Eurimages has put its full weight behind Hungarian/German/Canadian co-production Fairyheart (working title), awarding a max allowance of U$524,445 (€500,000) to the 2D-animated feature film adaptation of a popular Hungarian children’s book. 

Penned by Magda Szabó, Tündér Lala (Fairy Lala in English) was first published in 1978. It tells the story of a young prince who must save his mythical world from an evil wizard with the help of his friends and a magical unicorn. 

Fairyheart (90 minutes), which is aimed at nine-to-12s, was the only kids/animated project to receive funding in the third-annual Eurimages Project Evaluation Session, which awarded more than US$7 million to 24 films this year.  

Production is slated to start in Q1 2025, with Hungarian studios Mythberg Films and Cinemon Entertainment; Storyteller Pictures and Lakeside Animation in Canada; and Germany’s Tramhaus Studios all contributing as co-pro partners. Vortex Media (Canada) and Little Dream Pictures (German-speaking territories) are on board to distribute the movie regionally. 

The companies are seeking international sales agents and broadcast partners, according to Paul Lenart, a producer at Storyteller Pictures. 

Anita Doron, who wrote the script for 2017’s Oscar-nominated animated feature The Breadwinner (Cartoon Saloon, Aircraft Pictures, Melusine Productions), is attached as Fairyheart‘s writer/director.   

The film secured some initial financing from Telefilm Canada in August, sharing US$3.4 million (CAD$4.8 million) with four other selected projects. And Creative Europe, Ontario Creates and German Media Fund MDM have also invested in the project. 

It’s worth noting that this isn’t the first screen adaptation for the Hungarian publishing IP; a live-action film based on the book was released domestically in 1982.