French animated film “A Cat In Paris” Finds U.S. Distribution
New York, New York — February 7, 2010 — GKIDS, a leading US distributor of independent animated films and the European sales agent Films Distribution announced today that GKIDS has acquired US distribution rights to A Cat in Paris (Une vie de chat) the highly anticipated new animated feature from legendary French animation studio Folimage and directors Alain Gagnol and Jean-Loup Feliciolli. The film is making its international premiere February 13 at Berlinale and will make its North American premiere March 5 at New York Int’l Children’s Film Festival. The film has been nominated for a César in the Best Animated Film category and will be qualifying for the Oscars® with a US theatrical release in 2011. The deal for A Cat in Paris was negotiated by Eric Beckman for GKIDS and Nicolas Brigaud-Robert for Films Distribution.
A Cat in Paris is the latest in a string of animated feature pick-ups by GKIDS following The Secret of Kells, which garnered an Oscar® nomination for Best Animated Feature for the distributor. In addition to A Cat in Paris, current and upcoming GKIDS releases include European Film Award Best Animated Feature winner, Mia and the Migoo, Japan Academy Prize winner Summer Wars, and Annecy winner Eleanor’s Secret.
Eric Beckman, President of GKIDS Inc. said, “A Cat in Paris a completely charming and visually unique animated caper that brings to mind the stylized, jazzy, noir-tinged Pink Panther cartoons as well as Nick Park’s original Wallace & Gromit shorts. The film helps to reinvigorate 2D animation as both a peerless art form and viable commercial medium with universal appeal for adults, families, and film lovers of all ages.”
Nicolas Brigaud-Robert, Partner of Films Distribution said, “We had several US distribution companies interested in A Cat in Paris but we decided to go with GKIDS. As a specialty distributor they bring, passion, energy, and innovative thinking to the market. We know that they will give our movie the best possible exposure considering their expertise in introducing high-quality independent and foreign animated film to US audiences.”
SYNOPSIS
Dino is a cat that leads a double life. By day he lives with Zoe, a little girl whose mother is a detective in the Parisian police force. But at night he sneaks out the window to work with Nico, a slinky cat burglar with a big heart, whose fluid movements are poetry in motion as he slips and swishes from rooftop to rooftop across the Paris skyline. The cat’s two worlds collide when young Zoe decides to follow Dino on his nocturnal adventures — and falls into the hands of Victor Costa, a blustery gangster planning the theft of a rare statue. Now cat and cat burglar must team up to save Zoe from the bumbling thieves, leading to a thrilling acrobatic finale on top of Notre Dame. A Cat in Paris is a warm and richly humorous love letter to classic noir films and the stylized wit of the Pink Panther cartoons — and Dino the cat manages to steal the show with little more than a subtle swish of the tail and quiet mew.