Icon Entertainment International exec Ariel Veneziano tapped to helm group’s latest expansion; the division kicks off with ‘Little Emma,’ an animated feature in co-production with Gold Valley Entertainment.
Toonz Media Group has announced the launch of a new feature film division, helmed by the former President of Icon Entertainment International, Ariel Veneziano. The group, with a 25-year history in the kids and family entertainment space, is now poised to produce feature content based on original IP as well as titles from other parties and for third-party productions.
Bringing extensive distribution and sales experience to the role, Veneziano has been named President of the new division. In addition to his tenure at Icon Entertainment, he served as Director of Sales and Distribution at Alliance Atlantis Communication and President of Gold Valley Films International.
“Having firmly established Toonz as the worldwide leader in animation and kid’s entertainment, I feel this is the right time to launch the feature film division headed by a dynamic leader,” commented Toonz Media Group CEO, P Jayakumar. “Post Berlin, Ariel will announce additions to his team along with new projects currently under development. He is tasked with making Toonz a global force in the feature film world.”
“Toonz is a highly recognizable brand in the kids and family space, having established relationships with exceptional creators of content,” shared Veneziano. “I look forward to helping the group capitalize on the many opportunities in the feature film world, with an initial focus on high-end animated movies for the theatrical marketplace.”
The new feature film division is now working on the animated feature film Little Emma, a co-production between Toonz and Gold Valley Entertainment, China. Directed by Isabella Blanco, the family adventure is about a miniature human girl adopted by animal parents who yearns to find the truth about her human roots.
Toonz is also currently involved in the production of The Canterville Ghost, an animated film adaptation of the Oscar Wilde classic of the same name. It is being co-produced with Robert Chandler’s Space Age Films (The Amazing Maurice) and Los Angeles-based Align Pictures US Inc. The American film distributors Cinema Management Group (CMG) will distribute the feature globally.
Source: Toonz Media Group
Debbie Diamond Sarto is news editor at Animation World Network.
