Zoe Saldaña and Cinestar Pictures Join Cartoon Saloon for Animated Feature “Julián” Premiering at Annecy

“Julián,” an animated feature about a seven-year-old boy in Brooklyn who imagines becoming a mermaid, will premiere at the Annecy International Animation Film Festival in June 2026. The film is co-produced by Cartoon Saloon (Ireland), Aircraft Pictures (Canada), Melusine Studio (Luxembourg), Sun Creature (Denmark) and Cinestar Pictures, the company founded by actress Zoe Saldaña and her sisters.

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The screenplay adapts Jessica Love’s picture book *Julián Is a Mermaid*, which has sold more than 600,000 copies worldwide. The film is the feature directorial debut of Academy-Award-nominated animator Louise Bagnall, who previously contributed to Cartoon Saloon titles such as *The Breadwinner*, *Wolfwalkers* and *My Father’s Dragon*. The script was written by Dominican-American author Juliany Taveras.

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The animation uses hand-drawn 2D techniques at 12 frames per second, created by more than 150 artists in Ireland, Luxembourg, Denmark and Canada. International sales are handled by New Europe Film Sales; U.S. rights are managed by CAA Media Finance. Funding partners include Screen Ireland, Film Fund Luxembourg, Telefilm Canada, the Canada Media Fund, Danish Film Institute, West Danish Film Fund, Coimisiún na Meán, Ontario Creates, Viborg Kommune, RTÉ, DR and additional entities.

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Cinestar Pictures describes its mission as reshaping American storytelling through diverse, character-driven narratives. Zoe Saldaña indicated that the team was moved by the story’s focus on self-expression and acceptance, and characterized the film as a celebration of individuality. Production partners noted the collaborative nature of the co-production and its alignment with each studio’s artistic objectives.

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• “joyful, visually rich animated adventure” — Variety description

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• “Cisely, Mariel and I were deeply moved by the story of ‘Julián’ and its gentle, powerful message about self-expression and acceptance,” Zoe Saldaña said. “Louise Bagnall’s remarkable adaptation is a celebration of individuality, imagination and the courage to be exactly who you are. We’re so excited to help share this heart-warming film with audiences around the world.” — Zoe Saldaña, Actress & Producer

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• “reshaping the American storytelling landscape with a commitment to diverse, character-driven narratives that reflect the authentic fabric of contemporary society,” — Cinestar Pictures statement

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• “ “Julián” is brought to life through hand-drawn 2D animation at 12 frames per second, crafted by over 150 artists across Ireland, Luxembourg, Denmark, and Canada.” — Production notes

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The film presents a narrative of self-expression and acceptance, reflecting Cinestar’s stated commitment to diverse, character-driven storytelling and Cartoon Saloon’s experience on previous feature films such as *The Breadwinner* and *Wolfwalkers*. The multinational production illustrates ongoing cross-border collaboration in contemporary animation.

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Following its Annecy premiere, “Julián” will be screened for international buyers, with New Europe Film Sales pursuing distribution agreements. U.S. rights are under negotiation with CAA Media Finance, and the film is scheduled for release in multiple territories later in 2026.

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