Matthias Caja, producer and co-writer of Gintz Gilvalodis’ Oscar-winning animated feature “Flo,” has boarded Mexican stop-motion master Sofia Carrillo’s long-awaited feature debut, “Insectarium” (“Insectario”).
Caja will join the project as a producer, as will Montreal-based Daniela Mujica’s Production Ocho. They joined Mexico’s Pimienta Films and Spain’s Initia Films, which produced the Berlin Festival winner “20 Species of Bees” and produced “Roma.”
Matthijs Kaja brought in 250,000 euros ($290,000) from the Latvian National Film Center. Mr. Mujica was recently honored as “Producer of the Year” at Bordeaux’s Cartoon Movies along with co-producers of Zaven Najjar’s feature film “Allah Nest Pas Oblige,” leveraging Telefilm Canada’s support in the latest round of financing and other soft money. They also bring broader expertise as animation producers, build a four-way international co-production between key partners, and secure the project’s standing.
Mexican stop-motion master Sofia Carrillo, who shook the animation world with “Cerulía,” returns with her first feature film set in a world where insects have become extinct until an entomologist’s niece accidentally revives the Atacus Atlas moth. “Insectarium,” written by Monica Revilla (“Dance of the 41”), is in some ways an extension of “Cerulia,” Carrillo told Variety, exploring its aesthetic and using the same puppets and sometimes the same sets.
“Sofia Carrillo has a very special voice and animation style, so I was very happy to join ‘Insectarium’ as a co-producer,” Kaja told Variety.
“As the producers of the Oscar-winning Flow, which was a huge success in Mexico, we feel it is especially meaningful to continue this connection through collaboration with Mexican productions. We have just received confirmation of funding of 250,000 euros from the Latvian National Film Center, which means that Latvian 3D artists (some of whom also worked on Flow) will be able to participate in the project. This is a very special and unusual co-production for Latvia, which is used to co-productions within Europe.
Mujica added: “It is a great honor to co-produce this sensitive and imaginative work, working with such acclaimed teams as Pimienta, Initia and Trickster Pictures.”
“Discovering Sofia Carrillo’s work and vision is a true joy. This collaboration will allow many Canadian artisans and creators to contribute to this stop-motion film, which is sure to have a huge impact on audiences. It also highlights the connections that can be made with Mexico and Spain for viable co-productions.”
As for Pimienta’s Celis: “Sofia Carrillo’s amazing project continues to garner attention with support from great producers who are coming to support her vision, including Latvia’s Matis Kaja, the Oscar-winning producer of Flo, and Canada’s Daniela Mujica. We are confident that their wide range of experience will take us to great destinations.”
