Shout! Factory Secures U.S. Rights To Long Way North, The Highly-Anticipated Animated Feature Directed By Rémi Chayé

Shout! Factory, a multi-platform media company, and Urban Distribution International (UDI) have entered into an exclusive film deal to distribute the new animated feature LONG WAY NORTH (TOUT EN HAUT DU MONDE) in the United States. Directed by acclaimed filmmaker Rémi Chayé (The Secret of Kells) and produced by Sacrebleu Productions (Madagascar, Carnet de Voyage), Maybe Movies (Ernest & Celestine) and Norlum Studios (Song of the Sea), LONG WAY NORTH (TOUT EN HAUT DU MONDE) won the Audience Award at the 2015 Annecy International Animated Film Festival and recently played at numerous top international film festivals to press acclaim and great audience enthusiasm. This captivating animated adventure will have its North American premiere at the New York International Children’s Film Festival (Feb. 26 – March 20, 2016) The announcement was made today by Shout! Factory’s founders Richard Foos, Bob Emmer and Garson Foos; and

Eric Schnedecker, Head of sales and partner at Urban Distribution International.

Shout! Factory has secured all U.S. distribution rights to LONG WAY NORTH (TOUT EN HAUT DU MONDE), including theatrical, broadcast, video on-demand, digital and home entertainment rights for cross-platform releases. Shout! Factory plans a strategic rollout of this movie across multiple entertainment platforms, beginning with a theatrical launch in fall 2016 through Shout’s family entertainment imprint, Shout! Factory Kids.

“We are incredibly excited about this opportunity with Urban Distribution, Rémi, Sacrebleu, Maybe Movies and Norlum. Long Way North is a beautifully-made animated feature, bolstered by emotionally resonant storytelling and exquisite hand-drawn animation,” said Melissa Boag, Senior Vice President of Kids & Family Entertainment at Shout! Factory. “We look forward to bringing this remarkable movie to animation enthusiasts and broad movie audiences later this year.”

“We are very happy to partner with Shout Factory and impressed by their enthusiasm and creative marketing. The film already sold to more than 25 territories (including the UK, Canada, France, Korea…) and is being released right now in France with outstanding critics reception.

More deals are expected at the Berlin Film Festival. The U.S. announcement comes at the right time for UDI as we’ve been adding more animated films to our line-up.” said Eric Schnedecker.

“Long Way North is a beautifully crafted adventure—spirited, poignant and entertaining. Rémi Chayé’s exquisitely animated tale follows a young heroine persevering through a physical and emotional journey to find her grandfather. It’s an instant classic, and we had to have it. We know audiences will feel the same,” said Jordan Fields, Vice President of Acquisitions at Shout! Factory.

Movie synopsis

LONG WAY NORTH is set in the late 19^th century Saint Petersburg.

Sasha, a young girl of Russian aristocracy, dreams of the Great North and anguishes over the fate of her grandfather, Olukine, a renowned scientist and Arctic explorer who has yet to return from his latest expedition to conquer the North Pole.

Sasha has always been fascinated by the adventurous life of her grandfather and has the same calling as Olukine to be an explorer. But Sasha’s parents, who already made arrangements for her marriage, strongly disapprove the idea to say the least. Defying her destiny, Sasha flees her home and launches an adventure-filled quest toward the Great North in search of Olukine and his ship.

Sacrebleu Productions and Maybe Movies present LONG WAY NORTH (TOUT EN HAUT DU MONDE) is directed by Rémi Chayé; written by Claire Paoletti and Patricia Valeix; co-producers, Jean-Michel Spiner, Claus Toksvig Kjaer, Frederik Villumnsen; executive producers, Ron Dyens and Henri Magalon. A production of SACREBLEU PRODUCTIONS, MAYBE MOVIES and NØRLUM

LONG WAY NORTH features an exceptional English voice cast of Chloé Dunn, Vivienne Vermes, Peter Hudson, Antony Hickling, Tom Perkins, Geoffrey Greenhill, Claire Harrison-Bullett, Bibi Jacob, Martin Lewis, Tom Morton, Leslie Clack, Kester Lovelace and Damian Corcoran. French voice cast include Christa Théret, Feodor Atkine, Thomas Sagols, Rémi Caillebot, Audrey Sablé, Fabirn Briche, Gabriel Le Doze and Boris Rehlinger.