‘Frozen’ Animator Lino DiSalvo’s Next Film ‘Twisted’ Starts Production and Enlists French Partners; Sola Media to Show First Footage at Cannes (EXCLUSIVE)

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Under the direction of Lino Di Salvo, who won awards for his work as the head of animation on “Frozen,” comes the upcoming project titled “Twisted.” This film has already gained support from various production partners ahead of the Cannes Film Festival. At this festival, Mediawan Kids & Family and Sola Media will showcase a sneak peek of the movie for the first time.

The distribution firm based in France, Le Pacte, has purchased the rights to the film and will oversee its release within the country. Additionally, France 3 Cinéma and Paramount+ France are now involved with the project, which is estimated to be released during the first three months of the year 2027.

The production of the movie has commenced at Mediawan Kids & Family, a studio known for its impressive animated productions like “Miraculous – The Movie,” “The Little Prince,” and “A Magnificent Life.” These works have premiered at the Cannes Film Festival. Sola Media is in charge of international sales. In a picturesque Italian alpine village, the story unfolds about Angelina, a teen who accidentally disrupts her town’s festival and summons a horde of tricky magical creatures due to lies she tells to hide her mistakes. To set things right, she embarks on a journey across Italy with Badalisc, an unwilling truth-telling mythical creature, in a heartfelt comedy-adventure that explores themes of identity, community, and self-acceptance.

For years, this tale has dwelled within my heart – a raw, passionate narrative, sparked by an Italian festival that honors a truth-speaking creature and the vibrant turmoil of family and ancestry,” remarked DiSalvo, who spent over a decade at Walt Disney Animation Studios, holding positions such as head of animation for the Oscar-winning film “Frozen” and supervising animator on projects like “Tangled” and “Bolt.” “We may continually ponder whether to deceive or be honest with others, but Angelina embarks on a journey of understanding that one should never deceive oneself,” DiSalvo added.

At Sola Media, the managing director, Solveig Langeland, shared that attendees at Cannes can anticipate a visually engaging, emotionally impactful journey with broad appeal, which she referred to as ‘Twisted.’ This production strikes an ideal balance between humor, emotion, and complex family storytelling that is sure to resonate with audiences.

As a passionate film enthusiast, I can’t help but notice the tumultuous journey the animation world is currently navigating. Yet, amidst these challenges, France stands as a beacon of inspiration with its vibrant community of gifted artists and bold partners who dare to breathe life into unique, captivating stories like ‘Twisted’. Emmanuel Jacomet, the producer for Mediawan Kids & Family, has highlighted this point perfectly.

Following the triumph of ‘Miraculous,’ ‘Twisted’ marks another step in Mediawan’s foray into prominent animated productions.

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2025-04-29 16:16