stuttgart (ITFS). Producers are Peter Keydel, Raúl Berninches, Holger Weiss, Joseph Koh, Carlos Fernandez and Laura Fernandez.
The film is a Spain-Germany-Singapore co-production between Mago Production, Filmax, PBT Films (Peng! Boom! Tschak! Films) and Sangnila. As a project, the film earned financial backing from government agencies ICEC, ICAA, MFG, Media and Eurimages, as well as the participation of Spanish broadcasters 3cat and RTVE.
The English-language production is expected for delivery in 2025.
You can watch a behind-the-scenes video and interview with German news outlet SWR on Adib’s website here.
[Source: Variety]
