Katak, the Brave Beluga earns $1 million in 10 days and shares the audience prize at FIFEM
Distributor Maison 4:3 and producer 10th Ave Productions are delighted to announce that 10th Ave Productions’ fifth animated feature film, Katak the Brave Beluga, has passed the $1 million mark at the box office after only 10 days of theatrical release in Canada. In addition, Katak the Brave Beluga was named co-winner of the audience prize at FIFEM (the Montreal International Children’s Film Festival), which closed yesterday.
Having benefited from a cross-Canada release, Katak the Brave Beluga remains the number 1 Quebec film across Quebec and Canada.
“It’s fantastic to see the public coming out to welcome new characters, to discover original stories, and to step into our world. Thank-you to families, to kids and to animation fans for sharing a moment at the movie theatre with Katak the brave Beluga. Congratulations to our two hundred collaborators listed in the production credits, as well as the promotional teams, including Maison 4:3. Thank-you to our investors. We’re thrilled by your commitment to this fifth animated feature produced by 10th Ave. May the pleasure of getting together continue throughout this March Break!”
Nancy Florence Savard, 10th Ave, producer
“What an appreciative welcome! It warms my heart to see this outpouring of love for Katak, for the river and for Quebec on the screen. A proof of love like the audience prize at FIFEM has to be one of the loveliest rewards that one can receive as an artist: the feeling that comes from having truly touched people’s hearts! Thank-you to all those who accompanied us on Katak’s journey, and to all those who will do so in the future. Thank-you to the devoted teams and to our wonderful Quebec audiences. We couldn’t be happier!”
Christine Dallaire-Dupont, director
“It’s extraordinary! I never would have dared to dream of an audience response that was this enthusiastic! This is an immense wave of love transported by the river to every part of Quebec!”
Andrée Lambert, screenwriter
Written by Andrée Lambert, illustrated by Philippe Arseneau Bussières, directed by Christine Dallaire-Dupont and Nicola Lemay, and produced by Nancy Florence Savard, Katak the Brave Beluga was released across Canada on Friday, February 24, 2023.
A terrific cast has brought to life this first 3D animated film set among the plants and animals of Quebec’s maritime environment. Starring Robert Naylor, Terrence Scammel, Richard M. Dumont, Arthur Holden, Skyler Clark, Mark Camacho, Angela Galuppo, Eleanor Noble, Wyatt Bowen, Ilana Zackon, Pauline Little, Jennifer Seguin and Ginette Reno, Katak the Brave Beluga, originally recorded in French, has been a dream come true for numerous actors, enabling them to breathe life into their animated characters from the very outset of production, when only a few character illustrations were in existence.
The French-language version of the film features the voices of Alexandre Bacon, Yves Jacques, Emilie Josset, Ginette Reno, Ludivine Reding, Mario Saint-Amand, Jeff Boudreault, Jérémie Desbiens, Maxime Le Flaguais, Guylaine Tremblay, Marie-Thérèse Fortin, Martin Drainville, Benoit Brière, Justine Major, Carolanne Foucher, Jacques Leblanc, Nancy Bernier, Renaud Lacelle-Bourdon and Johanne Léveillé.
Synopsis of the Film
Katak the Brave Beluga tells the story of a young Beluga whale who is still grey, though at his age he should have turned white. Because of his late development, he must live among the females, who make things worse by overprotecting him.
When his ailing grandmother confides that she wishes she could see her old true love – whom Katak has never met – one last time, Katak decides to make her wish come true and sets out on a secret journey along the shore of the St. Lawrence toward the Arctic, intent on finding his legendary grandfather.
Over the course of this dangerous journey, Katak teams up with Cyrano, a neurotic sturgeon. Tracked by the river’s most fearsome predator, the notorious killer whale Jack-Knife, Katak forms an unlikely friendship with Jack-Knife’s daughter, Jack-Lynn, who is a vegetarian.
Katak the Brave Beluga is a story of filial love, trust, independence and the right to be different, with environmental overtones. It’s a thrilling, moving and funny tale, set amidst the unsuspected beauty of the marine world.
Watch the official trailer
YT: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1kdBn9zeyiU
–
About 10th Ave Productions
10th Ave Productions is passionate about animated films. The company was behind the creation of the first 100% Canadian 3D animated feature, The Legend of Sarila, released in 2013. It also produced the hit film Rooster Doodle-Doo, the first Canadian animated feature produced in French; and Mission Kathmandu: the Adventures of Nelly and Simon. Rights to its most recent animated production, Felix and the Hidden Treasure, released in 2021, have been sold in over 170 countries and territories. Katak the Brave Beluga is 10th Ave Productions’ fifth animated feature.
About MAISON 4:3
MAISON 4:3 is a film distribution company that was founded in 2014. This boutique distribution company places all its know-how at the service of creators and their films, so as to elaborate effective release strategies and accompany their works at various stages of distribution. MAISON 4:3 promotes deeply human projects that are at once promising and singular.
Film website
https://maison4tiers.com/en/katak/
Maison 4:3 website / media materials
https://maison4tiers.com/acces-medias/
Press Relations
Communications Annie Tremblay
Annie Tremblay
514.244.8336
