EXCLUSIVE: Monster Mia, which world premieres at the Annecy International Animation Film Festival this week, is lining up a 2,700-screen Halloween-timed European rollout involving a myriad of indie distributors across Europe.

With sales handled by Sola Media, recent deals include to France (KMBO), the United Kingdom (Kazoo Films), Benelux (Paradiso Filmed Entertainment), Ireland (Eclipse Pictures), Latin America (Cinetopia), Taiwan (Cola Films), Iceland (Myndform), Portugal (PRIS Audiovisuais), and Turkey (TME Films).

Adapted from the ‘Monstrous Maud’ book series by UK writer A. B. Saddlewick,  published under the title of ‘Monster Mia’ in Germany, the movie follows a rebellious young girl, who is expelled from her local school and sent to the mysterious Rotwood Academy, where her classmates are monsters. With only her scruffy pet rat Quentin for support, she must find a way to survive, fit in, and ultimately embrace what makes her different.

Directed by Verena Fels, the film combines a spooky Halloween adventure with a message of empowerment and is designed to resonate with family audiences worldwide.

The feature premieres at Annecy on Friday as part of the festival’s Official Selection – Annecy Presents sidebar.

The Annecy selection marks a major milestone for the production, produced by Austria-based animation studio Arx Anima, a female-led creative tech company, with women making up over 50% of their team,  in collaboration with PENG! BOOM! TSCHAK! Films and Spain’s Arxlight Pictures.

“To premiere Monster Mia at Annecy is an incredible honor,” said Fels. “Mia finds herself caught between worlds – not quite like the humans she left behind, yet not a monster like her classmates at Rotwood Academy.

“That feeling of being an outsider is something nearly every child experiences at some point. Through a world of monsters, magic and mischief, we wanted to explore how finding acceptance often begins with accepting yourself. I’m thrilled to share the film with Annecy audiences and celebrate the work of our remarkable team.”

Launched on the market at the 2024 AFM by Sola Media, the features has steadily built up momentum with a series of distribution deals across Europe, the Middle East and Asia.

Previously announced deals include Baltics (ACME Film), CIS (Exponenta), Hungary and Romania (ADS Service), Czech Republic and Slovakia (Bontonfilm), Israel (Filmhouse), Middle East (Gulf Film), Scandinavia (ManyMore Films), Italy (Notorious Pictures), Ukraine (Svoe Kino) and Vietnam (Skyline Media Company), Poland (New Horizons), Greece (Tanweer), Bulgaria (Pro Films), Mongolia (Filmbridge) and former Yugoslavia (Karantanija Cinemas).

“Annecy is the world’s most important animation festival, making it the perfect stage for audiences to discover Monster Mia for the first time,” said Solveig Langeland, Managing Director of Sola Media.

“Verena has created a visually rich and emotionally engaging film that combines universal themes with the playful spirit and event potential of Halloween, making it a compelling theatrical experience for family audiences around the world. We are excited to finally show this charming film to buyers, distributors and animation fans from around the world.”