Charades has sold key territories on Chiara Malta and Sébastien Laudenbach’s hand-painted animation “Chicken for Linda!” (“Linda veut du poulet!”) that won dual honors at the Annecy Animation Festival.
The film follows loving mom, Paulette, who feels guilty after unfairly punishing her daughter Linda and would do anything to make it up to her. She sets off to make a chicken with peppers, even though she doesn’t know how to cook – on the day of a general strike when poultry is in short supply.
“Chicken for Linda!” won Annecy’s top prize, the Cristal Award for best feature, as well as the Gan Foundation award for distribution.
Asmik Ace has acquired the title for Japan where it will play at the Tokyo International Film Festival and the New Chitose Airport International Animation Festival. Other key territories sold by Charade include Benelux (Le Parc), China (DDDream), Spain (La Aventura), airlines and India (Pictureworks), Italy (I Wonder Pictures), U.S. and Canada (GKids) and Taiwan (Proview).
Asmik Ace head of acquisitions Carol Ino said: “‘Chicken for Linda!’ is an outstanding work full of primitive joy with vibrant colors and lines. Deep inside this story lively depicted with the charming characters, there exists unforgettable sentiments, thoughtfulness, and indescribable feelings luring in the depths of our hearts like gems hidden in a secret place.”
“We are thrilled to bring this valiant film by Chiara Malta and Sébastien Laudenbach to the Japanese audience,” Fumie Takeuchi, general manager-producer of Asmik Ace, added.
Charades co-founder Yohann Comte said: “This is the first collaboration with Asmik Ace and Charades and we are so delighted it’s happening on a such a special film like ‘Chicken for Linda!’ We are so thankful for the Asmik Ace’s trust and ambition for the film. They are as selective and as they are passionate with the films they take.”