Yahoo News Shanghai Film Festival: Malaysian Animation ‘Extinction’ Inks First Rights Deals (EXCLUSIVE)
“Extinction,” the Malaysian-produced animation that is playing at the Shanghai International Film Festival, has struck its first international rights sales deals.
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The film was recently picked up by All Rights Entertainment, the Paris, Hong Kong and Los Angeles-based sales agency. All Rights has subsequently licensed the title to Magic Film for the CIS region, to Dazzler Media for the U.K., to Red Cape Distribution for Israel and to Bir Film for Turkey.
Directed by Behnooud Nekooei and produced by Magic Picture Films (“Elephant King”), “Extinction” had its world premiere earlier this month at the Annecy Animation Festival in France. It enjoys its Asian premiere this week as part of the animation section of Shanghai’s Film Panorama section.
The narrative follows Mohsen, a young boy who is obsessed with superheroes. His life takes an unexpected turn when he comes across an endangered tiger while on a family picnic near the forest. Determined to save this majestic creature from hunters, Mohsen embarks on a perilous rescue mission during which he develops a deep bond with Tiggy.
The film was produced by Hamed Jafari. Its script was by Ali Ramezan and original music is by Amitr Tavassoli.
All Rights has a long track record of representing Chinese and other Asian animation films at international markets. Its “White Snake,” was a 2019 fantasy that earned $61 million at the mainland Chinese box office and kicked off the New Gods franchise. The following year, the company handled the 2020 title “New Gods: Nezha Reborn,” which earned $56 million at the Chinese box office, but which was topped the following year by another title hailing from Light Chaser Animation, “New Gods: Yang Jian.” Despite the pandemic, that earned $84 million to become the 13th highest grossing Chinese-made animation.
All Rights has previously handled sales on two of the early titles in the now dominant “Boonie Bears” film franchise, from Fantawild.
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