Cartoon Saloon’s Julián to Receive World Premiere at the 2026 Annecy Film Festival

Zoe Saldaña Joins as Executive Producer; Multiple Territory Deals Closed

Fís Éireann/Screen Ireland is delighted to congratulate Louise Bagnall, Juliany Taveras, Cartoon Saloon and the entire creative team behind Julián — the film has been selected for the 2026 Annecy International Animation Film Festival and will hold its world premiere at this year’s event.

Julián marks the feature directorial debut of Academy Award nominee Louise Bagnall, with a script by Juliany Taveras. The film follows a wideeyed young boy named Julián, who is about to spend the summer with a grandmother he barely knows in Brooklyn. He is amazed to discover her treasuretrove apartment, his own Caribbean heritage, and the lively Brooklyn community around him — but most surprising of all, he finds out that he is actually a mermaid!

The film is brought to life through handdrawn 2D animation at 12 frames per second, crafted by over 150 artists from Ireland, Luxembourg, Denmark and Canada.

The film is produced by Cartoon Saloon (Ireland), Aircraft Pictures (Canada), Melusine Studio (Luxembourg) and Sun Creature (Denmark), in association with Wychwood Media, Crave, Guru Studio and BCP Asset Management. Academy Award winner Zoe Saldaña, together with her sisters Cisely Saldaña and Mariel Saldaña and their production company Cinestar Pictures, have joined as executive producers.

New Europe Film Sales has boarded the film as its international sales agent, while CAA Media Finance will handle US sales. The film is proudly supported by 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, Elevation Pictures, Elysian Films, Wildcard Distribution, Angel Films, Folklets and Arthaus.

Julián will premiere in the Annecy Presents section of the 2026 Annecy Film Festival — a noncompetitive strand of the Official Selection that showcases a diverse range of animated films from around the world, spanning all genres. Since its founding in 1960, the Annecy Festival has celebrated the best of international animation each year. This year’s edition will take place from 21 to 27 June 2026.

Synopsis

Julián is a joyful, visually rich animated adventure about a sevenyearold boy who spends a transformative summer with his estranged Abuela (grandmother) in Brooklyn. Inspired by her magical storytelling and the world around him, Julián dreams of becoming a mermaid — sparking a dazzling journey from the borough’s sunlit streets to the mystical depths of the sea.

The film is adapted from Jessica Love’s bestselling picture book Julián Is a Mermaid (over 600,000 copies sold worldwide). Director Louise Bagnall was previously nominated for an Academy Award for her acclaimed short Late Afternoon; she also held key creative roles on Cartoon Saloon’s major features The Breadwinner, Wolfwalkers and My Father’s Dragon. Screenwriter Juliany taveras is a DominicanAmerican writer from Brooklyn.

The Saldaña Sisters Join

Cinestar Pictures was founded by the three Saldaña sisters, aiming to reshape the American storytelling landscape by championing diverse, characterdriven narratives that reflect the authentic fabric of contemporary society. The company advocates for honest portrayals of women and a true depiction of today’s America, producing compelling multicultural stories for a global audience.

Zoe Saldaña said:

“Cisely, Mariel and I were deeply moved by the story of Julián and its gentle, powerful message about selfexpression and acceptance. Louise Bagnall’s remarkable adaptation is a celebration of individuality, imagination, and the courage to be exactly who you are. We are so excited to help share this heartwarming film with audiences around the world.”

International Distribution Map

• The film’s producers have also announced that distribution rights have been closed in several key territories:Canada:Elevation Pictures
• United Kingdom:Elysian Films
• Ireland:Wildcard Distribution
• Denmark:Angel Films
• Sweden:Folkets Bio
• Norway:Arthaus
• Poland:Young Horizons
• Benelux:Periscoop, Le Parc and JEFDiscussions are ongoing for Spain. New Europe Film Sales handles worldwide sales, with CAA representing North America.

Production Craft & Technical Highlights

Julián is created using handdrawn 2D computer animation at 12 frames per second, with over 150 artists working across Ireland, Luxembourg, Denmark and Canada. The film is the feature directorial debut of Irish animator Louise Bagnall, who currently serves as Creative Director at Cartoon Saloon and has worked on numerous titles for the studio.

Cartoon Saloon Brand Development is also involved in US sales. This marks the first time Zoe Saldaña, Cisely Saldaña and Mariel Saldaña have served as executive producers on an animated feature.

About the Annecy Film Festival

The Annecy International Animation Film Festival was founded in 1960 and takes place every June in Annecy, France, as the world’s premier event for animation. The 2026 festival runs from 21 to 27 June, where Julián will have its world premiere in the Annecy Presents section.

Supporters and Partners

The film has received generous support from the following organisations and partners:
Fís Éireann/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, Elevation Pictures, Elysian Films, Wildcard Distribution, Angel Films, Folklets, Arthaus, and others.