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Gursimran Datla’s Canadian-U.K. production company BetterHalf Films has boarded Andara Fembriarto’s Indonesian animated film “Galeo of the Seawalkers” (“Galeo Anak Segara”).
The title is among the selected projects at
the upcoming Vancouver International Film Festival’s newly launched Business Hub Co-Production Forum.
BetterHalf Films, which operates offices in Toronto and London, joins Indonesia’s Studio Amarana as co-producer on the film, an adaptation of Fembriarto’s novel and comic book of the same name. Streaming platform Rangkai is likewise on board and will distribute the film in Indonesia.
A family adventure set in an oceanic world of floating villages, sea-forests and people who walk on water, “Galeo of the Seawalkers” follows the timid boy Galeo, whose fear of disappointing his father has become the greatest obstacle in his life.
When Galeo’s younger sister follows mysterious sea ghosts in search of their missing father, Galeo must leave the safety of home. Their journey brings them into conflict with pirates seeking control of the sacred water on which their community depends. Galeo’s practical inventions and growing trust in his sister offer a different path to bravery than the one his village has taught him.
“We are inviting the global audience to walk on the water with Galeo,” said Datla. “This world draws on Indonesian maritime cultures, giving the adventure a specific visual and emotional foundation never seen before. Digital 2D animation will bring together expressive characters, vibrant ocean landscapes and that action built around the movement of water. At its heart is a family learning to recognize one another beyond expectations and inherited roles. ‘Galeo of the Sealwakers’ engages audiences to care for the climate and culture.”
The film is in advanced stages of development and is backed by development support from the Indonesian cultural ministry, according to Datla. The producers are looking to begin production in January 2028 and are looking to engage potential co-producers.
Fembriarto’s animated shorts include the award-winning “Cipak Cipuk” (“Splish Splash”), likewise based on his “Galeo of the Seawalkers” IP, as well as “Utan Rambutan” and “The Raining Tree.”
BetterHalf Films’ productions take in comedy series “Masala Love,” about a family-owned South Asian restaurant in Toronto, and the award-winning shorts “Refuge” and “Cinnamon Tea,” which have screened at several festivals across North America. “Galeo of the Seawalkers” is the company’s first international co-production.
The Vancouver Film Festival runs Oct. 1-11, while its Business Hub Co-Production Forum takes place Oct. 3-4.
