Search form

Annecy 2023 Hosts ‘Ozi: Voice of the Forest’ French Premiere

The 3DCG animated feature, screening June 13, follows the journey of a teenage orangutan, Ozi, and her friends on a voyage of discovery while highlighting the plight of the world’s rainforests and ecosystems; the festival runs June 11-17.

The 3DCG animated film of Ozi, Voice of The Forest will have its French premiere at Annecy 2023 on June 13 at 7:00 PM. The independently financed feature follows the journey of a teenage orangutan, Ozi, and her friends, who set out on a voyage of discovery across the rainforest in a quest to find her parents in a land that has fallen victim to deforestation.

Two of the film’s co-producers, Academy-Award-winning producer Mike Medavoy and producer, director, screenwriter Rodrigo Blaas (Star Wars: Visions, Trollhunters: Tales of Arcadia) will attend the festival, which runs June 11-17. The film was first shared as a work in progress last year at Annecy 2022.

Directed by Tim Harper, the film brings to light critical issues as the world’s rainforests face ever-growing levels of deforestation and its impact on the ecosystems.

The voice cast includes Amandla Stenberg as Ozi; Laura Dern; RuPaul, Donald Sutherland; and Djimon Hounsou. Harper helms the project alongside creators Keith Chapman (Paw Patrol, Bob the Builder) and Blaas (Pixar’s Wall-E, Finding Nemo). Emmy Award-winning Ricky Roxburgh (Tangled, Spy Kids) wrote the original screenplay.

The Mikros Animation team handled creative development, from concept to delivery. The film features the animation work of over 300 global artists and experts, driven by their passion for storytelling and communicating the underlying social cause.

The film is co-produced by Leonardo DiCaprio’s Appian Way Productions, GCI Films, and Mikros Animation with DiCaprio; Jennifer Davisson; Phillip Watson of Appian Way; Medavoy; Blaas; Chapman; Adam Stanhope; and Graham Appleby serving as producers.

Source: Annecy Festival

Debbie Diamond Sarto's picture

Debbie Diamond Sarto is news editor at Animation World Network.