A TWICE OSCAR nominated animation company is joining forces with Hollyowod actress Angelina Jolie to co-produce a new film.
Cartoon Saloon, which was set up by Newry-born director Tomm Moore, is working on The Breadwinner which is based on an internationally acclaimed young adult novel of the same name.
The Kilkenny-based animation company will now co-produce the film along with Jolie's Jolie Pas Productions.
Cartoon Saloon was behind the Oscar nominated films The Song of the Sea and The Secret of Kells and its latest project is based on a novel by Canadian author Deborah Ellis.
The film will be directed by Nora Twomey, who co-directed The Secret Of Kells, and the screen story is written by by MS Ellis and screenplay by Anita Doran. It is due to be completed in early 2017.
In a recent interview with the Irish News Tomm Moore said The Breadwinner was "about a little girl in Afghanistan who has to pretend to be a boy to provide for her family, because the others in her family can't leave their home during the Taliban era".
Confirming her involvement with the project Angelina Jolie said she knew the film makers would do justice to the story of Parvana, the protaganist of the story.
“Millions of young girls like Parvana are growing up today under oppression or conflict, and helping their families to survive in those conditions. This story is a reminder of the immense value of their contribution,” she said.
“I am delighted to be working with a talented team of artists who I know will do justice to the richness, creativity and strength of Afghan culture and to little girls like Parvana," she added.
