Dandelooo Cinéma Pre-Sells ‘Born in the Jungle’ to Key Territories

Dandelooo Cinéma has pre-sold its upcoming animated feature “Born in the Jungle” to several key territories ahead of the presentation of the trailer at Annecy Intl. Animation Film Festival.

The 70-minute film, which is in production, has been picked up by buyers in several European territories, including Little KMBO in France, Luftkind Filmverleigh in Germany, Modiband/Rita & Luca Films in Spain and Folkets Bio in Sweden.

“Born in the Jungle,” which is targeted at 5- to 8-year-olds and family audiences, is inspired by the book by Latvian author Luīze Pastore and the real-life adventures of explorer Aleksander Laime and his family.

The film is described as a “family story about growing together – with kindness and care, embracing acceptance and taking responsibility for one another and the world around us.”

During the late 1950s in Venezuela, 9-year-old Elizabeth’s summer break takes a wild turn when her little brother Leo vanishes into the jungle. She must swap her books for bravery not only to find her brother but also to rescue a mystical furry animal from captivity and bring him back to the Tepui mountain.

The film is directed by Edmunds Jansons, whose credits include children’s feature films such as “Jacob, Mimmi and the Talking Dogs” and “Pigtail and Mr Sleeplessness,” as well as shorts for young adults and adults like “Freeride in C,” “Guard of Honor” and “Choir Tour.”

The film is a co-production between Jansons’ Atom Art in Latvia, Letko in Poland and Hausboot in Czech Republic.

In 2017, Dandelooo won an International Emmy Award and was named best producer of the year at Cartoon Forum; it received the Procirep best producer award in 2024. That year, the company expanded into feature films with the launch of Dandelooo Cinéma.

Dandelooo Cinéma’s first feature film as an international sales agent, “Hola Frida,” directed by André Kadi and Karine Vézina and produced by Tobo Media and Haut et Court, was sold to 20 countries. It premiered at the Morelia Film Festival in Mexico, and won the audience awards at both Anima and Stockholm Film Festival.

Upcoming highlights include “Born in the Jungle,” “Granny Is a Tree,” the debut feature from Hugo de Faucompret, and the feature-length adaptation of “The Upside-Down River” by Paul Leluc, an in-house Dandelooo production.