Having just won three British Animation Awards (for Best Picture, Best Screenplay and Best Original Music) in March, Kensuke’s Kingdom has expanded its realm, singing an array of distribution deals across North and South America, Latin America and Europe. Cinema Management Group (CMG) is handling international sales, and will be presenting the animated feature at the Cannes market.
Based on the best-selling novel by Michael Morpurgo (War Horse) and adapted for screen by BAFTA Award nominee Frank Cottrell-Boyce (The Railway Man, Hilary and Jackie), Kensuke’s Kingdom features the epic adventure of Michael, a young boy shipwrecked on a remote island, who must adapt to life alone. But over time, he feels another presence, learning that this world is home to both unimaginable danger and beauty.
Directed by Neil Boyle and Kirk Hendry, Kensuke’s Kingdom features the voices of Sally Hawkins (The Shape of Water, Paddington), 2024 Oscar winner Cillian Murphy (Peaky Blinders, Oppenheimer), Raffey Cassidy (Snow White and the Huntsman, Tomorrowland), Aaron MacGregor (Puffin Rock and the New Friends) and Ken Watanabe (The Last Samurai, Inception).
“One of the core messages of Michael Morpurgo’s work which we’ve absolutely held on to in the film, is how important it is to look after the environment and be respectful of it,” says co-director Neil Boyle. “Michael’s journey in the film is going from being a little urban child who is not connected to the environment to then transforming and understanding how the environment works and why it needs protecting.”
Kirk Hendry notes, “Animation is a great way to tell Kensuke’s Kingdom because it gives things a fable-like quality, which live action doesn’t. It makes you suspend your disbelief quickly, so you just get pulled into the story immediately, which is the great power of animation.”
Producers are Emmy Award-winning producers and founders of animation studio Lupus Films, Camilla Deakin and Ruth Fielding, Academy Award nominee Stephan Roelants of Melusine Productions, co-founder of Working Title Sarah Radclyffe, Emmy and BAFTA Award-winning producer Barnaby Spurrier, Co-Founder & CEO of Align Adrian Politowski and former Senior Vice President Martin Metz and award-winning producer Jean Labadie and Anne-Laure Labadie of Le Pacte.
“We couldn’t be happier that our production has enticed such a-list distributors to get behind a theatrical release for Kensuke’s Kingdom,” said Deakin. “We are very excited to be working together towards theatrical releases as of August in Latin America, the end of summer in the U.K. and early fall in the United States and Canada.”
Recent distribution deals have been inked with Blue Fox Entertainment (U.S. & Canada), Modern Films (U.K. & Ireland), Movies Inspired (Italy), Periscoop (Benelux), Arthouse Traffic (Ukaine), New Horizon (Poland), Playarte (Brazil), Cinetopia (Chile & other LatAm territories) and Encore Inflight (worldwide airline rights).
The film is presented by BFI, Film Fund Luxembourg and Align and is a Lupus Films production in association with Kensuke’s Kingdom, Jigsaw Films, Melusine Productions, Le Pacte and Bumpybo, with the support of Ffilm Cymru walges and Welsh Government via Creative Wales. The BFI and Ffilm Cymru Wales have both awarded National Lottery funding.
Executive producers are Nadia Khamlichi, Nessa McGill, Sierra Garcia, Bill Godfrey, Nick Miller, Tim Morris, Courtney Pledger, Sam Wright, Stephen Kelliher, Natascha Wharton, Kim Warner and Bizzy Day.
Sales to the above-mentioned distributors were negotiated on behalf of the producers by CMG, which recently came on board as worldwide sales agent.
“We are thrilled to be screening Kensuke’s Kingdom three times at the 2024 Marche du Film in Cannes, as seeing this film on the big screen is a game changer for distributors,” said CMG’s Edward Noeltner.
In Cannes, 2024, CMG will also be presenting Panda Bear in Africa from Katuni and A-Films; Buffalo Kids from 4 Cats Pictures (Mummies), starring Gemma Arterton, Sean Bean, Stephen Graham and Alisha Weir; Kayara, a Tunche Film (Peru) and We Love Animation (Spain) production; and Brazilian-Indian Co-production Noah’s Ark, starring Alice Braga, Rodrigo Santoro and Marcelo Adnet. CMG licensed animated features have grossed over US$ 400 million at the box office since 2005.
