Portugal’s Promising Creator-Driven Animation Industry Shines as Annecy’s Country of Honor

Ally McCoist thinks Cristiano Ronaldo should be dropped by Portugal manager Roberto Martinez.

Leo Barraclough International Features Editor Brazilian romantic comedy “Perfect Endings” has sold to distributors in North America and several territories in Europe. Berlin-based sales agency M-Appeal is handling world sales rights.

John Hopewell Chief International Correspondent TOLEDO, Spain — Brazil’s Ventre Studio is readying a powerful slate of scripted series mining the rapidly growing Portugal-Brazil co-production axis, which Ventre itself has helped forge with “Godless John,” produced by Ventre Studio and Canal Brasil as well as Coral Europa and TVI in Portugal. First up in titles is dramedic mini-series “Coligay,” directed by Oscar-nominated Paulo Machline (“A Soccer Story”) and Rafael Gomes, helmer of LGBTQ romantic drama “45 Days Away From You.” Canal Brasil has boarded “Coligay” licensing Brazilian first window TV rights.

Emiliano De Pablos The Portuguese TV fiction sector is experiencing growth as it garners international visibility through co-productions and alliances with streamers and foreign broadcasters. With a small domestic market – some 10 million inhabitants – Portuguese TV production is making a virtue of necessity. The region possesses a diversity of TV fiction offerings, ranging from commercial telenovelas to an increasing number of premium TV dramas, and is rapidly opening up to international partnerships.

Anna Marie de la Fuente Now on its 8th edition, the international TV forum Conecta Fiction & Entertainment (CF&E), held in the ancient Spanish city of Toledo from June 18 to 21, is turning its focus to Brazil and Portugal. The South American country is haltingly reactivating its audiovisual industry under President Lula de Silva’s new government, which earmarked nearly $1 billion for the sector last year.

Manchester United defender Diogo Dalot believes winning the Players' Player of the Year award is recognition from the teammates he 'suffered and celebrated' with last season.

Annika Pham Under the auspices of Comunidad de Madrid and the prestigious ECAM film school, the four day ECAM Forum co-production market got off to a flying start with its inaugural session, closing June 13 with an awards ceremony at Madrid’s historical Matadero cultural space. One of eight features in work in progress, the creative documentary “Gods of Stone” (“Deuses de Pedra”) by the Spanish Iván Castiñeiras Gallego scooped the new Comunidad de Madrid award and its €15,000 ($16,000) cash prize earmarked towards its post-production.

Ibermedia Next, a groundbreaking fund dedicated to advancing the use of new technologies in animation and digital content from Spain, Portugal, Italy and Latin America, is launching its second round of funding. The announcement was made at the Annecy Animation Festival on the final day of its MIFA market at at a presentation attended by representatives of two of the project’s drivers: Jara Ayucar, director of marketing policy at Spain’s ICAA film agency, part of its Ministry of Culture; and Jose Luis Farias, executive producer of the Quirinos Awards, representing La Liga de la Animación Iberoamericana, formed by the Quirinos, Mexico’s Pixelatl Festival and Ventana Sur’s Animation! forum. Ibermedia Next 2 follows the success of the initial funding round which saw 14 innovative projects gain crucial support, allowing creators to push the boundaries of animation and VR technology.

Manchester City are reportedly eyeing a move for Porto goalkeeper Diogo Costa this summer.

It has been a high-profile 12 months for Mediawan Kids & Family thanks to subsidiary Method Animation’s involvement in the Ladybug & Cat Noir franchise, which has been enjoying box office success worldwide with a first feature film adaptation.

John Hopewell Chief International Correspondent ANNECY, France — José Miguel Ribeiro, Nuno Beato and David Doutel and Vasco Sá, iconic figures in modern-day Portuguese animation, will unveil new projects at this year’s Annecy. They will be joined by newer talents – Vier Nev, behind “A Mind Sang” – João Carrilho, Patrícia Figueiredo and Natália Azevedo Andrade – who together deliver an eloquent snapshot of the burgeoning state of Portuguese animation. Over the last 30 years, Portuguese animation has won ever more prizes for usually 2D short films of dazzling beauty, experimentation and sometimes social point.

EXCLUSIVE: The Munich International Film Festival has set an eclectic trio of world premieres for its upcoming 41st edition. Harley Chamandy’s Allen Sunshine, Jamie Kastner feature doc The Spoils and Davi Pretto’s Continente will each premiere, Deadline can reveal.

Sporting Clube de Portugal star Morten Hjulmand says it is a goal of his play in the Premier League in the near future.

Naman Ramachandran Indian animation will be in the spotlight across the 2024 Annecy Animation Festival. For the first time, Indian animation will feature at Namaste MIFA, a pitch event at MIFA (Marché International du Film d’Animation) in Annecy. The event, organized by Annecy-backed Indian animation festival AniMela and co-hosted by Assemblage Entertainment and Zebu Animation Studios, will present four work-in-progress projects reflecting diverse themes such as sports, food, gender and tradition.

EXCLUSIVE: Kartoon Studios has struck its first deal with an AI dubbing platform.

Emiliano De Pablos Barcelona-based Grup Mediapro has promoted Marta Ezpeleta as the next head of international content factory The Mediapro Studio, where she currently serves as its international director. Ezpeleta will replace Laura Fernández Espeso, Variety‘s International Media Woman of the Year, upped to No. 2 at Grup Mediapro from January.

Marta Ezpeleta will be the next CEO of The Head and Paraíso producer The Mediapro Studio.

Cornerstone has closed worldwide distribution deals for Andrea Arnold’s latest feature film Bird, which debuted at last month’s Cannes Film Festival. 

EXCLUSIVE: The movie Donald Trump doesn’t want people to see is going global.

Cristiano Ronaldo has asked Manchester United for a favour following Al-Nassr's defeat to Al-Hilal on penalties in the King Cup of Champions final. The 39-year-old striker was heartbroken and broke down in tears as he ended his second season in Saudi Arabia without any silverware.