China- and Netherlands-based sales firm Fortissimo Films has picked up the international rights to new Chinese animation feature “The Umbrella Fairy.” It will launch the film next month at the Cannes Market.
“The Umbrella Fairy” tells the story of Qingdai, a royal umbrella’s fairy. As Qingdai fails her mission to guard a sword’s fairy who escapes the royal pavilion for vengeance, she embarks on a journey with a young craftsman to prevent a war.
Put together with a strongly Oriental aesthetic, the film brings together a rich mix of Chinese traditional crafts, architecture and opera, creating a unique fantastical world.
The film is the directorial debut of experienced animator Shen Jie, who has previous animating credits on “Mr. Miao,” from 2020, and “Crystal Skies of Yesterday.”
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Production is by Maoyan Entertainment, a company which has its roots in online film ticket sales, but which has diversified into film marketing, distribution and finance.
“The Umbrella Fairy,” which will release in mainland Chinese theaters in summer, is the first animated feature produced by the company and also its first film to be handled by Fortissimo for overseas sales. Fortissimo will represent the rights worldwide, with the exception of mainland China, Hong Kong, Macao, Taiwan and Japan.
Fortissimo’s recent lineup includes another visually unique Chinese animation Tian Xiaopeng’s “Deep Sea,” which played at a raft of film festivals including Annecy, Berlin, Tribeca and Tokyo through 2022 and 2023. It also recently handled live action production “100 Yards” by veteran director Xu Haofeng, which played last year at the Shanghai and Toronto festivals and at Rotterdam in early 2024.
