Prima Ballerina gets a prima director
Press Release
June 21, 2010
Zentropa Norway signs acclaimed animation director Anita Killi to direct children’s film Prima Ballerina.
Anita was born in Stavanger on February 17, 1968. She studied graphic design and illustration at Kunsthøgskole in Oslo (KHIO), and animation at Volda University College.
After completing her education, she relocated to her family farm on Dovre and established Trollfilm AS, a fully-operational animation studio. Since then, Anita has directed a number of short animated films, mostly adapted from children’s books. Some of those films are: Solens Datter/The Daughter of the Sun (1996), Kongen som ville ha mer enn en Krone/The King who wanted more than a Crown (1999), The Hedge of Thorns (2001).
Her latest film, Sinna Mann/Angry Man (2009), chronicles the heartbreaking story of childhood abuse at the hands a violent father, and one boy’s brave attempt to seek help from Norway’s King. The film was nominated for a number of awards, including an Amanda, Best Animated Short Film at the Chicago International Children’s Film Festival and recently, 3 awards at the Annency Film Festival.
Anita has begun development on her first feature-length animated film Prima Ballerina with Zentropa Norway and producer Valerie Saunders. This playful and beautiful film has, at its core, an emotional story about a little girl from a small farm who, inspired by her mother, learns to follow her biggest and wildest dreams. The film is aimed at children between the ages of 5-11.
”I first caught sight of Killi’s animation as a jury member at The Grimstad Short Film Festival in 2009,” says Saunders. ”It was clear that she had a distinct artistic voice with a visual flair all her own; poetic justice with heart-filled ethics and a subtle and humble character. I was mesmerized then and in this past year, working with Anita, my respect and admiration has not diminished. Anita is a talent, one in a million. What more can I say? What an honor it is indeed to have Prima Ballerina in her hands.”
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