Animated Feature Film ‘The Breadwinner’ Now in Production

Canada’s Aircraft Pictures, Ireland’s Cartoon Saloon and Luxembourg’s Melusine Productions begin key animation on the 2D-animated feature based on the internationally acclaimed young adult novel by Deborah Ellis.

TORONTO, ON -- Canada’s Aircraft Pictures, Ireland’s Cartoon Saloon and Luxembourg’s Melusine Productions in association with Angelina Jolie Pitt’s Jolie Pas Productions have begun key animation on the animated feature film The Breadwinner. Based on the internationally acclaimed young adult novel of the same name by Canadian author Deborah Ellis, the film is set for completion in Summer 2017.

An Ireland-Canada-Luxembourg co-production, The Breadwinner will be produced with the financial participation of Telefilm Canada and the Talent Fund, the Irish Film Board, Film Fund Luxembourg, Mimi Gitlin Productions, The Shaw Rocket Fund, Artemis Rising Foundation, The Broadcast Authority of Ireland, The Ontario Media Development Corporation, The Harold Greenberg Fund, RTE, Movie Central, The Movie Network a division of Bell Media Inc., the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation, the Canadian Film or Video Production Tax Credit and the Ontario Film and Television Tax Credit. To date, the producers have confirmed distribution of the film by Elevation Pictures (Canada) and STUDIOCANAL (Ireland/UK). Financiers Mimi Polk Gitlin (Mimi Gitlin Productions) and Regina K. Scully (Artemis Rising Foundation) will join the project as Executive Producers.

“We are very fortunate to have the creative and financial support of so many individuals and organizations in bringing this beautiful and timely story to the screen,” commented Paul Young, Producer for Cartoon Saloon.

“The incredible talent that we’ve assembled on and off screen is a testament to the power of this story and the amazing body of work that animation studios Cartoon Saloon and Melusine Productions have created to date,” said Anthony Leo, Producer for Aircraft Pictures.

The film is directed by Nora Twomey (co-director, Academy Award-nominated The Secret of Kells) with screen story by Ellis and screenplay by Anita Doron. The Breadwinner is the story of Parvana, a young girl living under the Taliban regime in Afghanistan, who must disguise herself as a boy to become the breadwinner of the family when her father is unfairly imprisoned. A story of self-empowerment and imagination in the face of oppression, The Breadwinner also celebrates the culture, history and beauty of Afghanistan with a cast that includes many performers of Afghan descent.

The Breadwinner features the voice talents of Saara Chaudry (Max & Shred) in the role of Parvana, Soma Bhatia (Degrassi: Next Class) as Shauzia, Laara Sadiq (Remedy) as Parvana’s mother Fattema, Ali Badshah (The Cat In The Hat) as Parvana’s father Nurullah, Shaista Latif (This is the Life) as Parvana’s sister Soraya, and Kawa Ada (Jihad Gigilo) as Razaq.

Cartoon Saloon, Aircraft Pictures and Melusine Productions are represented by CAA for The Breadwinner.