Wizart announces sales for Snow Queen 2: The Snow King at the European Film Market (EFM) in Berlin, which will be released in theaters across the U.K., South Korea, and the Middle East.
Wizart Animation, one of Russia’s fastest growing animation studios, has closed its first deals at the European Film Market (EFM) in Berlin. Snow Queen 2: The Snow King and the studio’s first completely original title, Sheep and Wolves, have been sold to the U.K., South Korea, and the Middle East. Wizart has been presenting its projects at EFM’s Russian Cinema stand. The company's promotional screening at the event also met with great success.
The British film distributers Signature Entertainment have acquired the full U.K. rights to Snow Queen 2, including for the theatrical release of the 3D animated feature. The movie is scheduled for release in February 2015. British audiences will also be able to enjoy Snow Queen on TV and DVD in October 2014.
“I am extremely excited to be working with the team at Wizart,” said Marc Goldberg, managing director of Signature Entertainment. “Both Snow Queen and Snow Queen 2 are wonderfully crafted animations, and I believe U.K. audiences will greatly enjoy both films when they get their theatrical and home entertainment releases in 2014 and 2015.”
In December 2014 Snow Queen 2 will be released in South Korea. The full Korean rights, including licensing and merchandising, have been acquired by Cinema Republic. Snow Queen has been a great success in South Korea since its theatrical release in the country in February 2013, grossing more than USD 1.5 million.
“We are delighted to close this deal and to get the chance to work with this Russian animation project,” said Sang-Won Lee – Cinema Republic CEO. “We are already identifying cross promotion and merchandising partners in Korea. We have never before worked on such a large-scale promotion campaign for a foreign animated feature. We are planning to release a huge number of promo materials, apps, and are looking at cultural exchanges with stars from our respective countries.”
Shooting Stars has acquired the full rights in the Middle East for Snow Queen 2 and Sheep and Wolves, including for theatrical release.
Wizart Distribution’s Diana Yurinova and producers Yuri Moskvin and Vladimir Nikolaev are handling international sales during EFM 2014.
With Snow Queen 2: The Snow King, Wizart is extending its franchise of the film. Snow Queen 2 will continue to follow the exploits of Gerda and Orm, the troll whose victory over the Snow Queen has given his fellow trolls a taste for freedom, as he embarks on another lively and perilous adventure. The production will be produced in English and feature Hollywood star talent.
Wizart’s third feature to come to the international market is the film Sheep and Wolves, which tells the story of a young wolf called Grey who’s afraid of responsibility and shies away from becoming the new leader of his pack, and who finds his world turned upside down when he wakes up one morning in the body of a sheep.
Source: Wizart Animation
Formerly Editor-in-Chief of Animation World Network, Jennifer Wolfe has worked in the Media & Entertainment industry as a writer and PR professional since 2003.
