Charles Melton (May December) and Stephanie Hsu (The Wild Robot, Everything Everywhere All at Once) have been announced as the English-language voice stars of upcoming animated feature In Waves, a romance set against the backdrop of California’s surf culture. The film, which will be presented in Annecy Festival’s Work in Progress section this year, is adapted from the award-winning graphic novel memoir by AJ Dungo.
In addition to its Annecy selection, In Waves producers/sales agents Charades (international sales) and Anonymous Content (U.S. sales) will present a promo reel to buyers at the Cannes Film Market this week.
Synopsis: AJ, a shy teenager, meets Kristen while in high school in Los Angeles. Kristen is passionate about surfing… and she’s the most beautiful person he’s ever met. They fall madly in love. As life seems to finally come together for AJ, Kristen’s life starts falling apart, shattered by illness. Together, they will fight adversity with dignity and enjoy their now-shared passion for surfing and for the ocean, but also their loyal band of friends. This is what happens when love and friendship become a wave stronger than anything.
The French-language version will star Lyna Khoudri (The French Dispatch) and Rio Vega (Deerskin), alongside Paul Kircher, Birane Ba and Gauthier Battoue.
In Waves marks the feature directorial debut of Phuong Mai Nguyen, a graduate of prestigious French animation schools Gobelins and La Poudrière. She has directed several shorts, including Chez moi, which was shortlisted by the César Academy and the Academy Awards in 2016, and she and Charlotte Cambon co-directed Silex Films’ animated series Culottées (a.k.a. Brazen: Rebel Ladies Who Rocked the World), based on Pénélope Bagieu’s comic books, which won multiple festival awards and sold to markets around the world.
The film is written by Fanny Burdino & Samuel Doux, with graphic design by Nguyen, and features an original soundtrack by Rob & Oklou. In Waves is produced by Priscilla Bertin and Judith Nora for Silex Films. Associate producers are Anonymous Content (U.S.), France 3 Cinéma, Panique! (Belgium), Charades Productions (France) and Gao Shan Pictures (France); animation production is by ADV Studios (Autour du volcan), Gao Shan Pictures, Silex Animation and Silex Films.
Dungo’s In Waves graphic novel, published by Nobrow Press (2019), was awarded the Prix de la BD Fnac-France Inter 2020 and was an official selection at Angoulême Comics Festival 2020.
Melton is represented by CAA, 111 Media and Johnson Shapiro Slewett & Kole. Hsu is represented by CAA and Hanson Jacobson.
[Sources: Variety, Silex Films, Villa Albertine]
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