Animation ‘Magic Arch’ from ‘Toy Story’ co-writer sold to North America (exclusive)

Grindstone Entertainment Group has acquired North American rights to Russian animation Magic Arch from Budapest-based Luminescence.

The film, which has been screening at the Marché du Film Online this week, is scripted by Alec Sokolow, a co-writer on seminal 1995 animation Toy Story.

The underwater adventure, about a shy dolphin who discovers a magic arch that can transform fish into whatever they wish, is directed by Vasily Rovensky and produced by Licensing Brands’ partners Roman Borisevich, Vasily Rovensky and Maxim Rogalsky.

It is set to receive a theatrical release in Russia through Nashe Kino on October 1.

The North America sale follows previous deals for Benelux (Dutch Filmworks); Scandinavia (Scanbox); Spain (Big Picture); Portugal (Films4You); Latin America PTV/SVOD (CDC); Chile, Peru, Bolivia (Andes); Ecuador (Zoca); Colombia (Cine Colombia/Zoca); Central America (Alliance Films); Uruguay (Movie Center); Baltics (GPI); Czech/Slovakia (AQS); Hungary, Romania (Vertical); ex-Yugoslavia (Blitz); Bulgaria (A Plus); Middle East (Front Row); Israel (Tulip); South Africa (Ster Kinekor/Filmfinity); Turkey (Ozen); Malaysia (Suraya); Taiwan (AV Jet); Korea (Big Picture); Japan (Fine Films); South East Asia PTV (Disney); and China (Airspeed).

LA-based Grindstone recently renewed its longstanding partnership with Lionsgate, extending a 12-year agreement between the two that delivers features for the streaming space.

Grindstone partner Stan Wertlieb brokered the deal with Luminescence managing director Juraj Barabas.

Luminescence’s sales slate includes animated features Pinocchio: A True Story and Nutcracker And The Magic Flute, and live-action titles Cosmoball and Upon The Magic Roads.

Link to the original article here.