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Dandelooo Cinéma, the feature film division of French animation production and sales company Dandelooo, has acquired international sales rights to “Pikkuli and Starlight Reindeer,” as it heads to Annecy Intl. Animation
Film Festival with a growing slate of family-focused animation features.
The film is in production and is scheduled for a theatrical release in Finland this October, with Gebeka Films targeting a Christmas 2027 release in France. It is produced by Finnish studios AittoFlow and Filmkompaniet.
Based on the hit preschool TV series, which has aired in more than 40 territories worldwide, the 80-minute animated family feature follows the adventures of a brave and determined little bird Pikkuli in a heartwarming story celebrating friendship, courage and resilience.
The story takes place in Sunny Moor Woods just before Christmas. The children wait for Starlight Reindeer, the magical creature who brings gifts and joy. But when the adults decide to cancel Christmas and the magical star fades away, a stubborn little bird named Pikkuli sets off on a winter adventure with friends to find the Starlight Reindeer and bring back the light. Through icy landscapes, courage and friendship are tested – and the children discover that the true magic of Christmas comes from togetherness.
The acquisition further strengthens Dandelooo Cinéma’s animation lineup, alongside “Acorn’s Adventure,” a new 3D/CGI family feature produced by Czech studio Pure Shore and German animation house Fabian&Fred, currently scheduled for release in 2028.
Dandelooo Cinéma has also secured a number of new international sales for “Born in the Jungle,” which has been selected for its worldwide premiere at Annecy.
Recently completed, the 72-minute animated feature has added a raft of new distribution deals across Europe, including Filmladen (Austria), Gebeka Films (France), Arthouse Traffic (Ukraine), Fivia with MegaCom Film (multiple territories across Southeast Europe), CAY Films (Romania and Moldova), Paradiso Films (Belgium, Luxemburg and the Netherlands), Risi Film (Portugal), Satine Film (Italy), Outside The Box (Switzerland) and Featherstone (Vietnam).
Co-produced by Atom Art (Latvia), Letko (Poland) and Hausboot (Czech Republic) and targeted at 5- to 8-year-olds and for family audiences, “Born in the Jungle” is inspired by the book by Latvian author Luīze Pastore and by the real-life adventures of explorer Aleksander Laime and his family.
“At its heart, ‘Born in the Jungle’ is a story about family, kindness, acceptance and learning to take responsibility for one another and the world around us,” the company said.
The film is set during the late 1950s in Venezuela. Nine-year-old Elizabeth’s summer break takes a wild turn when her little brother Leo vanishes into the jungle. She must swap her books for bravery not only to find her brother but also to rescue a mystical furry animal from captivity and bring him back up to the legendary Tepui mountain.
Emmanuèle Pétry, head of international sales and acquisitions at Dandelooo, said: “We are thrilled to bring three new family films to Annecy this year. Together with our recent acquisitions and new sales, these titles demonstrate the continued growth of our theatrical slate and our commitment to building a strong international presence for high-quality animated features.”
