Jonna (8) has lived at the orphanage Sunnyside all her life. She always dreamt of a mother. One day a Gorilla drives up in an old car and adopts Jonna. It takes some time for Jonna to get used to the situation, but just as everything starts becoming good, the local authorities threaten their existence.
Original Title: APSTJÄRNAN
Director: Linda Hambäck
Writers: Janne Vierth, based on Frida Nilssons book
Cast (original Swedish version) : Stellan Skarsgård, Pernilla August, Melinda Kinnaman, Rebecka Gerstmann
Producer: Linda Hambäck & Petter Lindblad
Co-producers: Lise Fearnley (no), Tonje Skar Reiersen (no), Claus Toksvig Kjær (dk), Frederik Villumsen (dk), Peter Possne (swe) & Anna Croneman (swe)
Animation studio, Sweden: Dockhus Animation
Production design: Ola Larsson & Morten Lund Thulstrup
Animation supervisor: Elinor Bergman
Director of photography: Gabriel Mkrttchian
Storyboard: My Eklund
Composers: Minna Weurlander & Tania Naranjo
Sound design: Mats Blomberg
Editor: Ulf Tønder Flittig & Linda Hambäck
Original Version: Swedish
Duration: 75 min
Subtitled in: Swedish, Danish, Norwegian, English
Production countries: Sweden, Norway, Denmark
World sales: Attraction distribution
Selection: Annecy international Animation Film Festival, BFI London Film Festival, Filmfest Münic, Sydney Film Festival, Taiwan International Children´s Film Festival (Best Feature), Zlin International Film Festival, Busan International Kids & Youth Film Festival, CineKid Film Festival, Filmfest Hamburg (WINNER of MICHEL Film Award), BUFF Film Festival, Buster Film Festival, Kristiansand International Children Film Festival, Fredrikstad Animation Festival, Motovun Film Festival, Ahens Childrens Film festival, Schlingel International Film Festival (WINNER of Club of Festivals Award), Nordic Film Days Lübeck, Zürich international Film Festival, Gijón International Film Festival (WINNER of Best children film Audience award), Oulu International Children's and Youth Film Festival (WINNER of ECFA Award for the best European children's film). International Young Audience Film Festival Ale Kino! (Special Mention).
Nomination for best EUROPEAN ANIMATED FEATURE FILM 2021
THE APE STAR directed by Linda Hambäck
EUROPEAN FILM AWARDS
Janne Vierth the scriptwriter of THE APE STAR got a GULDBAGGE nomination for best script 2021 - prize ceremony in January.
THE APE STAR is produced by LEE Film Stockholm AB In co-production with Mikrofilm AS, Nørlum P1 IVS, Film i Väst & Sveriges Television AB With support by The Swedish Film Institute, film commissioner Jenny Gilbertsson The Norwegian Film Institute, film commissioner Margrete Soug Kåset The Danish Film Institute, film commissioner Noemi Ferrer Nordisk Film & TV Fond, CEO Petri Kemppinen , Creative Europe MEDIA Den Vestdanske Filmpulje, film commissioner Steen Risom & Danmarks Radio