Reportedly, this is the first time that a South African animated feature has secured such a prestigious US distributor.
Stuart Forrest, producer at Cape Town-based Triggerfish, says, "It is fantastic to be picked up by a major studio that has always been discerning about its animation titles. It is a testament to the world-class quality of work that our talented crew has produced. We're excited about working with Sony to ensure the best release in its territories."
Zambezia is the first theatrical release from Triggerfish. Its second film, Khumba, is scheduled for completion in the first quarter of 2013 and the studio has a third film in development.
The film has been sold in over 40 territories worldwide by Edward Noeltner of Cinema Management Group and features an all-star cast including Abigail Breslin, Jeff Goldblum, Leonard Nemoy, Richard E. Grant, and Samuel L. Jackson.
The film screened last month in official selection at the Annecy Animation Festival and had its South African premiere at the Durban International Film Festival this past weekend, where it was chosen as the closing film.
Globally, it is already in its third week of release in Israel where it has done consistently well at the box office running against other major studio releases. It is due for release in Germany and Russia at the end of August, with other territories releasing after that.
"The plethora of animation movies out there means that audiences have become more discerning and have an appetite for something different," says Forrest. "We've received a great response from test screenings which shows that the film clearly entertains families from around the world, providing a universal story told from a unique perspective."
The story centres around a young falcon, Kai, as he journeys to the bird city of Zambezia, leaving his home and father to make a life for himself. He soon discovers, however, that living in a community can be more difficult than surviving in the wild and it is only when the city comes under threat that he comes to understand that the only life worth living is a life lived through others.
For more, go to www.zambeziamovie.com, www.khumba.com and www.triggerfishstudios.com.
