Charades, Mikrofilm and Oscar-winning U.S. distributor GKids are joining forces on “Pesta,” an animated romantic horror film directed by Hanne Berkaak.
Berkaak’s feature debut, “Pesta” is currently in development with an expected release in 2029. The project will be presented on Feb. 13 during the European Film Market, as part of the Annecy Animation Showcase.
Produced by Norway’s Mikrofilm, Germany’s Knudsen Pictures and French banners Rosalie Films and Charades, “Pesta” is being positioned at the intersection of arthouse animation and prestige genre, blending romance with horror, as well as drawing inspiration from Norwegian history and folklore.
The story is set in Norway in 1349, as the Black Death fuels fear and superstition. A noble girl, Astrid, experiences first love with a musician deemed unholy and dangerous. When the boy is accused of witchcraft, Astrid is pushed to question the truths she has been taught to obey. Through genre, the movie draws parallels between medieval plague fears and contemporary global crises.
“With ‘Pesta,’ our goal is to create characters that are complex and relatable to a contemporary young adult audience, even though the story unfolds in a medieval world,” said Berkaak.
The director said he’s “drawn to dark periods in history because they offer perspective on our time.”
“Catastrophes expose structural illusions a society is built upon, and often have a way of bringing people together,” he said. “The Black Death is considered one of the greatest disasters in human history. But even in this darkest hour, some people survived. And the world they went on to build became more just and equal.”
With “Pesta,” Berkaak said he want to “show how frightening and brutal it was to be young during the plague. But it is also a story of love and hope.”
“We feel privileged to have Charades and GKids on board for ‘Pesta,’” producer Tonje Skar Reiersen said. “Not only have they been involved in films that have set the bar for independent animation and elevated genre, they also show an incredible passion for the project, and help strengthen it through their close involvement.”
Paris-based Charades, which has a stellar track record in animation with movies such as “I Lost My Body” and the Oscar-winning “Flow,” began tracking “Pesta” at treatment stage and came on board after early visual materials. “It brings together everything we love about animation — a unique visual language coupled with strong storytelling and a passionate and experienced team around it,” the company, which was founded by Carole Baraton, Yohann Comte and Pierre Mazars, said in a statement. “It’s very seldom we come across horrific romances that feel topical and contemporary despite being set in the medieval era.” Charades is co-producing on top of handling international sales.
Eric Beckman’s GKids, whose distribution slate also includes the Oscar-nominated “Little Amelie or the Character of Rain,” said the New York-based company “fell in love with the project at first sight and [is] looking forward to supporting the creative team in bringing Hanne’s vision to life.”
Charades and GKids have collaborated on many films, notably Yoko Kuno and Nobuhiro Yamashita’s animated feature “Ghost Cat Anzu.” The two companies are also working together on library rights to Japanese animator Mamoru Hosoda’s films.
The development of “Pesta” has been backed by Creative Europe MEDIA, The Norwegian Film Institute, Viken Film Centre, The Norwegian Arts Council and Norsk Illustrasjonsfond. The project has also received the Eurimages Development Award for Co-Productions at Cartoon Movie.
“Pesta” will be distributed by Animation Addicts in Germany, and Norsk Filmdistribusjon in Norway.
Leave a Reply