World Premiere set for Annecy Festival as New Europe Film Sales and CAA Media Finance board the film with Cartoon Saloon Brand Development for international sales
KILKENNY, IRELAND – Tuesday, April 28, 2026 – Academy Award® winner Zoe Saldaña, Cisely Saldaña and Mariel Saldaña and their production company Cinestar Pictures have joined forces with five-time Academy Award® nominated studio Cartoon Saloon, Melusine Studio, Aircraft Pictures and Sun Creature on the upcoming animated feature JULIÁN – set to have its World Premiere at the Annecy Festival this June. The Saldañas will also serve as Executive Producers on the film.
JULIÁN is a joyful, visually rich animated adventure about a 7-year-old 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. Adapted from the bestselling picture book Julián is a Mermaid by Jessica Love (over 600,000 copies sold worldwide), the film is the feature directorial debut of Academy Award nominee Louise Bagnall, known for her acclaimed short Late Afternoon. Bagnall previously held key creative roles on Cartoon Saloon’s major features including The Breadwinner, Wolfwalkers, and My Father’s Dragon. Written by Juliany Taveras (they/them), a Dominican-American writer from Brooklyn.
Cinestar Pictures was founded by Academy Award® winner Zoe Saldaña and her sisters Mariel and Cisely Saldaña with an eye toward reshaping the American storytelling landscape with a commitment to diverse, character-driven narratives that reflect the authentic fabric of contemporary society. Championing honest portrayals of women and a true depiction of today’s America, Cinestar produces compelling, multicultural stories for a global audience.
“Cisely, Mariel and I were deeply moved by the story of JULIÁN and its gentle, powerful message about self-expression and acceptance,” said Academy Award® winner Zoe Saldaña. “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.”
The producers are also pleased to announce that Warsaw-based sales outlet New Europe Film Sales has boarded the film as international sales alongside Cartoon Saloon Brand Development and CAA Media Finance who will handle sales in the United States.
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. The film is produced by Cartoon Saloon (Ireland), Aircraft Pictures (Canada), Melusine Studio (Luxembourg), Sun Creature (Denmark) in association with Wychwood Media, Crave, Guru Studio and BCP Asset Management. JULIÁN is produced with the support of 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 and Arthaus.