Unleashing the Simian Escape: "Akiko - The Flying Monkey" Soars Across Global Markets

Loco Films Paris has secured a remarkable array of sales deals for Veit Helmer's captivating German kids and family feature, "Akiko - The Flying Monkey," which is set to grace the prestigious Kids Screenings at the Locarno Film Festival. This cinematic gem has captured the attention of audiences worldwide, with distribution agreements spanning over 40 territories, including Germany, Austria, and numerous MENA, CIS, and African countries.

Captivating Audiences Across Continents

Domestic Triumph and Global Expansion

In its domestic market of Germany, the film's distribution will be handled by the esteemed Farbfilm Verleih. Beyond the borders, Loco Films is actively engaged in ongoing discussions with distributors across Europe, further solidifying the film's international reach. The Locarno Film Festival's Kids section, known for its commercial significance, serves as a prime platform for the film's continued global expansion.

Navigating the Competitive Landscape

The Locarno Film Festival's Kids section has proven to be a hotbed of commercial activity, with last year's event witnessing one of the biggest bidding wars for the Finnish kids and family title, "Snot & Splash," which was eventually secured by FilmSharks. This competitive landscape underscores the immense potential and appeal of "Akiko - The Flying Monkey" as it navigates the global market.

Captivating Narrative and Technical Prowess

At the heart of "Akiko - The Flying Monkey" lies a captivating narrative that resonates with audiences of all ages. The film's young simian protagonist, Akiko, embarks on a daring escape from a German zoo, driven by his desire to reunite with his family and free other captive animals. While primarily a live-action production, the film boasts an impressive array of digital effects, with over 800 VFX shots seamlessly integrated into the final cut.

Acclaimed Filmmaker and Creative Vision

Veit Helmer, the director of "Akiko - The Flying Monkey," is a highly accomplished filmmaker with a diverse body of work spanning 35 years. His films have been showcased at prestigious festivals such as Cannes, Sundance, and Slamdance, and have even earned him a European Film Award nomination for his work on "Tuvalu." Helmer's creative vision for "Akiko - The Flying Monkey" is to craft a narrative that captures the sense of wonder and magic that surrounds us in the world, using the playful antics and challenges of Akiko and his friends as a vehicle to explore themes of freedom and the hidden wonders that exist all around us.

Collaborative Effort and Funding Support

The production of "Akiko - The Flying Monkey" was a collaborative effort, with support from various German funding bodies, including the German Federal Commissioner for Culture and the Media, Kuratorium junger deutscher Film (KjdF), the German Federal Film Fund (DFFF), the Filmförderungsanstalt (FFA), Medienboard Berlin-Brandenburg, and Filmförderung Mecklenburg-Vorpommern. The film also benefited from close collaboration with major German broadcasters such as NDR, BR, SWR, HR, SR, and RBB.