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Studio 100 Film has added CGI animated feature “Juul” to its international sales slate and will introduce the project to buyers at the Toronto Film Festival.
The English-language voice cast features Lenny Henry, while
five-time Grammy Award-winners Michael League and Bob Lanzetti of Snarky Puppy contribute to the original score. The film is directed by Tom Van Gestel and written by An De Gruyter. “Juul” is in production and is scheduled for delivery in Q4 2026.
Set in the 1950s, Juul follows 17-year-old circus acrobat Juul, whose life changes forever after a tragic accident leaves her in a coma and declared brain-dead. Facing financial ruin, her magician father takes a desperate and morally complicated decision: he steals her body from the hospital and presents her as a “living puppet” to revive the failing circus. But Juul is still conscious, trapped inside a body she no longer controls. As her anger and resistance grow, her body begins to transform into porcelain, becoming a powerful symbol of her silent rebellion and her fight to reclaim her own identity.
Van Gestel said, “‘Juul’ dares to go where most animated films don’t. It tackles a dark, raw and difficult subject, but does so by keeping every character deeply human. At its heart, ‘Juul’ is the story of a young girl who is constantly being pulled down by the world around her. Yet, no matter how hard she is pushed, she finds a way to fight back.”
The film is produced by Fabrique Fantastique (Belgium) in co-production with M.A.R.K.13 (Germany), Keplerfilm (The Netherlands), Mr Miyagi (Spain) and Avalon Films (Ireland). Studio 100 Film handles worldwide sales, excluding Belgium, Germany, Spain and The Netherlands.
Lorena Booth, senior manager sales and acquisitions at Studio 100 Film, said, “’Juul’ represents the kind of ambitious animated storytelling we are increasingly looking to bring to international audiences. Its remarkable visual identity, emotional depth and universal themes demonstrate the creative breadth of animation today.”
